phd in history of science

Department of History

Ph.D. in History of Science

Siobhan Barco and Haris Durrani were awarded fellowships. Joseph Bishop won an essay prize. Bennett Nagtegaal published an article, and Joseph Puchner presented a paper.…

The prize, for her book, "The Arts of the Microbial World: Fermentation Science in Twentieth-Century Japan," is awarded to outstanding publications in the field of Asian…

The Program in History of Science at Princeton University trains students to analyze science, medicine, and technology in historical and cultural context. We are a community of scholars including roughly a dozen core and affiliated faculty members and about twenty graduate students, in addition to undergraduate concentrators and visiting fellows.

Undergraduate

Find out how to Concentrate in HOS and see what courses are currently offered.

Learn more about our graduate and graduate certificate programs in History of Science, and find current graduate course offerings.

Stay connected and learn about alumni resources , including the History Department’s Dossier Service.

Meet Our Faculty

Browse profiles of the Executive Committee and Associated Faculty in History of Science.

Portraits of two of the men responsible for illustrating 'De historia stirpivm commentarii insignes...' by Leonhard Fuchs.

Illustration from Historia Stirpium . Source: Wellcome Collection .

Photo credit: " L0015096EB " by Wellcome Library, London is licensed under CC BY 4.0 . Image has been cropped.

History of Science

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Our unique, interdisciplinary program expands on the typical Euro-centric focus for a more global examination that includes perspectives from Chinese, African, Latin American, and indigenous people’s history.

You will engage with the department’s Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, one of the largest and richest university collections in the world. These objects represent a broad range of periods and scientific disciplines, including astronomy, navigation, horology, surveying, geology, calculating, physics, biology, medicine, psychology, electricity, and communication.

Our diverse faculty of anthropologists, historians, medical doctors, physicists, and geologists prepares you for a successful career in academia, research, and business. Recent graduates are now teaching at Princeton, Harvard, McGill University, and National Taiwan University. Others have secured corporate positions at McKinsey & Company, Amazon.com, and Sutter Hill Venture Capital.

Master of Arts and Secondary Field

The department offers admission to a very few select students seeking the free-standing AM degree. External applicants for the degree may be considered on a case-by-case basis; it is expected they will be in full-time residence. Students who have been accepted to pursue an AM include advanced degree candidates at foreign universities, and students with a PhD in another field, from Harvard or elsewhere.

Harvard Griffin GSAS students pursuing PhDs in other departments may apply to earn an AM in History of Science; please contact the departmental DGS for further information.

Such students are also eligible to earn formal recognition for completing a secondary field in History of Science.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of the History of Science and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies.

Areas of Study

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of the History of Science .

Writing Sample

No application to the Department of the History of Science will be considered complete unless accompanied by a relatively recent sample of the applicant's written work (e.g., term paper, senior thesis, master's essay, etc.). Writing samples must be submitted electronically with the online application. Foot or end notes and bibliography welcome.

Personal Statement

Standardized tests.

GRE General: Optional

Master of Arts

The department offers admission to a very few select students seeking the free-standing AM degree. External applicants for the degree may be considered on a case-by-case basis; it is expected they will be in full-time residence. Students who have been accepted to pursue an AM include advanced degree candidates at foreign universities and students with a PhD in another field, from Harvard or elsewhere. To pursue advanced work in the field, it is desirable to have some preliminary training in the natural or social sciences and in history.

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for History of Science

See list of History of Science faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Department of History

Ph.d. programs.

The Department of History’s doctoral degree program seeks to train talented historians for careers in scholarship, teaching, and beyond the academy. The department typically accepts 22 Ph.D. students per year. Additional students are enrolled through various combined programs and through HSHM. All admitted Ph.D. students receive a full financial aid package from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

History of Science and Medicine

The Program in the History of Science and Medicine (HSHM) is a semi-autonomous graduate track within the Department of History. HSHM students receive degrees in History, with a concentration in the History of Science and Medicine. There is a separate admissions process for students interested in the History of Science and Medicine. For more information, please see the HSHM website .

Combined Doctoral Programs

Joint ph.d. programs.

History and Philosophy of Science, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

Location: Tempe campus
Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD History and Philosophy of Science

The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." The field is based on the idea that the best way to understand science is to study how it changes over time, along with careful analysis of its concepts and fundamental principles.

