What Can You Do With a PHD in History?
A Ph.D. in history is the terminal degree in the field and can take up to seven years of study beyond any undergraduate studies. This article details the history Ph.D. and what graduates may do with this degree.
History Ph.D.: Overview
Earning a Ph.D. in history generally requires between five and ten years of graduate study. Because history is such a broad subject, students looking to earn their Ph.D. will likely have to choose a specialty of history in which to earn this advanced degree.
Some potential Ph.D. programs in history include American history, ancient history, medieval Europe, modern Europe, Jewish history, East Asian history, women's history and Latin American history. The specific subject of history the student chooses may be based upon his or her undergraduate or master's degree work.
Within each history major, students will be required to study the culture, politics, foreign policy, potential colonialism, reformations, gender theory and writings of the place and time the student chooses. Students may also be required to work as teaching assistants during their Ph.D. work, which involves assisting professors in teaching courses to undergraduate students, as well as completing a doctoral dissertation. The doctoral dissertation is a research report summarizing a specific piece of work the student has chosen within their history specialization. The student often works on this with an advisor, who is usually a university professor, over the course of his or her studies.
Careers for Graduates with a History Ph.D.
Most students earning their Ph.D. in history go onto become professors at the university level. Professors are required to both teach and conduct research on behalf of the university and then present that research at conferences with other professors.
Professors may advance in both pay and standing within the university by publishing their research work in a university press and independent journals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), the medial annual earnings of professors as of May, 2008 were $58,830 and the American Association of University Professors found in a 2008-2009 survey that full-time university faculty averaged $79,439.
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Other Schools:
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School locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Human and Consumer Sciences
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
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- Religious Studies
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- Social Studies and History
- History of Science and Technology
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School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at The University of Texas include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
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School locations:
- Indiana (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Indiana University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Consumer Sciences
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
- History of Science and Technology
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School locations:
- Massachusetts (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Harvard University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
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- American History
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
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School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Texas Tech University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Consumer Sciences
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
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- Social Science and Studies
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School locations:
- Washington (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
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School locations:
- New York (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Syracuse University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Consumer Sciences
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
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School locations:
- Connecticut (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Connecticut include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
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School locations:
- Illinois (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Illinois include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: First Professional Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Social Services
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
