Overview
With a program and faculty that are recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally, the history department at the University of Miami is dedicated to producing Ph.D.s of the highest quality. Our selective program offers close, individualized training for the next generation of teachers and researchers who will shape and lead the historical profession. While we have particular strengths in the histories of Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and the United States, our faculty shares interests that cut across geographies: gender and sexuality; religion; race and ethnicity; law; and economy, among others. Additionally, we have a strong commitment to interdisciplinarity, as we actively maintain bridges to other departments, programs, and centers at the University of Miami. Our graduate students are encouraged to take advantage of these dynamic scholarly connections as they cultivate their own intellectual pursuits.
Admissions
We are looking for applicants with a record of outstanding academic achievement and evidence of potential success in graduate studies, attributes which can be measured in various ways such as grades, recommendations, written work, and test scores. Students with a master’s from an accredited institution may apply for admission to the doctoral program. Students with a bachelor’s degree only and with very strong credentials may be admitted into the doctoral program. Applicants must meet the admissions requirements set by both the graduate school, which are listed in its materials, and the department of history.
Because one of the strengths of our program is a close working relationship between faculty members and students, we cannot always accept qualified applicants when no one in the department can provide the guidance they need in their area of interest. Applicants should explore the listing of faculty on our website and contact the DGS or relevant faculty members if they have any questions.
The complete application contains:
- A completed application form.
- A completed financial aid application, if seeking aid.
- Three letters of recommendation, preferably from the applicant’s former professors.
- Recent Graduate Record Examination scores.
- For international students, TOEFL scores.
- Official transcripts.
- A detailed statement from the student indicating:
- the student’s background and education;
- the student’s interests (field, topic, etc.);
- why the student wants to pursue a graduate degree in history at the University of Miami; and
- what the student plans to do with the degree upon completion.
This statement constitutes a very important part of the application review process and should indicate the student’s understanding of the professional nature of the training that the student is about to begin.
- A representative writing sample.
Admission from M.A. to Ph.D. Status
Students admitted at the master’s level who are performing well in their studies are encouraged to proceed to Ph.D. status. Advisors who believe that a student should be admitted to the Ph.D. program, and have the consent of the student, inform the DGS of this desire early in the spring semester and at least before the annual departmental meeting reviewing graduate students’ progress. The request is then reviewed by the department at its annual meeting for recommendation to the graduate committee. Students who move from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program are eligible for the same number of years’ aid as students entering the Ph.D. program directly from the B.A., minus the years of aid they have already received. For course requirements, see below.
Deadlines
January 5: Applications for admissions and aid for Fall semester.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Course Work 6 | ||
| 45 credit hours (5 semesters) of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with a B.A. | 45 | |
| Minimum of 27 credit hours (3 semesters) of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another university. | ||
| Minimum of 27 additional credit hours (3 semesters) of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another program at the University of Miami. | ||
| Minimum of 24 additional credit hours of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from the History Department at the University of Miami. | ||
| Historiography 7 | ||
| Research Seminar Part 1 and Research Seminar Part 2 8 | ||
| History as a Profession 9 | ||
| Dissertation Prospectus Seminar 10 | ||
| Foreign Language 11 | ||
| Comprehensive Exam 12 | ||
| Dissertation Research Credit Hours 13 | 15 | |
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Post-Candidacy Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Dissertation 14 | ||
| Total Credit Hours 15 | 60 | |
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The required credit hours of coursework are only the formal minimum. Although course work is necessary preparation for the comprehensive examination, students are examined on the mastery of fields of knowledge rather than courses. The number of courses taken depends on the student’s background, choice of fields, nature of related work, language skills, etc. Courses should be selected only after consultation with the Major Advisor.
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This course is normally given in the fall semester. All students are required to take the Historiography course in their first year. The credit hours from this course are included in the total required.
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Typically, students take HIS 701 and HIS 702 in their 2nd and 3rd semesters in the program. The credit hours from these courses are included in the total required.