The PhD program in history and philosophy of science combines training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of the sciences, including:

computational history and philosophy of science
foundations of evolutionary theory
general philosophy of science and epistemology
history and philosophy of applied ethics and science policy
history of 19th and 20th century biology

The program is especially appropriate for students with an undergraduate or master's degree in philosophy, history, or the sciences and for those who seek to broaden their disciplinary studies. Science students who have not taken relevant undergraduate humanistic core courses can make up these courses during their first years in the program.

Program Faculty PhD Students

Courses and electives

Some options for elective study, listed by focus, history of science (6 credit hours).

BIO 591 Embryo Project
BIO 591 Embryo Project Editing
BIO 598 Big Data in Context: Ethics, Policy, History and Philosophy
HPS 598 Advanced History of Science

Philosophy of science (6 credit hours)

BIO 598 Advanced Philosophy of Science
BIO/HPS/PHI 598 Philosophy of Biology and Medicine Advanced

History of philosophy (3 credit hours)

HPS 591 Carnap and Quine
PHI 581 Studies in Ancient Greek Philosophy

Value theory (3 credit hours)

BIO 516 Foundations of Bioethics
BIO 527 Environmental Ethics and Policy Goals
BIO 598 Advanced Bioethics
BIO 598 Big Data in Context: Ethics, Policy, History and Philosophy
BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
BIO 611 Current Topics in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
PHI 521 Bioethics
PHI 591 Human Well-Being and Sustainability
POP 633 Population Health Ethics

Advanced logic or other advanced methods (3 credit hours)

BIO 532 Recent Papers in Discipline-Based Education Research
BIO 591 ESSA Reading and Reflection
BIO 591 Innovations of Conservation Lab
BIO 591 Papers in Inclusive Teaching in College
BIO 598 Biology Education Research
BIO 598 STS Reading Group
BIO 791 Science Education Research Seminar
HSD 601 HSD I: Human Dimensions of Science and Technology
PHI 570 Higher Order Modal Logic

Approved courses in philosophy, history or life sciences (9 credit hours)

These courses provide expertise in your individual research area. Any courses offered under one of the prefixes BIO, ELS, EVO, HPS, MCB, MIC, and PLB, or any courses taught by biology and society graduate faculty members fulfill the requirement.

Application and admission information

How to apply.

Applications open September 1 for admission in Fall of the following year. The application deadline is December 1. We accept applications for Fall semesters only. We cannot guarantee that applications received after the December 1 deadline will be considered for admission.

All applicants must apply by filling out ASU's Graduate Admissions application. All application materials must be submitted through the application or to Graduate Admissions directly. Please do not mail or email any documents to the School of Life Sciences.

Required materials and information include the following:

1-2 page personal statement
An up to date CV or resume
Writing sample
The names of relevant SOLS faculty you have been in touch with who you might be interested in being supervised by
Unofficial transcripts and English proficiency test scores (if applicable)
The names and emails of at least 3 recommenders to write you letters of recommendation

Application review process and timeline

Following the December 1 deadline, faculty will begin reviewing applications. Applicants should monitor their My ASU priority tasks to ensure there are no missing materials in their application.

Faculty will decide which applicants they would like to invite to our Graduate Recruitment Weekends (GRWs), typically held in February. Applicants will hear from the School of Life Sciences in January if they are invited to participate in the GRWs.

Admission decisions will begin after the GRWs, and applicants typically receive final decisions by April 1.

Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission include the following:

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
There are other ways to demonstrate English proficiency beyond the tests, so please refer to ASU's English proficiency webpage to review how you might satisfy requirements.

Desired qualifications typically seen in competitive candidates:

Research experience and a letter of recommendation from a faculty research supervisor
English proficiency scores that meet these teaching assistant language proficiency requirements

Please note that the GRE is not required.

Students offered admission to a PhD program in the School of Life Sciences will typically receive a funding offer as well. While individual funding offers may differ to some degree, they typically include teaching assistant and/or research assistant positions each semester (summer optional) for 5 years. These positions provide financial coverage through the following:

A standard salary stipend paid biweekly
Tuition remission covering enrollment in 6-18 credit hours for fall and spring semesters and 1-14 credit hours for summer semesters
Health insurance coverage

To discover more, check out the ASU Graduate College's funding opportunities !

Degree Requirements

Curriculum plan options.

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (6 credit hours) HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab (3) HPS 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)

Restricted Program Electives (30 credit hours)

Program Electives (24 credit hours)

Research (12 credit hours) HPS 792 Research (12)

Dissertation (12 credit hours) HPS 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information An individual student program is developed in consultation with the student's advisor and committee.

HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab is a one-credit-hour course focused on student presentations of works in progress. Students must register for it three times during their graduate study.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of recognized standing in a related field such as history, philosophy, or history and philosophy of science, as well as a demonstrated background and interest in one or more sciences.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

graduate admission application and application fee
official transcripts
academic record form
personal statement
curriculum vitae or resume
writing sample
three letters of recommendation
proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, learning outcomes.

Able to articulate an understanding of current literature on scientific developments and their relevance to society in scholarly writing.
Able to communicate history and philosophy of science research results in presentations.
Able to contribute to original history and philosophy of science research in scholarly writing.

Career Opportunities

A doctorate in history and philosophy of science provides strong preparation for academic careers at every level from community colleges to research universities, including research, teaching and administration, and science communication. The skills and knowledge obtained in this program are also valuable for government careers in federal and state agencies responsible for management and conservation, and for careers in industry and nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

food, agriculture and health care scientists in academic, private and industrial labs
principal investigators and policymakers in government labs and nonprofit organizations
professors or instructors in universities and colleges
science teachers in elementary and high schools
wildlife, animal and conservation scientists

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

[email protected]
480/965-1768

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History of science students at Berkeley can be found in several departments, including history, art history, English, and philosophy. The Department of History offers a graduate field (MA/PhD) in the history of science. Graduate students in the history of science at Berkeley enjoy a kind of dual citizenship: not only are they enrolled in a top-ranked doctoral program, but they also have full access to the resources available in the Office for History of Science and Technology (OHST) and the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, & Society (CSTMS).

At Berkeley, students learn to see the practice of science as related to its cultural, intellectual, and historical context. The paired resources of OHST and the departmental doctoral program provide PhD students with a strong grounding in both the special field of the history of science and the larger discipline into which it fits.

Completion of the PhD generally takes five to seven years, and upon graduation students have gone on to teach (at institutions including Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, among many others), while others have chosen other career tracks — including careers as museum scientists, archivists, science education specialists, or even stockbrokers and software engineers. Faculty members’ research foci are described here . History of science is always interested in students with research interests outside of these areas, though, so prospective students should not be discouraged if their interests do not completely overlap with those of the faculty members. In recent years, graduate students have worked in areas as diverse as the history of modern computing, medicine in colonial Cambodia, and the creation of European scientific horticulture.

OHST and CSTMS provides graduate students with access to a wide range of professional and community resources. Through our colloquium series, production of the journal Historical studies in the physical and biological sciences , and participation in the International Summer School in History of Science, graduate students are exposed to current work in all areas of the history of science. In addition, OHST maintains a close relationship with history of science programs at other local universities, including Stanford and UC Davis, and the program in History of Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.

If you have questions about the graduate offerings in history of science at Berkeley, or would like to arrange a visit to OHST, please contact us by calling 510-642-4581 or emailing Davinder Sidhu at [email protected] . If you are interested in applying to the History Department’s graduate program, contact the department for application materials and information.

Applying for Financial Support

For current Graduate Field students, grants are available for History of Science-related conferences and fieldwork. Application deadlines are once per year, May 1st. Please see the guidelines for more information.

Intellectual Community

CSTMS Colloquia

The CSTMS Colloquium is a seminar series of invited lectures held approximately every other Thursday from 4-6pm in 470 Stephens Hall during each semester. They are often sponsored by research units within CSTMS, and occasionally co-sponsored by other units at Berkeley and other UC campuses. The colloquia help countervail the tendency in academic work toward social isolation and excessive specialization, and are aimed at fostering a sense of intellectual community among a group of talented young and established scholars.

The colloquia are an integral part of your intellectual life and professional development here at Berkeley. Students in their first two years are expected to attend, and advanced students, visitors, and others are warmly encouraged to. The current colloquium schedule is available under Events .

OHST Working Group

The CSTMS community also organizes a weekly OHST Working Group for its local community and visiting scholars. These meetings provide an informal forum for discussing developments in History of Science and in Science and Technology Studies, as well as your ideas, interests, and intellectual conundrums.

Science, Technology, and Society Center

The Science, Technology, and Society Center (STSC) is another part of CSTMS, and promotes research and discussion of STS issues at Berkeley. History of science students often find its offerings helpful. It also sponsors a working group in Science & Technology Studies.

Doreen B. Townsend Center

Located in 220 Stephens Hall, the Townsend Center for the Humanities sponsors interdisciplinary activities (speakers, seminars, conferences, etc.) in the humanities and social studies, including science and technology related topics. It supports many working groups for students and faculty.

