PhD in History

Catalog Year: 2026-2027

Banner Code: LA-PHD-HIST

The History PhD prepares students for careers in college teaching, digital media, publishing, educational administration, public history, and historical research. Students gain expertise in conventional historical methods and web-based technologies. Major fields include U.S. history, European history, and world history. Minor fields are chosen by the student and may include such areas as public history, constitutional studies, and new media and information technology.

The PhD program allows students to develop programs of study to fit with a variety of career goals and interests - preparation to teach and research at the community college, college, or university level; work in the fields of digital humanities, new media and technology; work in the fields of public and applied history, such as museums, archives, preservation, and editing; and professional development.

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate programs, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 72

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students will be terminated from the program if they receive more than one unsatisfactory grade (C or F). No more than 6 credits earned through study abroad courses may be applied towards the degree.

Core Courses

¹

Students take 1 credit per semester until they advance to candidacy or reach a maximum of 6 credits.

Specialization

Students will select a major field and a minor field.

Major Field

Students will take 15 credits in one of three fields: US History, European History, or Comparative World History.

All students will take 9 credits of HIST graduate seminars to establish specific expertise in their major field. Additionally, students will take 6 credits of doctoral readings in the major field to ensure broad familiarity with major historiographic trends and to assist with preparation for the major field comprehensive exam. Students pursing a US History major field will satisfy this requirement by taking HIST 801: Doctoral Readings for Major Field (Formation of the US) and HIST 802: Doctoral Readings for Major Field (Development of the US). Students pursuing a European History or Comparative World History major field will take 6 credits of HIST 803 Doctoral Readings for Major Field.

Select one major field and take 15 credits.¹

¹Major fields are US History, European history, or Comparative World history.

Minor Field

¹

Minor fields may include areas such as public history, digital history, cultural history, military history, women’s and gender history, or the Atlantic World, among others.

Electives

Doctoral Research Skills

The department sets specific research skills requirements for students, depending on their field of study. All students will develop advanced research skills, including the ability to convey research findings orally and in long-form writing. Students will also master digital history tools and techniques. Students whose research requires knowledge of a foreign language must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language prior to advancing to candidacy. 

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy will follow University protocols and program requirements described on the program website. Advancement to candidacy requires successful completion of the following:

Coursework

Students must complete all coursework required on their approved program of study. 

Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive exam is divided between the minor field and the major field. Students must complete and pass an examination in their major field and their minor field.

Dissertation Proposal

Students will develop a dissertation proposal in consultation with their dissertation advisor and additional members of the proposed dissertation committee. To advance to candidacy, all members of the student's proposed dissertation committee must approve the proposal. Students will develop a dissertation proposal in accordance with university policy to advance to candidacy.

Dissertation

Once enrolled in HIST 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal, students in this degree program must maintain continuous registration in HIST 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal or HIST 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in HIST 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, students must follow the university’s continuous registration policy as specified in AP.6.10.6 Dissertation Research. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of HIST 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.

Students who complete less than 6 credits of HIST 810 History Doctoral Colloquium must take additional credits of HIST 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal or HIST 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research to reach the 72 credits required for the program.

Students may apply to this degree a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 credits of HIST 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and a minimum of 15 credits of HIST 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.