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Typically, students take HIS 762 in their forth semester in the program. The credit hours from this course are included in the total required.
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Typically, students take HIS 722 in their 5th semester in the program. The credit hours from this course are included in the total required.
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Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge in at least one foreign language. Reading knowledge in additional languages may be required by the major advisor.
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The comprehensive examination for Ph.D. candidates consists of written and oral examinations in three fields. All doctoral students are expected to take their comprehensive exams no later than their 6th semester in the program.
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Following the completion of course credit hours, students will need to take sufficient dissertation research credit hours (HIS 830 if before the comprehensive examination has been passed; HIS 840 after passage of the comprehensive examination) to reach a total of 60 credit hours beyond the B.A. in order to receive the doctorate. Graduate School rules require that students take a minimum of 12 dissertation credit hours. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another university or from another program at the University of Miami receive 30 credit hours towards the 60 credit hour requirement.
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For requirements relating to the dissertation, see below.
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As indicated, the number of required course credit hours varies depending on the student’s previous graduate work, but all students must reach a total of 60 credit hours beyond the B.A.
Committee
Upon admission to the program, the student is assigned a provisional major advisor. As noted above, students should then concur or select a different advisor by the beginning of the second semester in the program. An advisory committee of four or five, including the major advisor and faculty members representing the second and third fields, must be formed no later than the student’s third semester in the program. It is the responsibility of the student and the advisor to form this committee and notify the DGS of its composition. The major advisor chairs the advisory committee and oversees the student’s course of study and progress in the program. The advisory committee will also administer the oral and written comprehensive examinations. Students may change advisor and other committee members throughout the program provided that the faculty member(s) selected agree(s).
Incompletes
All incompletes from the fall semester must be made up by the official end of the following spring semester. All incompletes from the spring semester must be made up before the official start of the subsequent fall semester. No student will be allowed to proceed to exams until all incompletes have been made up.
Languages Requirement
Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language is required. More than one foreign language may be required if the major advisor deems it necessary.
Comprehensive Examinations
It is the responsibility of the student and major advisor to organize the comprehensive examinations. Students may take them at any time of the year that classes are in session. Arrangements for the exams, including selection of their dates and a final list of committee members, should be made by the end of the first month of the semester in question, with notification to the Department Chair and DGS.
The student takes the written part of the examinations in three history fields, which are normally administered over a period of two successive weeks. The portion for each field is four hours in duration. Only after the advisory committee deems that the student has successfully passed the written portions for each field is the student permitted to take the oral part of the examination.
The oral section covers the three history fields and is approximately two hours in duration. The prospectus may form part of the discussion, but the examination will focus on coverage of the fields. The committee consists of at least three faculty members.
The student advances to candidate status after passing the comprehensive examinations and submitting an acceptable dissertation prospectus.
Students who have not already received a master’s degree from the University of Miami will be awarded an M.A. upon successful completion of their doctoral comprehensive exams.
Dissertation
After passing the examinations, students form a dissertation committee. This may be the original advisory committee, but it may also be revised to meet the needs of the dissertation work. The students, in consultation with the Major Advisor, put forward the names of individuals suggested to serve on the dissertation committee. The committee must be comprised of at least three members within the department and one outside the department. The committee is then approved and appointed by the dean of the graduate school.
The dissertation must make a significant contribution to the candidate’s field of specialization. It must meet the highest standards of research, substance, and form, and demonstrate an ability to conduct and report independent and original scholarly investigation.
The student must apply for graduation in his or her penultimate semester (i.e. fall for spring semester).
Upon completion of the dissertation and its tentative approval by the dissertation committee, the student takes a final oral examination that is a “defense” of the dissertation and that lasts for approximately two hours. It is open to the university community. Following the defense of the dissertation, the dissertation committee will render its decision to accept or reject the dissertation. Approval of the dissertation must be indicated by the signature of all members of the dissertation committee.