Other California doctoral programs

Berkeley has an agreement for cross-registration with other University of California campuses and Stanford University. Notices of special lectures and seminar series are regularly circulated. In particular, the Program in History of Health Sciences at UC San Francisco, across the Bay Bridge, coordinates closely with Berkeley’s history of science program.

Visiting scholars

In addition to our graduate students and faculty, OHST hosts a number of visiting academics from around the world. They stay with us for as little as a week, and sometimes as long as two or more years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i apply to the history of science program.

The Office for History of Science and Technology does not grant degrees directly. Most students intending to study the history of science at Berkeley apply to the History Department’s MA/PhD program and choose History of Science as their field of concentration.

If I apply to the Berkeley History Department, how is the history of science program structured?

Berkeley history students take courses in two fields of study in the History Department, typically history of science and a geographical/chronological field (e.g., U.S., early modern Europe, East Asia – Japan). They also study a third, “outside” field in another department. This can be a science, a humanities/social science discipline, a professional field (such as public policy), or any other course of study offered at Berkeley. The outside field allows them to gain an interdisciplinary perspective.

If I am in another department, how can I draw on the resources of history of science?

All Berkeley doctoral programs require you to make contacts outside your home department. You can choose history for your “outside” field and work with a professor in the history of science. You can take courses, prepare an oral examination field, and have a historian of science on your dissertation committee.

At Berkeley, I would get a PhD in, say, History, rather than the PhD in History of Science offered by some other universities. Does this matter?

In some ways yes, in some ways no. Berkeley graduates are trained in their larger discipline as well as history of science. This gives them access to wider intellectual circles. After graduation, the strength of their home department (at Berkeley, typically one of the top-ranked programs in the nation) also helps them in their job search. The History degree has never disadvantaged our students in the history of science field.

I want to study a topic which doesn’t correspond perfectly to a specific professor’s area of expertise. Is this a problem?

No, professors welcome students with interests different from their own. However, if your topic is widely distant from current faculty strengths — in chronological, geographical, or disciplinary terms — you may need more information to make a decision. When in doubt, just e-mail the professor with your question.

Is it possible to study the history of science if I don’t have a background in history?

Yes. About half our graduate students come from science, philosophy, or other backgrounds. There is time during your coursework to fill in gaps in your preparation. In composing your application, address your background directly. A persuasive statement of purpose and relevant writing sample will help your application.

What are Berkeley’s other attractions?

Besides a scenic setting, fantastic cultural and recreational opportunities, and exceptional weather? UC Berkeley is known for academic strength across the board. At Berkeley you can study more foreign languages than anywhere else in the country, take courses in an exceptional number of top-ranked graduate and professional programs, and encounter an amazing diversity of scholars. For more information, ask us to put you in contact with our current students , or e-mail them directly.

History of Science

The Department of the History of Science offers a comprehensive graduate program leading to the A.M. and Ph.D. degrees. The program’s goal is to produce the next generation of professional historians of science, training students to examine the development of science through a course of study that lays a broad foundation for teaching and research across the field. Faculty and student interests span medieval to contemporary times, and engage the full range of sciences: physics, astronomy, molecular biology, evolutionary theory, technology, brain and behavioral science, the psychological sciences, medicine, and public health. Together we form a lively interdisciplinary community of scholars.

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science can pursue PhDs either in the Philosophy Department, through its PhD subplan in History and Philosophy of Science or in the History Department, through its PhD field in History of Science, Medicine and Technology . Diplomas will be issued by the respective departments, but the HPS study will not be noted on the transcript nor on the diploma.

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science who wish to pursue a Ph.D. Subplan in History and Philosophy of Science must fulfill Philosophy Departmental Ph.D. degree requirements and the following HPS requirements:

Philosophy Ph.D. students declaring the HPS subplan in Axess will have it appear on the official transcript but is not printed on the diploma.

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology , must fulfill History Department Ph.D. degree requirements , and the following HPS requirements:

The courses described above must include two research seminars, at least one of which must be in the history of science, technology and/or medicine. Students are expected to write papers on substantially different topics for each seminar. You should also aim to present your research at the annual meeting of a professional society associated with the history of science, technology and/or medicine sometime during your third or fourth year.

All students participating in the program are required to attend the HPST colloquium series and are expected to present their own research at least once in the course of their studies at Stanford. The colloquium series generally meets three times per quarter. This year the students have created a History of Science Reading group which will meet five times in the winter quarter. The meetings are open to all who are interested.

For a complete list of courses see the Undergraduate page , or look up specific course information in the Stanford Bulletin .

For Graduate Admissions applications, please visit the Stanford graduate admissions page.

