History Doctoral Programs in the United States and Canada

Iowa State Univ.

Department Web Site

Areas of Specialization:

technology and science, agriculture and rural studies

Program Description

The Program in History of Technology and Science (HOTS) at Iowa State University emphasizes the history of technology, science, and medicine in Europe and America since the later 18th century. Its core faculty all teach and write in this chronological period. The Rural and Agricultural History Program (AHRS) trains students in these research specialties, broadly conceived. Over the past several years the program has broadened to include a comparative field for students. Both programs provide an excellent foundation in U.S. and European history, generally, while allowing students to pursue their more specialized interests in the history of technology and science, or the countryside or the intersection of both usually in agriculture.

Special Programs or Resources

Doctoral students have access to excellent collections in the history of technology and science and rural and agricultural history in the Special Collections of Parks Library. Iowa State is within easy traveling distance of the collections of the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa. Many students participate in the University's very active Preparing Future Faculty Program.

Financial Aid

Entering Ph.D. students will be considered for teaching assistantships. Especially well-qualified students may have the opportunity for stand-alone teaching prior to graduation. Students at the dissertation stage are eligible to apply for the Garst Fellowship, which provides funding for students who are doing research and writing.

Degree Requirements

Agricultural History and Rural Studies Program – students entering without a master's degree in history will be expected to earn the M.A. in History while progressing to the doctorate. A total of 72 hours (including both master's and doctoral work) is required for the degree. Currently, students take a general one-day qualifying exam to demonstrate their competency in U.S. history, and a three-day exam covering three separate areas of specialization for the preliminary exam. History of Technology and Science Program -- 72 credit hours are required for the PhD, the presentation of three fields, and both oral and written examinations in them. One of the fields must deal with some aspect of science and/or technology, and one must be in some aspect of US history or European history.

University Information:

University Type: Public

Carnegie Institution Ranking: Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive

Department Demographics:

First PhD conferred: 1986

History PhDs conferred to Date: 34

Relative Size Based on PhDs Conferred (2000–04): Small [Explain]

Faculty Mix:
	Full Professor	5
	Associate Professor	4
	Assistant Professor	11
	Instructor/Lecturer
	Joint Appointment	1
	Emeritus Faculty	15
	Part-time faculty

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

Number of Graduate Students in Program (Fall 2005): 40
(Graduate student counts include those enrolled in terminal Master's degree program)

Proportion of Full-Time Graduate Students: 100%

New Graduate Students Entering Program, Fall 2004: 12

Relative Size Based on Graduate Student Enrollment (2002–04): Small [Explain]

 

Other Information

     Current Dissertations in Progress

     PhDs Conferred by Department