History Ph.D. Program

Home Graduate Program History Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program in history at the University of California, Santa Cruz, emphasizes an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to historical studies. We offer a rigorous program of instruction and independent work that trains students in the techniques of original historical research and equips them to teach university-level courses in history. Given the restricted professional opportunities currently available to historians, we only admit those highly motivated students who are most qualified to pursue advanced studies in history. We also only admit those applicants who can best benefit from the specific strengths of our faculty.

Just as the work of most professional historians centers around research and teaching, training in these areas constitutes the two essential poles of the graduate program in history.

Fields of Concentration

In preparing graduate students for research and teaching at the university level, the department offers training in four geographically defined fields: U.S. history, European history since 1500, East Asian history since 1600, and world history since 1500. U.S., European, and East Asian history are defined as primary fields of concentration; each graduate student is required to choose one. Students of U.S. history may incorporate Latin American history in their course work, while students of European history might include the history of European colonialism and imperialism. Every year the faculty in each field offer introductory readings seminars and, when possible, classes on more specific topics. Each Ph.D. student also prepares a second teaching field different from the primary field and can choose from among U.S., European, East Asian, and world history. Ph.D. students may also petition the Graduate Committee to prepare a second teaching field in African or Latin American history. The graduate director must receive this petition no later than the fourth week of the fall quarter of a student's second year.

Research Clusters

The History Department has created thematic research clusters to coordinate the training of graduate students in historical research. Each research cluster is composed of several History Department faculty and graduate students as well as faculty outside the department who share broad scholarly interests. The clusters serve as a way to coordinate the research of faculty and graduate students whose work encompasses different geographic regions and time periods. Although the nature and number of the research clusters may change over time, the department currently offers two basic groupings: (1) colonialism, race, and transnational movements; (2) history of gender.

The faculty of each cluster provides at least one research seminar every other year in addition to readings courses. All the affiliated graduate students must take at least one research seminar during their first two years; they are encouraged to take more than one. The combination of research seminars and other cluster activities ensures not only that graduate students build close and sustained working relationships with faculty but also that students at all levels, from first year to advanced, share common intellectual experiences. Faculty and graduate students in each cluster join with those from other departments to meet informally to read and discuss the work of cluster members and bring in outside speakers. History faculty and advanced graduate student will have opportunities to present their ongoing work.

In addition to cluster activities, faculty and graduate students participate in interdisciplinary forums outside the department. These include programs sponsored by the Chicano/Latino Research Center, the Pre- and Early Modern Studies Group, the Center for Cultural Studies, the Institute for Humanities Research, and the Center For World History. Advanced graduate students may also have the opportunity to work in programs sponsored by the University of California Humanities Research Institute at UC Irvine. Finally, multi-campus groups in which students and faculty are involved include the Bay Area Seminar in Early American Studies, the Bay Area Pre- and Early Modern Studies Group at Berkeley, and the French Studies Group at Stanford.

Sample Graduate Career in History: Ph.D. Course Work and Target Dates

Until you pass the qualifying examination and are formally advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, you are expected to complete a minimum of 12 units each quarter (i.e., two five-unit upper-division or graduate level courses, one two-unit course) to maintain normal academic progress. Completion of a minimum of 12 five-unit courses (in addition to the HIS 280 series) is required for advancement to candidacy. Courses taken are graduate seminars, most upper-division undergraduate courses, and independent study courses. During your career, you may enroll in courses at other UC campuses through the Intercampus Exchange Program (see Graduate Division student handbook for more information).

Required Courses

Foreign Language Requirement

Students with a primary teaching field in U.S. history are expected to demonstrate a reading competency in at least one foreign language prior to taking the qualifying examination. Students in all other teaching fields must demonstrate a reading competency in at least two foreign languages prior to taking the qualifying examination; competency in one of the languages must be demonstrated by the end of the sixth quarter of enrollment. Usually, competency will be demonstrated by passing a reading exam administered by a member of the History faculty. Students who believe that they have already demonstrated competency through previous course work or through their performance on a standardized test should petition the graduate director.

Master’s Degree (en route to a Ph.D.)

The M.A. degree is awarded to a student after two years in residence, provided that the following requirements have been met:

1. Good narrative evaluations from 12 completed five-unit courses;
2. Completion of the first language requirement (for students in European and East Asian history);
3. Approval of an M.A. essay of 25-30 pages.

The Master’s Degree Essay

Students are required to produce a substantial research essay (25-30 pages) grounded in original research in primary historical documents. A successful essay will reflect a general understanding of the field of inquiry along with a critical grasp of the scholarship that currently defines the field; deep knowledge of the specific subject under investigation; the application of appropriate analytical models; and a well-supported interpretation of the materials explored. This essay could (but need not) be a segment of a larger project; but it must be a complete, self-contained essay in and of itself.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination (QE) emphasizes field mastery, integration of material from different fields, and focused preparation for dissertation research. The QE is a three-hour meeting with your QE committee during which you will present and discuss the dossier that has been submitted to the committee at least three weeks in advance. The exam is normally taken by the spring quarter of your third year, but no later than the end of the 10th quarter of residency.

Students are required to prepare four fields as follows:

• Primary Field of Concentration. One of three fields: American history; European history 1500 to the present; East Asian history 1600 to the present.
• Research Field. Normally a subfield of the primary field with a focus on your specific area of research interests. It is also the field most closely connected to your work in a specific research cluster.
• Second Teaching Field. Chosen from the above list of primary fields, with the addition of world history, or, where appropriate, a comparative, thematic field such as gender, colonialism, etc.
• Outside Field. One field outside history, such as American studies, anthropology, literature, women's studies, politics, sociology, or history of consciousness. You will select a field of topical, thematic, or methodological relevance to your dissertation. Your faculty adviser must approve the outside field.

Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial work of original scholarship that demonstrates the student's familiarity with previous relevant scholarship as well as the ability to work with and evaluate historical evidence. Students will normally finalize their dissertation proposals in the quarter following their QE.

Advising

Upon admission to the program, a student will be assigned a faculty adviser whose field of expertise most closely matches the student’s research interests. Advisers will approve a student’s program of study and provide an annual review of progress.

Support Funding

The History Department counts support of Ph.D. students who are in good standing as a high priority. Students normally are supported through teaching assistantships. Students who are advanced to candidacy are eligible to teach summer session courses and/or a one-quarter teaching fellowship (pending funding). Some fellowships are available to first-year and advanced students through university-wide competition. Additionally, the department offers a limited number of small fellowships for research and travel.

Parenthetical Notations Latin American & Latino Studies and Feminist Studies

Graduate students in history may obtain a parenthetical notation on the history Ph.D. diploma indicating that they have specialized in either Latin American & Latino studies or women's studies. Students must fulfill all of the requirements for the parenthetical notation in addition to the History Department requirements. Further information is available at Latin American & Latino Studies Department and at Women Studies Department.