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Digitising Philippine Flora
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The Challenge of Conservation
Natural History in the Age of Revolutions, 1776–1848
In the Shadow of the Tree: The Diagrammatics of Relatedness as Scientific, Scholarly and Popular Practice
The Many Births of the Test-Tube Baby
Culture at the Macro-Scale: Boundaries, Barriers and Endogenous Change
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Epsilon: A Collaborative Digital Framework for Nineteenth-Century Letters of Science
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Industrial Patronage and the Cold War University
FlyBase: Communicating Drosophila Genetics on Paper and Online, 1970–2000
The Lost Museums of Cambridge Science, 1865–1936
From Hansa to Lufthansa: Transportation Technologies and the Mobility of Knowledge in Germanic Lands and Beyond, 1300–2018
Medical Publishers, Obscenity Law and the Business of Sexual Knowledge in Victorian Britain
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PhD in History and Philosophy of Science

MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

Students in history and philosophy of science and medicine write substantial, focused and independent theses that shape scholarship and engage audiences in many different ways. Contributing to the development of knowledge in the University of Cambridge is a rich and rewarding experience.

Expert guidance

The outstanding international reputation of our teaching staff is a key attraction.

PhD students work closely with a doctoral supervisor and advisor (usually both from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science but sometimes from other departments in the University). With the benefit of this expert guidance, students learn how to articulate, develop and present their own research. Students meet their supervisor and advisor several times a term to discuss an outline, consider research findings or go over a chapter. Consistent review and attentive feedback are integral to the supervisory relationship.

Applicants often find it helpful to contact a potential supervisor before submitting their application.

A thriving research community

Our research community offers invaluable academic and social perspectives.

With around 45 doctoral students, a strong cohort of MPhil and Part III students, postdoctoral researchers and teaching officers, the Department fosters an exceptionally active intellectual life. Thriving seminars, reading groups and workshops provide a focus, allowing students to help set the agenda and present their own work among peers. Students are supported throughout their studies, with close attention paid to methodological development, research skills and career advice.

The Department's Whipple Library is an unparalleled specialist collection for history and philosophy of science and medicine, while other libraries in Cambridge provide access to archival and documentary resources invaluable for research on the sciences. At the heart of the Department is the Whipple Museum , a world-class collection of scientific instruments and models; some students research these objects.

Valuable teaching experience

Cambridge offers PhD students unusually valuable teaching experience through the chance to give supervisions (tutorials) for undergraduates taking History and Philosophy of Science courses. PhD students are paid by the Colleges for this service. The University and the Department provide training in supervising undergraduates.

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History and Philosophy of Science: PhD

Graduate Program in Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values

Program Handbook

The Ph.D. Program in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) welcomes students of diverse intellectual backgrounds: humanities students who have an interest in the sciences, medicine, or technology, as well as students who have training in the sciences and engineering, and who are curious about the history of their discipline, and its philosophical grounding. The program is built around three tracks: History of Science, Philosophy of Science, and Theology and Science. Students admitted on one of these tracks will receive their degrees in HPS, but will pursue a course of study that overlaps significantly with that of a Ph.D. student in History, Philosophy, or Theology, and will have an advisor drawn from one of those departments.

Last updated: 08/26/2024

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Three letters of recommendation
Writing sample(s) - refer to program site for details
Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary institution required at the time of application. (Official transcript showing conferral of a bachelor's degree due upon enrollment.)

Tori Davies Program Coordinator Phone: 574-631-9192 Email: [email protected]

https://reilly.nd.edu/history-and-philosophy-of-science/

Graduate School

History of Science

General information, program offerings:.

Certificate

Department for program:

Director of graduate studies:, graduate program administrator:.

The goal of the graduate Program in History of Science at Princeton is to enhance our students' enthusiasm for the subject while also training them for the joint professional responsibilities of teaching and research. Under the aegis of the Department of History, the Program in History of Science treats science as an intellectual, cultural, and social phenomenon. Recognizing that the study of the history and social aspects of science requires special training and techniques not normally included in the education of professional historians or other scholars, the program provides qualified students with that special training while at the same time preparing them to teach and work in general history.

Our approach to graduate training is also distinctive in the extent to which it requires formal qualifications in other areas of history. Graduate students in this program are simultaneously members of the Department of History; in fact, their degrees are awarded in history. Faculty members in the program are also members of the Department of History.

The maximum period of regular enrollment in the program (as in the Department of History at large) is five years, including time spent on research in absentia. Students have the opportunity to be enrolled for up to two additional years in Dissertation Completion Enrollment (DCE) status if additional time is necessary to complete the dissertation.

