The Department of History offers PhD students dedicated mentors, accomplished peers, professional development opportunities, teacher training, and in-house research grants. Students graduate ready for faculty positions and careers beyond the academy. Graduate study in history at the University of Georgia offers many advantages: a top notch faculty; a small program allowing for a great deal of individual mentoring; the resources of a major research university; and an excellent record of placement. There are significant concentrations of strength in early America, African America, American South, Latin America, Europe, social and cultural history, history of capitalism, gender and sexuality, war and society, religions, transnational history, and the history of agriculture and the environment.
The PhD program in history requires 30 semester hours beyond the MA. Exceptionally qualified students holding a BA degree may be admitted directly into the doctoral program. The graduate program stresses research and writing under faculty guidance. In addition, students may receive practical experience in teaching by holding teaching assistantships. The department awards a number of teaching and research assistantships each year.
Director of Graduate Studies Jennifer Palmer, Associate Professor hiscoord@uga.edu Graduate Program Advisor/Graduate Program Administrator Laurie Kane history@uga.edu 706 542-2053 or 706 542-2298 www.history.uga.edu
30 hours minimum
Apply to the UGA Graduate School and include the following: Three Letters of recommendation CV or resume Statement of Purpose (goals, objectives, and research ideas) 8-15 page research paper (writing sample) Unofficial transcripts Although an M.A. is not required for admission, previous coursework and training should reflect preparation for advanced study in history (e.g. coursework in history, research experience, publications, presentations, M.A. or senior thesis). International students: For students whose primary language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required. Students need to submit official university documents according to the UGA Graduate School requirements. Students will also have to show certificate of finances upon acceptance to the program. Application deadline is December 1 for the following fall. History accepts applications only for fall admission of each year.
| HIST 7400 | Professional Development for Historians | 3 |
| HIST 7900 | Theory and Practice of History | 3 |
| HIST 8001 | Teaching History in Colleges and Universities | 3 |
Choose 1 course(s) from the following:
| GEOG 4370/6370-4370L/6370L | Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| GRMN 3500 * | German for Reading Knowledge | 3 |
| HIST 7500 | History, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis | 3 |
Students may also submit a course to the Major Professor and Graduate Director for approval. *Courses below 6000-level do not count towards graduate degrees
Choose 4 course(s) from the following:
| HIST(AFAM) 8005 | Colloquium in African American History | 3 |
| HIST 8027 | United States Women, Politics, and History | 3 |
| HIST 8040 | Colloquium in Southern History | 3 |
| HIST 8050 | State and Society in Modern America | 3 |
| HIST 8060 | Colloquium in United States Cultural History | 3 |
| HIST 8100 | The Early American Continent | 3 |
| HIST 8111 | Colloquium in North American History and United States History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 8112 | Colloquium in United States History: 1865 to the present | 3 |
| HIST 8220 | Colloquium in Latin American and Caribbean History | 3 |
| HIST 8321 | Colloquium in Premodern European History | 3 |
| HIST 8322 | Colloquium in Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| HIST 8323 | Colloquium in Modern European History | 3 |
| HIST 8600 | Colloquium in Asian History | 3 |
| HIST 8650 | Colloquium in Pacific World History | 3 |
| HIST 8700 | Colloquium in Comparative History | 3 |
| HIST 8705 | Colloquium in World History | 3 |
| HIST 8710 | Colloquium on Gender in History | 3 |
| HIST 8712 | Colloquium in Atlantic World History | 3 |
| HIST 8715 | Economy as History | 3 |
| HIST 8720 | Colloquium in Warfare in History | 3 |
| HIST 8740 | Gastric Geographies: Food as Power in World History | 3 |
| HIST 8750 | Colloquium in Environmental History | 3 |
| HIST 8760 | Colloquium on Science and Society | 3 |
| HIST 8765 | Colloquium in History, Museums, and Collections | 3 |
| HIST 8770 | Colloquium in Public History | 3 |
Choose 2 to 3 courses from the following:
| HIST 8010 | Seminar in Early American History | 3 |
| HIST 8020 | Seminar in Middle Period United States History | 3 |
| HIST 8030 | Seminar in Recent United States History | 3 |
| HIST 8325 | The Cold War | 3 |
| HIST 8330 | Seminar in Twentieth-Century Europe | 3 |
| HIST 8711 | The Atlantic World, 1500-1900 | 3 |
| HIST 8860 | Seminar in History | 3 |
*A 3rd seminar is required of students without a Master's degree in history.
