How to Find a Good Ph.D. Program in History

The academic job market for historians is fiercely competitive as the number of qualified applicants far outweighs the number of available positions. Financial cutbacks for the social sciences forced many history departments to freeze hiring or hire only adjunct faculty. Here's how to find a Ph.D. program in history that will give you the competitive edge when you hit the job market.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Choose a specialization. You should only apply to graduate programs that fit your needs in terms of available coursework and faculty who conduct research in your area of interest. If you want to specialize in Latin American history, for example, the University of Texas-Austin is the top-ranked program. If you're more interested in women's history, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Rutgers rank highest.
2. Read faculty profiles and curriculum vitas before submitting an application. Find at least 2 professors working in your areas of interest. You will eventually need to work with faculty to publish work. Publishing original work is an important aspect of any graduate history program and a crucial factor in Ph.D. hiring decisions.
3. Research graduate placement. Most graduate history programs provide information on their websites regarding employment of former doctoral students. Find out where graduates work and how long it took them to get a job after earning their Ph.D. Look for a program with success placing people in academic and non-academic positions.
4. Inquire about foreign language requirements. Most graduate history programs require proficiency in at least one language besides English for incoming students. If you're already able to read and write in a language relevant to your area, ask if you can take an examination to place out of courses. Language requirements for the Ph.D. depend on your area of specialization. If you plan to concentrate on Latin American history, for example, a department may require fluency in Portuguese, Spanish and French.
5. Find out about financial aid. Most graduate programs offer stipend and tuition waivers to top applicants. The stipend generally requires 20 hours of work per week as a research or teaching assistant. Stipend amounts vary greatly among history programs, so apply only to schools that can meet your financial needs.
6. Learn about degree requirements. If you have a Master's degree in an area other than history, or plan to enter a different program for your Ph.D., you may have to take some classes again. All Ph.D. candidates must pass area exams, usually in at least 2 areas of historical inquiry. Each department will also have coursework requirements and dissertation guidelines. To receive your Ph.D. in history, you'll have to fulfill all requirements, usually within a given time frame.
7. Apply to graduate history programs that meet your needs. The better the fit, the more successful you'll be, which increases the likelihood of getting your dream job.

Tips & Warnings

• Since there are so few tenure-track positions available, figure out what you can do with your Ph.D. outside of academia. Historians pursue careers in law, politics, writing or high school teaching. A good Ph.D. program in history will give you the skills necessary to succeed in a variety of fields.
• The American Historical Association has a comprehensive list of graduate history programs on their website. You can search the list by university name or by areas of specialization, such as history of technology and United States history. There is a link to each program with specific information about course offerings, degree requirements, student demographics and other relevant topics.
• Start your search for a history program with U.S. News and World Report. They publish graduate school rankings every year.

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