Additional departmental requirements

Sample of academic writing, 25-35 pages.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d..

During the first two years, students pursue a pattern of course work aimed at preparing them for the general examination and training them in the research techniques of professional scholarship. Students normally participate in three graduate courses per term, including HIS 500 in the first term and HOS 595 in the second. Students lacking prior background are encouraged to take undergraduate courses to supplement their graduate training. Although the precise pattern of courses depends on the individual, students plan their programs within the broad outlines set by the general examination. Each course usually meets once a week for three hours. A course may be either the seminar type, centering on individual students preparing research papers, or the more general, reading type, aimed at having students gain a broad acquaintance with a subject or a mixture of both.

In addition to preparing for the general examination, students are advised to take seminars in the history of science that do not fall within their examination fields. Students focusing on European or American science are expected to take at least one course that deals with science, medicine, or technology in the non-Western world, and vice versa. Students are encouraged to look beyond the program as they pursue suitable coursework or language study related to their particular scholarly interests.

Language(s)

Program students should demonstrate a reading knowledge of two foreign languages as soon as possible after enrollment. French and German are normally recommended, but other languages relevant to the student’s prospective research may be substituted with the approval of the director of graduate studies. Candidates are normally not readmitted for a fifth term of study or permitted to complete the general examination until the language requirement has been satisfied.

The faculty of the Department of History set most of the language examinations. Examinations in some languages, however, may be administered by appropriate language departments at Princeton. Normally the examination consists of two passages to be translated, one with and one without a dictionary. Language examinations will be announced at the beginning of each semester. Other examinations should be scheduled in consultation with the director of graduate studies and (if appropriate) the department involved.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement Students are required to write two research papers based on primary sources before sitting for the general examination. Students often write one of these research papers in the context of a graduate seminar and another based on independent research. The first must be completed and certified by June 15 of the first year of enrollment and the second by April 1 of the second year.

Responsible Conduct of Research Students are required to fulfill the mandatory Responsible Conduct of Research seminar over the course of their first year.

General exam

The general examination is normally taken at the end of the second year and consists of three sets of written and oral examinations in (1) a major field in the history of science, medicine, or technology; (2) a minor field in another area of history; and (3) one of the following options: (a) a second special field in the history of science, medicine, or technology, (b) a second field in another area of history, or (c) a field in some related subject, for example, philosophy of science, science and technology studies, or anthropology of science. Precise definitions of fields, and special concentrations within them, are worked out in consultation with the director of graduate studies for the Program in the History of Science and appropriate faculty members in the field before the beginning of the fourth semester of graduate study.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy, but also may be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program. Students who have satisfactorily passed all required coursework (with all incompletes resolved), fulfilled the language requirements in their field of study, and completed the two required research papers may be awarded an M.A. degree.

The Department of History tries to provide part-time teaching experience for most of the advanced graduate students who desire it. Teaching assistantships generally involve two to four classroom hours a week and should not interfere with progress toward completing the dissertation. Appointments are made by the department chair, according to the needs of the undergraduate teaching schedule, to advanced graduate students.

Post-Generals requirements

Prospectus: Students will normally participate in the department's mandatory Dissertation Prospectus Workshop in June of the second year.

To be eligible, students must have passed their general examinations and have done so no later than their fourth semester of enrollment, or have special permission from the Director of Graduate Studies to participate. Passing the Prospectus Seminar is a required part of degree work in the department. Students are expected to participate actively and devote their time and effort to completing a fully shaped prospectus before the summer is over.

Continuation as an enrolled student into the spring semester of the G3 year will be contingent upon approval of the prospectus. Students are required to have a meeting together with their adviser and first reader (or with their two co-advisers) in the weeks following the seminar. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for the student to benefit from informal conversation with their key mentors regarding the intellectual and practical plans for the project. Their formal agreement is then given with the approval form, which should be signed by both the adviser and the first reader following the meeting, and which must be filed with the Graduate Office before December 1 of the student’s third year, or within six months of completing the general examination for students whose exams are split or delayed.

Dissertation and FPO

Students devote their last three years of study to the research for and writing of a dissertation. The dissertation ordinarily falls within a special field in the history of science that constitutes part of the student’s general examination. Where research requires an absence abroad or elsewhere in this country, it usually takes place during the fourth year so that students may most effectively combine completion of the dissertation with the search for employment during the fifth year. Upon completion of the dissertation and its approval by at least two readers (usually, but not necessarily, members of the Department of History), the student takes a final public oral examination devoted to a defense of the dissertation and a discussion of its implications for further work.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the final public oral examination sustained.

