History, Ph.D.
Degree Requirements
Minimum of 60 hours post baccalaureate; minimum of 30 hours post Master’s Degree (additional hours post-Master’s may be required based on consultation with an advisory committee)
The Ph.D. is offered in the following major fields:
- U.S. to 1877
- U.S. Since 1789
- Latin America
- History of Science, Technology, and Environment
- Global, Comparative and Connective Histories
- Public, Digital, and Interdisciplinary History
Note that coursework is also offered in the following areas: Early Modern Europe and Modern Europe.
Ph.D. candidates choose three fields of specialization: a major and two minor fields.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Historiographic and Theoretical Coursework | 6 | |
| 800 level Research Prospectus | 3 | |
| Major Field | 12 | |
| Secondary and Tertiary Fields | 15 | |
| 800 level Research Seminars | 6 | |
| Foreign Language Competency or Methodological Equivalent | ||
| Four Qualifying Exams | ||
| HIST 899 | Dissertation Preparation | 12-18 |
| Total Credit Hours | 54-60 | |
Major Field (12 Hours)
Students must take 12 credit hours in the selected major field.
Secondary and Tertiary Fields (15 Hours)
In consultation with their advisor, each student must identify secondary (9 hours) and tertiary fields (6 hours). Both minor fields must come from the major fields listed above. In consultation with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies, students may explore focus areas within these fields, including but not limited to, African American History, Histories of Gender and Sexuality, History of Religion, Atlantic History, History of Magic and Occult Sciences, and Histories of Urbanization and Sustainability.
Credit Hours Shall be Distributed as Follows:
Historiographic and Theoretical Training (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 720 | Introduction to the Study of History | 3 |
| HIST 783 | History and Theory | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
800-Level Research Seminar (3 Hours)
In addition to the research seminar required for the M.A.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 815 | Dissertation Prospectus Seminar | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Major Field (12 Hours)
U.S. to 1877
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 701 | Reading Seminar in Colonial American History 1 | 3 |
| HIST 702 | Reading Seminar in American History, 1789-1876 1 | 3 |
| For the remaining credit requirements, students may pick from the following: | ||
| HIST 700 | Topics in History | 3 |
| HIST 752 | Readings in American Colonial History | 3 |
| HIST/WGST 757 | African American Women in Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | 3 |
| HIST/WGST 764 | History of American Women | 3 |
| HIST 797 | American Historiography | 3 |
U.S. Since 1789
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 702 | Reading Seminar in American History, 1789-1876 1 | 3 |
| HIST 703 | Reading Seminar in American History since 1876 1 | 3 |
| For remaining credit requirements, students may pick from the following: | ||
| HIST 640 | South Carolina History | 3 |
| HIST 700 | Topics in History | 3 |
| HIST 755 | Contemporary United States | 3 |
| HIST/WGST 757 | African American Women in Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | 3 |
| HIST/WGST 764 | History of American Women | 3 |
| HIST 797 | American Historiography | 3 |
Latin America
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 773 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 774 | Atlantic World History, 15th to 19th Century | 3 |
| HIST 775 | Comparative History of Slavery in the Americas from the 15th to the 19th Century | 3 |
| HIST 776 | History of Brazil | 3 |
| HIST 785 | Comparative History of Time | 3 |
History of Science, Technology, and Environment
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 601 | Science, Technology, and Environment: A Historical Introduction (all students must take) | 3 |
| HIST 712 | Reading Seminar in Special Fields | 3 |
| HIST 787 | Material Culture Studies | 3 |
| HIST 777 | Theory and Methodology of Religious History | 3 |
Global, Comparative and Connective Histories
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 600 | Approaches to Global History | 3 |
| HIST/PEDU 741 | Readings in the Social History of Sport | 3 |
| HIST 774 | Atlantic World History, 15th to 19th Century | 3 |
| HIST 777 | Theory and Methodology of Religious History | 3 |
| HIST 775 | Comparative History of Slavery in the Americas from the 15th to the 19th Century | 3 |
| HIST 785 | Comparative History of Time | 3 |
| HIST 778 | Global History of Capitalism: Approaches and Issues | 3 |
| With advisor permission, select up to 6 credits of Independent Study in the Regional and Area Studies Courses listed in the Academic Bulletin. | 6 | |
Public, Digital, and Interdisciplinary History
