Doctoral Program

The History Department at the University of Western Ontario runs one of the most productive PhD programs in Canada. Our program considers course-based research and writing and supervised comprehensive reading to be basic to one's academic training, and fundamental to the successful and timely completion of the doctoral dissertation. While at Western students will enjoy access to our extensive library collections, excellent departmental facilities, competitive funding, award winning faculty, professional development seminars and teacher training programs devoted to the promotion of academic excellence.

Applicants to the program must have a first class standing in a recognized MA program, excellent references and a well conceived statement of purpose that demonstrates compatability with the strengths and supervisory capacity of the department.

The PhD program consists of five basic elements:

  1. Two two-term graduate courses (or equivalent in one-term courses)
  2. Second Language Credit
  3. Comprehensive Exams (Two minor fields and one major field historiographical essay)
    1. Choose field supervisor and have forms signed - Deadline: 15 January of 1st year
    2. Comprehensives Exam Week - Second Week of November in 2nd year.
      1. Each minor comprehensive field book list must include 50-60 books.
      2. Students will write a 3 hour exam for each of the two minor fields
      3. At the beginning of comp-week the student will submit a historiographical essay (5000 words, not counting bibliography) pertaining to your major field.
    3. Orals Week - Week following Comprehensives Week
      1. A chair, the doctoral supervisor, and two minor field examiners will meet with students and examine student on the two exams and the historiographical essay.
    4. Comprehensive Regulations: Read the Fine Print
  4. PhD thesis dissertation proposal.
  5. Dissertation Defense
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