Additional requirements

The regular academic program period concludes at the end of the fifth year and the Department encourages all eligible students to apply for Dissertation Completion Enrollment (DCE) status and reenroll. To qualify for DCE status, the Graduate School requires that doctoral students “must have drafted or written a significant portion of the dissertation (at least one full chapter) and be actively engaged in research and writing.” As part of the reenrollment process, fifth-year students should satisfy this requirement or its equivalent, and submit a Plan for Completion, consisting of a short narrative of their progress, describing the work they have completed to date and their timeline for completing the dissertation. Students will meet with their dissertation Advisor and First Reader (or co-Advisors) to review the Plan for Completion, after which the advisor should submit a signed form supporting the student’s reenrollment. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for the student to meet with their advisory team to check in on the status of the dissertation writing and research. The signed form and approved narrative must be filed with the History Graduate Office before April 15 of the student’s fifth year.

Students who have exhausted their five years (ten semesters) of Graduate School funding and do not hold other outside fellowships may apply for departmental fellowship support for their sixth year. Continuation as an enrolled student and the awarding of such fellowships is contingent on demonstrated good progress toward the completion of the dissertation.

Program Offering: Certificate

Program description.

The History of Science Interdepartmental Graduate Certificate Program is aimed at enabling students who are taking seminars in the program, working closely with program faculty, and writing dissertations on aspects of the history of science, medicine, and technology to receive a formal credential in History of Science. Many such students prepare a generals field in history of science, technology, or medicine, but that is not a requirement for the certificate. The certificate will appear on the student’s official transcript after all requirements for the certificate have been fulfilled and a graduate degree has been awarded. Students who earn the certificate are also entitled to list the credential on their curriculum vitae.

The Director of Graduate Studies for the Program in History of Science administers the certificate program.

Students cannot be admitted to Princeton University through the History of Science Interdepartmental Graduate Certificate Program as it is not a degree program.

The graduate certificate program is open to Princeton University Ph.D. students from any department who are not enrolled in the Program in History of Science. Students must be currently enrolled to be eligible. Master’s students are not eligible to participate, nor are Ph.D. students in the Program in History of Science. Students who are interested in pursuing the certificate are encouraged to meet with the History of Science Director of Graduate Studies to discuss their plans before registering. Students register by submitting a form to the Graduate Program Assistant. Students must register by the end of their fourth year of enrollment.

Students must complete HOS 595: Introduction to the Historiography of Science, which is offered every other year, as well as two other history of science graduate courses or courses with history of science content, as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies for the Program in History of Science.

Please note, courses taken for the History of Science Interdepartmental Graduate Certificate Program cannot be audited.

Research Requirement

Students pursuing the certificate program engage in relevant research that is presented and discussed in the History of Science Program Seminar. Students are expected to regularly attend and participate in the Program Seminar for at least two full semesters. The Program Seminar serves to foster scholarly community among the faculty, students, and visiting fellows of the Program. We meet each week that classes are in session for a ninety-minute seminar, typically to discuss a pre-circulated work-in-progress; the format of our reading varies but has included draft dissertation chapters, drafts of articles, dissertation prospectuses, book proposals, and grant proposals. A member of the community offers a formal commentary on the pre-circulated material and then the floor is open for wider discussion. The hours invested in two full semesters of Program Seminar, which include weekly reading and participation, are comparable to an additional semester-length course.

Each student must complete two presentations in the History of Science Program Seminar. One must consist of pre-circulating a piece of original research—engaging with history of science methods or addressing content related to the history of science, technology, or medicine—intended for inclusion in their dissertation, submission to an edited collection or academic journal, or other research paper. The second may be an additional piece of original research, a formal commentary, a draft of their dissertation prospectus, grant proposal, or other format approved for discussion by the convener of the seminar. Completion of these two presentations will be certified by the Director of Graduate Studies for the program.

Director of Graduate Studies

Jennifer M. Rampling

Executive Committee

D. Graham Burnett, History
Angela N. Creager, History
Katja Guenther, History
Matthew L. Jones, History
Erika L. Milam, History
Keith A. Wailoo, History

Associated Faculty

Elizabeth M. Armstrong, Schl of Public & Int'l Affairs
Ruha Benjamin, African American Studies
He Bian, History
Daniel Garber, Philosophy
Anthony T. Grafton, History
Brooke A. Holmes, Classics
Federico Marcon, East Asian Studies
Ryo Morimoto, Anthropology
Beth Semel, Anthropology
Emily Thompson, History
Janet A. Vertesi, Sociology

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

HIS 503 - Research Ethics and the Dissertation Prospectus (also HOS 503)

His 519 - topics in the history of sex and gender (also gss 519/hos 519), his 586 - american technological history (also hos 586), hos 594 - history of medicine (also his 594), hos 595 - introduction to historiography of science (also his 595/mod 564), hos 599 - special topics in the history of science, technology, and medicine (also his 599), hos 599a - special topics in the history of science, technology, & medicine (also his 599a).

