About PhD Program,
The Department of History offers doctoral degrees in African, American, Asian, and European history. The PhD program is distinguished by the strength of its faculty and by its commitment to training students broadly and as a community. Through guided steps of coursework, preparation for the comprehensive oral examination, archival research, and dissertation writing, students learn to develop and execute original research designs leading to scholarly publications that make original and important contributions to the historical discipline. At the same time, the department also prepares students to become the next generation of effective history teachers, able to instruct on a wide range of topics. To that end, all incoming doctoral students together take a core of classes in African, American, and European historiographies to learn about histories and methodologies outside their chosen field. PhD students also serve as Teaching Fellows in a wide range of lecture courses, acquiring professional and pedagogical skills under the guidance of faculty mentors. The department’s graduates have become professors at research universities, colleges, and community colleges, and staff members at research libraries, museums, and archives.
There are six components to the PhD program. In the first two years, students are asked to complete their coursework: specific courses, major research papers, and language examinations. By the end of their third year, students must pass a qualifying oral examination and submit a dissertation prospectus. After they have completed their dissertation, they engage in a dissertation defense.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The departmental Graduate Studies Committee consists of three faculty members. This committee reads and makes recommendations to the Graduate School on all applications. The process begins in January and continues until all applications received by deadline have been considered. Applications are not considered until they are complete, that is, have the requisite letters of recommendation, and relevant transcripts. After waiting for any missing credentials to arrive, the department will send a notice that an application is incomplete; it is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all materials are submitted. Admission decisions will be made by mid-April, and admitted MA students will have two weeks from the time of that notification to accept or decline the offer of admission.
Please also scroll down this page for our answers to some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about graduate admissions.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All applicants accepted to the PhD program receive full fellowship funding for 5 years, including summer support. MA students are not eligible for financial aid. After one year of full-time coursework, PhD students serve as Teaching Fellows. To conduct research abroad, students may apply to the Graduate School for short-term and long-term research grants. The department also offers small travel grants to conduct research and attend conferences. PhD students in their fifth year with an approved Dissertation Prospectus qualify for a non-service fellowship to support full-time work on their dissertation.
Application Requirement,
- Online Application Form
- All relevant transcripts – unofficial copies (official transcripts are only needed for students who have accepted an admission offer)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement/statement of purpose
- Resume/CV
- Writing sample (not more than 40 pages)
- Statement on foreign language competence (a list of courses or other training you have completed in languages and an assessment of your reading ability in each language–terms such as “beginning”,”intermediate,” “advanced,” “fluent” are acceptable); this statement should be added to the Graduate School’s online application under Department-Requested Document.
- Do not send any admissions materials to the History Department.Send supplementary application materials to:
Admissions Office
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Boston University
705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112
Boston, MA 02215 - A $95 application fee must be paid in order for your application to be considered complete. This fee is non-refundable. Information on fee waivers for MAand PhD applicants is available on the Graduate School website.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
A $95 application fee must be paid in order for your application to be considered complete. This fee is non-refundable. Information on fee waivers for MA and PhD applicants is available on the Graduate School website.