Fields
Chronological/Geographical fields:
- Medieval Europe
- Early Modern Europe
- Modern Europe
- Early American History
- Modern U.S. History
- Colonial Latin America
- Modern Latin America
- East Asia
- Russia
- Africa
- Caribbean
Topical Fields. These must cover either two of the geographic or two of the temporal fields listed above.:
- African American History
- African Diaspora
- Colonialism
- Race and Ethnicity
- Gender and Sexuality
- History of Religion
- History of Science and Medicine
- History of Crime and Law
- Political History
- Diplomatic History
- Urban and Environmental History
- Economic History
- Business History
- Labor History
- History of Sport
- Military History
- Cultural and Intellectual History
- Public History
- Atlantic World
- Renaissance
- Mediterranean World
- Empires and Nations
- Global 19th Century
Customized Fields:
Students may create their own fields in consultation with their advisory committee. The student opting for this approach must file a plan of study listing relevant courses, the faculty member(s) involved, and the rationale. To pursue the individualized concentration, the student must obtain written approval of the plan by the major advisor, DGS, and the Department Chair.
The plan and signed approvals are placed in the student’s file. With rare exceptions, a customized field may not be the major field of study.
Concentrations
Ph.D. in History with a concentration in Caribbean Studies
This is an interdisciplinary concentration to be earned in conjunction with the individual Ph.D. requirements for the departments of English, History, and Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. students pursuing the doctoral concentration take a minimum of two Caribbean-focused courses (6 credit hours) within their home department, and a minimum of two Caribbean-focused courses (6 credit hours) outside of their department.
Students pursuing the doctoral concentration in Caribbean Studies must take as part of their required course credit hours a minimum of four Caribbean-focused courses (12 credit hours) as shown below.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Course Work | 33 | |
| 45 credit hours (5 semesters) of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with a B.A. | ||
| Minimum of 27 credit hours (3 semesters) of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another university. | ||
| Minimum of 27 additional credit hours (3 semesters) of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another program at the University of Miami. | ||
| Minimum of 24 additional credit hours of graduate coursework at the University of Miami for students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from the History Department at the University of Miami. | ||
| Historiography 7 | ||
| Research Seminar Part 1 and Research Seminar Part 2 8 | ||
| History as a Profession 9 | ||
| Dissertation Prospectus Seminar 10 | ||
| Doctoral Concentration in Caribbean Studies | ||
| Students pursuing the doctoral concentration in Caribbean Studies must take as part of their required course credit hours a minimum of four Caribbean-focused courses (12 credit hours) as shown below. | ||
| A minimum of two courses (6 credits) selected from the following: | 6 | |
| Studies in African History (Africa and the African Diaspora ) | ||
| Studies in African History (Africa in Cuba / Cuba in Africa) | ||
| Studies in Asian History (South Asians in the Caribbean and the United States) | ||
| Studies in Latin American History (Race in Latin America) | ||
| Studies in Latin American History (Travels through Latin America) | ||
| Studies in Modern Latin American History (Afro-Caribbean Religion: Healing and Power) | ||
| Studies in Modern Latin American History (Haiti in History) | ||
| Studies in Modern Latin American History (Caribbean Intellectual History and Social Movements) | ||
| Studies in United States History | ||
| Studies in African-American History (Black Protest Thought ) | ||
| Studies in African-American History (Rethinking African-American Culture) | ||
| Studies in African-American History (History of Global Slavery) | ||
| Studies in Visual History (Navigating New Worlds) | ||
| Directed Readings in Comparative History (Slavery in the Atlantic World ) | ||
| Directed Readings in Comparative History (Atlantic Histories) | ||
| Caribbean Field Prep | ||
| Field Preparation: Modern Caribbean History | ||
| A minimum of two courses (6 credits) selected from the following: | 6 | |
| Topics in Digital Humanities and Media Studies (The Digital Caribbean) | ||
| Studies in Transatlantic Literature | ||
| Studies in African-American Literature | ||
| Caribbean Literature | ||
| Caribbean Popular Culture | ||
| Studies in Race and Diasporic Literatures | ||
| Theories of Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Studies in Literature and Culture since 1950 | ||
| Studies in Latino/a Literatures and Cultures | ||
| Comparative Americas Studies | ||
FRE 727 Topics in French Caribbean Cultural Studies | ||
| Topics in Francophone Studies | ||
