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Lehigh University

Dept. of History
9 W. Packer Ave.
Bethlehem, PA 18015-3081

Phone 610.758.3360
Fax 610.758.6554
E-mail: shc0@lehigh.edu

Department Web Site

Areas of Specialization:

Atlantic World, Industrial America, and Public History

Program Description

The Department of History at Lehigh University focuses graduate studies in two primary areas: the history of the Atlantic world 1500-1900, which offers a comparative and integrative approach to studying the development of nations, economic systems and trade, colonization, and cultural encounters among the people of Europe, Africa, and the Americas; and Modern and Industrial America, which emphasizes the process of American industrialization in a comparative framework and within the context of intellectual, social, cultural, business, labor, and political history. The history of technology itself is also an important area of study within the larger field of Modern and Industrial America. Several History faculty also share a strong interest in issues of gender, including gender identification, gender roles in society, and the changing structure of the family.

In collaboration with other Lehigh University departments, the Department of History also offers coursework in Public History, including oral history, documentary film, archival management, historical editing, material culture, website development, museum studies, local history, historical archeology, and nonprofit administration. These courses may be taken within the M.A. and PhD programs, or on a non-degree basis. A certificate program in documentary film may be taken separately or as part of the MA in public history.

Special Programs or Resources

For the Atlantic world area, the Lehigh libraries contain an extensive collection of rare books and published primary materials relevant to early American history and the British empire from the 17th through the 19th centuries. The Bethlehem area is itself a rich resource and Lehigh has close working relationships with nearby libraries and museums. In addition to these resources, the Lawrence Henry Gipson Institute for Eighteenth Century Studies brings together scholars in related disciplines by sponsoring an annual symposium, a lecture program, grants for research by both faculty and students, and an annual dissertation fellowship.

For Modern and Industrial America, because of Lehigh's strengths in the sciences, engineering, and business, there are many faculty with interests allied to the history of technology who participate in program events and teach related courses. This field is also closely linked to Lehigh's Science, Technology, and Society program. Additionally, the program has close ties with local area museums, including the Historic Bethlehem Partnership and the National Canal Museum.

Financial Aid

Financial aid packages with stipends and full tuition remission include university and college fellowships, teaching assistantships, and a graduate assistantship. Full tuition scholarships and partial tuition scholarships are also available. Please contact the graduate program director or department chair for more information.

Degree Requirements

A student entering the Lehigh graduate program with a B.A. must complete 30 credit hours for the M.A. and an additional 42 credit hours for the Ph.D. A student entering the Lehigh program with an M.A. must complete an additional 48 credit hours for the Ph.D. Ph.D. students must pass a comprehensive written and oral examination in one major field and three minor fields, and submit an approved dissertation proposal, in order to be admitted to candidacy. Please see our web site for more information: www.cas.lehigh.edu



University Information:

Information from Department of Education
(Includes information on the size, location, and general characteristics of faculty and student body)

Information from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
(Includes rating of the institution's rating of the graduate instructional program and size and setting)

 

Faculty Information (Fall 2011):

Full-time Faculty: 14

Relative Size based on Number of Full-time Faculty: Small [Explain]

 

Student Demographics (Fall 2011):

Number of Doctoral Students in Program: 40

New Doctoral Students Entering Program: 10

Proportion of Doctoral Students Receiving Financial Aid: 88%

Number of Graduate Students Enrolled: 41

Relative Size Based on Graduate Student Enrollment: Small [Explain]

 

Degree Information:

First PhD conferred: 1954

History PhDs conferred to Date: 69

Number of PhDs Conferred (2011–12): 2

Relative Size Based on PhDs Conferred: Small [Explain]

Current Dissertations in Progress

PhDs Conferred by Department

 

 

Last Updated: October 19, 2012