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Take 12 credits from the areas listed below. Credits may come from a single topic or draw from both topics as deemed necessary by the advisor. Normally, students may apply up to 6 hours non-HIST courses to their degree. Students specializing in Public History must complete a portfolio project and 145 hour internship in addition to their qualifying exam. | 12 | |
| Public and Digital History (up to 12 hours) | ||
| Spatial Approaches to Historical Research | ||
| Historic Preservation Field Experience--Charleston, S.C. | ||
| History and Theory of Museums | ||
| Comparative Applied History, U.S. and U.K. | ||
| Material Culture Studies | ||
| Memory, History, and Space | ||
| Historic Site Interpretation | ||
| Seminar in Historical Archaeology | ||
| Public Archaeology | ||
| History of American Architecture | ||
| Data Visualization | ||
| Social Justice Storytelling and Advocacy | ||
| Administration and Management of Museums | ||
| Exhibition Development | ||
| Collecting, Collections Management, and Curatorial Practice | ||
| Interdisciplinary History and Methods (up to 12 hours) | ||
| Spatial Approaches to Historical Research | ||
| Science, Technology, and Environment: A Historical Introduction | ||
| Historical Research Methods | ||
| Special Topics in U.S. Film and Media | ||
| Special Topics in African American Literature and Culture | ||
| Feminist Theories and Epistemologies | ||
| Seminar in Women's Studies | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Secondary and Tertiary Fields (15 Hours)
In order for graduate students to be trained broadly in the discipline of history, the secondary or tertiary field should be clearly distinguishable as a separate field of study. Students may pick their secondary and tertiary fields from the bulletin fields.
The secondary field requires 12 units in a field. The tertiary field requires 6 units for a total of 15 credits in the minor fields.
Research Seminars (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 800 | Topics in History Research | 3 |
| HIST 802 | Research Seminar in American History, 1789-1876 | 3 |
| HIST 803 | Research Seminar in American History, 1876-Present | 3 |
| HIST 811 | Research Seminar in Latin American History | 3 |
Additional Information
Ph.D. candidates must file a program of study immediately after their admission to candidacy, which follows the successful completion of the qualifying examination or comes no later than 24 months after entering the program. Students are required to complete 24 hours of course work, at least half at the 700-level or above.
Doctoral students are required to take a minimum of 18 hours of course work beyond the M.A., but additional hours may be specified by their advisor and approved by the Committee of Graduate Studies. Ph.D. students should expect to take at least 12 hours of dissertation preparation (HIST 899).
The Graduate School allows students to take up to two independent studies. In most cases, independent studies will be limited to tertiary fields and/or less commonly taught areas within the approved bulletin fields. Normally, students will be allowed to apply up to 6 credits of non-HIST courses to their coursework.
Every Ph.D. student shall prove competency in at least one foreign language or appropriate methodology. Additional languages and/or methodological requirements will be determined by the student’s program advisory committee when the chosen fields or research interests demand more.
For qualifying exams, the major field will have two examiners, and there will be two four-hour examinations. Students will complete four written exams in three fields. These are the three fields in which courses have been taken, though the exams cover more than just coursework. There are four exams and four examiners – two in the primary field and one for each of the minor fields. All requirements for attaining the degree (except for completion of the dissertation) shall be accomplished prior to taking the comprehensive examination in the major field. This includes the satisfactory completion of the language requirement and the removal of any grades of incomplete. If a student fails, the exam may be retaken one time and must be administered by the same examiner(s).
If a student fails, the exam may be retaken one time and must be administered by the same examiner(s).
Oral examinations covering the major and minor fields will be scheduled after the successful completion of written examinations in all fields.
In order to achieve official ABD status, all students shall orally present and defend a written dissertation proposal to their committee and other interested members of the department. The dissertation prospectus defense will take place while the student is enrolled in HIST 815 or, with the approval of the committee, shortly after completion of the course.
Finally, candidates will prepare for submission a dissertation that is expected to represent a substantial contribution to historical knowledge.