History Doctoral Programs in the United States and Canada

South Carolina , Univ. of

Department Web Site

Areas of Specialization:

U.S., U.S. South, African American, Europe, public

Program Description

The faculty is especially deep in the field of southern history, including the experiences of African Americans and women in the region. At the same time, the curriculum is at the forefront of academic efforts to achieve a comparative thematic perspective. This strategy helps to keep students at the cutting edge of scholarship and introduces them to outstanding faculty members who work on geographic areas in which the department does not specialize for doctoral training. Thematic strengths extending beyond the South include the history of consumerism and tourism, the history of science and technology, and military history.

Special Programs or Resources

The University of South Carolina offers one of the most successful public history programs in the country. Doctoral candidates may take an MA in public history, which is a valuable professional credential, on their way to earning the PhD. The university has an excellent library system, and research on southern history is facilitated by convenient access to the holdings at the university's South Caroliniana Library and the state's Department of Archives and History.

Financial Aid

Teaching or research assistantships, which include competitive stipends and full abatement of tuition, are available to almost all PhD candidates. Some outstanding students receive fellowship support. The department provides travel grants for students delivering papers at professional conferences.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the PhD complete three years of full-time course work (taking the MA after the second year), pass a series of written and oral comprehensive examinations, and write an approved dissertation.

University Information:

University Type: Public

Carnegie Institution Ranking: Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive

Department Demographics:

First PhD conferred: 1929

History PhDs conferred to Date: 197

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

Faculty Mix:
	Full Professor	15
	Associate Professor	17
	Assistant Professor	6
	Instructor/Lecturer	2
	Joint Appointment
	Emeritus Faculty	15
	Part-time faculty	5

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

Number of Graduate Students in Program (Fall 2005): 90
(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: 21

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

 

Other Information

     Current Dissertations in Progress

     PhDs Conferred by Department