Best Graduate Programs in History - Updated 2020

The goal of the doctoral program is to train students to become both skilled scholars and conscientious teachers. Throughout the program students work with advisors and other faculty members as they engage in coursework, prepare for and take the general exam, work as teaching fellows, and research and write the dissertation. On average it takes seven years to receive the doctoral degree. Most graduates have pursued academic careers at universities and colleges in the United States and abroad, while others have gone on to successful careers in law and in government.

The official requirements for the graduate program in History are detailed in the Graduate School of Arts and Science Programs and Policy Handbook. Important elements of the history program are summarized here, but students should refer to the Programs and Policy guide to check any technical requirements.

The MA in History and Literature trains students in historical approaches to the study of literature and in the interpretation of texts for the study of history. As a Columbia degree taught in France, the MA in History and Literature offers an attractive and unusual combination of Ivy League and European academics. The curriculum is designed, administered, and primarily part taught by Columbia faculty. It therefore reflects the intellectual values and standards of Columbia University.

The JD PhD Program is designed to train the next generation of legal historians, who will teach American legal history in law schools, history departments, specialized graduate programs, and legal studies programs. Students in this program have the opportunity to earn a combined JD PhD in a condensed time frame while complementing their studies in each field with knowledge and research in the other. The History requires that the student complete the full PhD coursework, which may include several courses from the Law School curriculum.

The doctoral program in History and Philosophy of Science is a unique program offering students instruction leading to a discipline-based PhD that prepares them for positions in history, philosophy, and theology or religion departments, and in specialized programs in the history and philosophy of science. Faculty members are drawn from several University departments, including English, History, Philosophy, and Theology.

The History Department at Brown trains MA and PhD students in a wide range of fields, methodologies, and regions of the globe. As a medium-sized program, we offer an intimate setting that fosters tightly-knit cohorts and that offers the opportunity to work closely with world-class scholars in research and teaching. We aim for a diverse intellectual atmosphere and a diverse student body, and prize comparative, connective, and collaborative thinking across chronological and geographical borders.

The Combined B.A./M.A. Program will allow outstanding students of the History of Art and Architecture to complete a BA and MA in five years. The MA is a valuable qualification for museum and gallery work, heritage management and preservation, or professional school. Furthermore, it is excellent preparation for students who wish to explore the possibility of pursuing a PhD in history of art, architecture, and visual culture.

The Jewish history graduate program, part of the Emory University Laney Graduate School’s doctoral program in History, trains students interested in the Jewish experience in a variety of chronological periods, with special strength in the modern era. The Ph.D. program in Jewish history provides students with rigorous training in their fields of specialization while encouraging comparative study. Students who focus on Jewish history are encouraged to study its chronological breadth while choosing a geographic area of specialization for coursework and examinations. The Certificate Program will offer students a credential beyond their program training that strengthens their ability to compete for national fellowships, postdoctoral awards, and tenure-track positions in Jewish history.

The graduate program in history is designed to provide professional training in history, with the expectation that most of its Ph.D. graduates will take teaching positions in colleges and universities. The Corcoran Department of History offers courses of study leading to the Ph.D. degree. Students typically earn M.A. degrees after the second year en route to the Ph.D. The department does not normally offer a stand-alone M.A. program.

The program is small by design, and students receive an exceptional level of individual attention from faculty. The program strongly emphasizes research, and all students participate in a year-long research seminar. We also offer several opportunities for students to develop additional skills: a workshop in digital humanities methods that draws on Carnegie Mellon’s strength in computing and technology; a workshop on public and applied history; and a funded internship program.