PhD Program

Doctor of Philosophy

Overview

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 - 8-12 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: The Fine Print
    PhD thesis dissertation proposal.
  4. Dissertation Defense

Finding a Supervisor

See the Faculty Specializations page

The Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Experience

See the GTA Handbook

 

The basic funding package is a combination of Graduate Teaching Assistant salary (which requires being at the university during the academic year) and the supplementary WGRS (Western Graduate Research Scholarship). This is provided to all MA students maintaining a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 78%, and to all PhD students who have not acquired outside funding, and who maintain a GPA of 78%.* PhD students should be aware that the university and the Department of History cannot offer funding beyond the fourth year. 

*please note that funding cannot be guaranteed for applicants who do not meet the February 1 deadline.