| HIST 9010 (3-9 hours) | Advanced Doctoral Studies in History | 1-24 |
| HIST 9300 (3-9 hours) | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-9 |
| GRSC 7001 | GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar | 1 |
| GRSC 7770 * | Graduate Teaching Seminar | 1-3 |
*Required for all new Teaching Assistants
The doctoral program of study must consist of 16 or more hours of 8000- and 9000-level courses in addition to research, dissertation writing, and directed study. The program of study for a student who bypasses the master's degree must contain 4 semester hours of University of Georgia courses open only to graduate students in addition to 16 semester hours of 8000 and 9000 level courses. HIST 9000, HIST 9005, HIST 9300, and independent study courses may not be counted in these 20 hours.
Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with the Major Professor or Graduate Director, to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.
HIST 7400 and HIST 7900 should be taken during the first year. HIST 8001 should be taken after all other required coursework except HIST 9300. HIST 9010 should be taken the semester in which oral comprehensive exams are scheduled. HIST 9300 should be taken after the completion of all required coursework and after passing doctoral comprehensive exams.
Research Skills: Students have the option of taking a university translation exam or graduate class appropriate to the research program as approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
The History Department prepares candidates for placement in the history profession and other career pathways. Working with their advisory committee and the graduate coordinator, job candidates develop techniques for crafting letters of application, writing an effective CV, and compiling a dossier of writing samples and letters of recommendation. In the teacher training course, HIST 8001, PhD students learn to write effective statements of teaching philosophy and sample course syllabi. PhD students take a number of workshops in CV/resume writing, the job market, the diversity of career paths for graduate students, publishing and preparing to publish, and career presentations by visiting professionals.
Our PhDs have an excellent placement record, despite the tightness of the job market. UGA history PhDs hold faculty positions in many major universities, and graduates of our program have also developed successful careers in related professional fields, including law, business, government, and education.
Qualified students will be nominated by the Graduate Program Committee for Graduate School prestigious fellowships including the Presidential, PHD Fellows, the GSRA, and for other fellowship and assistantship opportunities. All admitted students are considered for our available department teaching assistantships. A number of annual awards are made each year to our graduate students (nominated by their faculty) for excellence in scholarship and leadership. Students also are encouraged to seek outside fellowships and scholarships. More funding sources and links may be found at https://hist.franklin.uga.edu/funding-graduate-students.
Students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities domestically and abroad, in alliance with their research and career goals.
The department has partnered with the Atlanta History Center to create the Sheffield Hale Fellowship, a paid internship at the History Center’s Buckhead campus. Some of the past projects that students have assisted with include the updated exhibit at the Margaret Mitchell House as well as topics such including the Atlanta airport and Civil War Era Atlanta. Students will gain invaluable knowledge about all aspects of the museum industry including exhibitions, collections, administration, and education. A joint partnership between the department and UGA Press offers a yearlong graduate editorial apprenticeship with the press. In this role graduate students will learn how scholarly publishing operates. They will understand how books are acquired, peer reviewed, developed, and edited for publication.
Other internships our students have taken advantage of are the Gable Editorial Internship for the Public Historian, internships at the New Georgia encyclopedia, and student employment at UGA Special Collections Libraries.
Students are encouraged to present their research at conferences, professional meetings, and symposia. Students have the opportunity to apply for departmental travel grants for research and conference participation for use during the fall, spring, or summer semesters. All department graduate students are eligible to apply for this funding.
The Graduate School also offers Graduate School travel grants, competitive travel funding for students presenting their research at conferences and professional meetings. These awards can be up to $1,000 for domestic and $1,500 for international travel.
Students may pursue graduate certificate programs in other units such as Women's Studies, Latin American Studies, African American Studies, and more.
History Graduate Student Association (HGSA), Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society, Inc.
M.A. History Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies (Interdisciplinary)