Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program in history at UC Santa Cruz has a global and transnational orientation, and emphasizes an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to historical studies, encouraging innovative thinking about global historical processes. In consultation with their faculty advisors, Ph.D. students complete courses of study and original research that bring together their temporal, geographical and thematic or methodological interests. Every student also acquires expertise in a more broadly conceived primary teaching field, defined in terms of geography and period, as well as a secondary teaching field that is focused on a different region or analytical approach.

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