History Doctoral Programs in the United States and Canada

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Miami , Univ. of

Department Web Site

Areas of Specialization:

Latin America, U.S., Europe, Far East

Program Description

The Department of History offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. In recruiting graduate students, the department focuses on areas of strength among the faculty in terms of period, region, and subject (please see the listing of faculty). The program is small and there is a strong emphasis on providing a close individualized training for graduate students. Among the types of courses we offer are research seminars, field preparations courses, and directed readings. We take particular pride in our high success rate to date in placing our PhD students in jobs. We also aim to help in the development of exciting, well-prepared, and innovative individuals who will contribute in significant ways to the culture and life of our society. With a program and a faculty that are recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally, we are committed to produce MAs and PhDs of the highest quality, capable of living up to these goals and going beyond them.

Special Programs or Resources

The Library has an especially good collection and special collection resources for Latin American History particularly in the areas of Cuba and the Caribbean, Brazil and Mexico. In addition the library has a solid collection of the electronic databases for U.S. and European history and has a strong commitment to keeping current with new ones as they come out. The modest size of the program means that graduate students receive close personal attention both in their preparation as research scholars and in their training as teachers.

Financial Aid

At present the most common form of support for graduate students is in the form of teaching assistantships. These pay $20,000 per year plus tuition. More advanced teaching assistants often teach independent discussion sections; more junior teaching assistance normally assist with the grading and organization of smaller classes. In both cases, however, faculty mentoring of teaching assistants on teaching is stressed. In addition there are a limited number of fellowships available for students with outstanding potential awarded on a college wide basis. Usually one or two a year are awarded to incoming graduate students to the department. Endowment funds also provide modest grants to pay for pre-dissertation archival research (something the department encourages for all PhD students) and for attending conferences.

Degree Requirements

MA requirements are as follows: 1) 30 credits at the 500 level or above of which at least 18 must be at the 600 level or above; 2) passage of a major field in oral exams; 3) passage of a 2nd field in oral exams; 4) completion of History 695 (historiography). Students may, if they wish, write an MA thesis.
PhD requirements are as follows: 1a) For students entering the PhD program with the master's degree, at least 24 graduate course credits; 1b) for students entering the PhD program without the master's degree, at least 48 graduate course credits; 2) completion of History 695 (historiography); 3) 3 credits in a cognate field, included in the above number of credits; 4a) passage of a major field in written and oral exams; 4b) passage of a 2nd field in written and oral exams; 4c) passage of a 3rd field in written and oral exams; 4d) passage of a 4th, cognate field in the oral exam alone; 5) 12 credits of dissertation research (history 730) beyond the graduate course-credits requirement; 6) successful completion and defense of the dissertation. Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language is required, though more may be required depending on the field.