Overview

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements are formally codified in the University Catalog. Candidates for the Ph.D. in History must complete a minimum of 72 graduate credits to earn their degree. 

• 24 credits of Core Courses
• 15 credits of courses for the Major Field
• 9 credits of courses for the Minor Field
• 6 credits of electives chosen
• 18 credits of Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (HIST 998) and Doctoral Dissertation Research (HIST 999), in varying combinations.
• Successful completion of minor and major field exams.
• Successful production and defense of a doctoral dissertation.

Each of these degree requirements is described in fuller detail in menus adjacent to this page.

Catalog Year

Degree requirements are defined by the University Catalog for the year a student entered the program (also known as “catalog year” or “catalog term”). The University Catalog always defaults to the current academic year, so students who began their doctoral studies in a previous academic year should search for their degree requirements in the Catalog Archives.

Time Limit

The University requires students to advance to candidacy within six calendar years of their initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program. They must complete and defend the dissertation within nine calendar years from the time of their initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program. For example, if a student initially enrolled in Fall 2025, they have until December 2031 to advance to candidacy and December 2034 to graduate. 

Tracking Progress

The Graduate Coordinator maintains an official file for each student, documenting the fulfillment of requirements on an individualized Program of Study form. Students should work in regular consultation with the Ph.D. Director and their faculty mentors/advisors to make decisions about the structure and timeline of their degree.