History PhD

Program Code: G-HIST-PHD
Degree Designation: Doctor of Philosophy
Department: History Department
Website: history.duke.edu/graduate

Program Summary

Candidates for the degree of doctor of philosophy prepare themselves for examinations in three or four fields, at least three of which shall be in history. The choice of fields is determined in consultation with the student’s supervisor and the director of graduate studies. The department offers graduate instruction in the broad historical areas of North America; Latin America; Europe; Great Britain and the Commonwealth; Russia; Japan; China; South Asia; Middle East; and Africa; and in the thematic fields of women’s history; military history; history of science, technology, and medicine; environmental history; labor history; and slave societies.

Academic Requirements

The candidate for the PhD must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language, ancient or modern, prior to the preliminary examination. All students are expected to take History 701, 702, 703, and 704. In addition, each student has to take a combination of reading colloquia courses (History 790S-01 through 790S-14) and research seminars (courses numbered History 890S-01 through History 890S-14), or equivalent classes.