| Special Topics in Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Literature (Atlantic Crossings: Literature and Immigration in the Age of Globalization) | ||
MLL 727: Topics in Caribbean Cultural Studies | ||
SPA 727 Topics in Hispanic Caribbean Cultural Studies | ||
| Topics in Colonial Literature | ||
| Topics in 19th Century Latin American Literature | ||
| Topics in 20th Century Latin American Literature | ||
| Or other courses with advisor approval. 1 | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | ||
| Comprehensive Exam 3 | ||
| Dissertation Research Credit Hours 4 | 15 | |
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Post-Candidacy Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Dissertation 5 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
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For courses not listed as fulfilling requirements for the concentration, the student should reach out to the professor to obtain the following confirmation to get the course approved:
1. at least 50% content of the course focuses on the Caribbean region
2. that the student’s papers for the class and/or the final project should focus on Caribbean studies.
Guidelines for one-time approval of a course with less than 50% of Caribbean content:
If you are taking this course to meet the Caribbean Concentration requirements, you will need to supplement the readings for the course in consultation with the departmental Caribbean Concentration representative and your advisor so that it meets the reading requirement of 50% content in Caribbean studies (i.e. the additional readings include at least one Caribbean focused reading for 7 weeks or more of the course). Your final project will also need to meet the requirement by focusing on a topic in the field of Caribbean Studies.
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Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge in at least one foreign language. Reading knowledge in additional languages may be required by the major advisor. For more information on fulfilling language requirements, see below.
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The comprehensive examination for Ph.D. candidates consists of written and oral examinations in three fields. All doctoral students are expected to take their comprehensive exams no later than their 6th semester in the program.
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Following the completion of course credit hours, students will need to take sufficient dissertation research credit hours (HIS 830 if before the comprehensive examination has been passed; HIS 840 after passage of the comprehensive examination) to reach a total of 60 credit hours beyond the B.A. in order to receive the doctorate. Graduate School rules require that students take a minimum of 12 dissertation credit hours. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another university or from another program at the University of Miami receive 30 credit hours towards the 60 credit hour requirement.
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As indicated, the number of required course credit hours varies depending on the student’s previous graduate work, but all students must reach a total of 60 credit hours beyond the B.A.
Medieval and Early Modern Studies
Graduate Concentration in Medieval and Early Modern Studies
The Medieval and Early Modern Studies Concentration is an interdisciplinary concentration to be earned in conjunction with the individual Ph.D. requirements for the departments of English, History, and Modern Languages and Literatures (Romance Studies, Spanish, and French). Graduate students will continue to be housed in any one of the three departments and must fulfill the requirements of their discipline. To qualify for the Concentration, students must successfully complete a minimum of two courses (6 credit hours) in medieval and/or early modern studies in one or both of the other two departments, substituting for courses within their department; and a minimum of two courses (6 credit hours) in medieval and/or early modern studies within their home department. Thus, for example, a student whose home department is History would need to take two courses in medieval and/or early modern studies in History and then either two courses in English or MLL or one course in English and one course in MLL. A list of courses for the academic year is posted regularly on the website of the Center for the Humanities.
Goals
The major goals of the Ph.D. in History are 1) to ground students in historical knowledge and scholarship at the most sophisticated level; 2) to provide each with the skills necessary to cultivate an area of specialization and an original research agenda; 3) to train students for teaching at the college/university level; and 4) to prepare graduates to obtain appropriate employment.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will grasp historical knowledge and scholarship at the most sophisticated level.
- Students will cultivate an area of specialization and carry out an original research agenda.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to teach at the college/university level.