Department of History of Science and Technology

Understand the impact of science.

The Department of the History of Science and Technology concentrates on science and technology since the Renaissance. It offers programs in collaboration with the Department of the History of Medicine at the School of Medicine.

Degrees Offered BA, MA, PhD
Major History of Science, Medicine, and Technology
Minor History of Science, Medicine and Technology

Cabinet with medical objects like hands and body diagrams

Explore the Department

students at a table while professor talks

Undergraduate Program

Undergraduates study the impact of science and medicine from a broad historical and social perspective.

three students examining documents in class

Graduate Program

The graduate program is an internationally recognized center for teaching and research.

faculty wilson in t-shirt, lecture, in front of two students

Study with faculty whose research areas include history of architecture, science and exploration, environmentalism, and science and religion.

Upcoming Events

Tritium in transition: material ambivalence in the us nuclear infrastr....

Sonja Schmid of Virginia Tech will present "Tritium in Transition: Material Ambivalence in the US Nuclear Infrastructure" There will be a pre-circulated paper

Debating the Feeling Capacity of African People: (see more below)

Carolyn Roberts of Yale will present “Debating the Feeling Capacity of African People: Aetiological Politics, Mental Illness, and Affective Neuroscience in British Slave-Trade Abolition.” There will be a pre-circulated paper.

Launching Space Camp: Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Workers th...

Emily Margolis of The Smithsonian will present "Launching Space Camp: Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Workers through Play"

News & Announcements

FIve JHU affiliates standing in front of a stage

Hopkins HSMT at the HSS centennial event in the Library of Congress

Hopkins’ History of Science, Medicine, and Technology community had impressive representation at the History of Science Society’s centennial event, held on July 26, 2024, at the Kluge Center, Library of […]

Professor Leslie speaking at podium with one armed raised

Bill Leslie received the Da Vinci Medal

Professor Emeritus Bill (Stuart) Leslie was awarded the 2024 Da Vinci Medal. The Da Vinci Medal is the highest recognition from the Society for the History of Technology, presented to […]

Improving America’s Archives

Allison Marsh ’08 PhD uses historical objects to teach the public about the history of science and technology, and get them more excited about archives and civic engagement.

History and Philosophy of Science, PhD

Program description
At a glance
Degree requirements
Admission requirements
Tuition information
Program learning outcomes
Career opportunities
Contact information

Philosophy of Science, philosophy

This program offers you a valuable opportunity to study the history and philosophy of science while embedded among biologists within ASU's School of Life Sciences. You can benefit from participating in the university's interdisciplinary culture and integrate coursework from the sciences into your education.

The PhD program in history and philosophy of science combines training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of the sciences, including:

computational history and philosophy of science
foundations of evolutionary theory
general philosophy of science and epistemology
history and philosophy of applied ethics and science policy
history of 19th and 20th century biology

College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Location: Tempe
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (6 credit hours) HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab (3) HPS 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)

Restricted Program Electives (30 credit hours)

Program Electives (24 credit hours)

Research (12 credit hours) HPS 792 Research (12)

Dissertation (12 credit hours) HPS 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information An individual student program is developed in consultation with the student's advisor and committee.

HPS 615 Biology and Society Lab is a one-credit-hour course focused on student presentations of works in progress. Students must register for it three times during their graduate study.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

All applicants must submit:

graduate admission application and application fee
official transcripts
academic record form
personal statement
curriculum vitae or resume
writing sample
three letters of recommendation
proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

Able to articulate an understanding of current literature on scientific developments and their relevance to society in scholarly writing.
Able to contribute to original history and philosophy of science research in scholarly writing.
Able to communicate history and philosophy of science research results in presentations.

Career examples include:

food, agriculture and health care scientists in academic, private and industrial labs
principal investigators and policymakers in government labs and nonprofit organizations
professors or instructors in universities and colleges
science teachers in elementary and high schools
wildlife, animal and conservation scientists

School of Life Sciences | LSA 181 [email protected] 480-965-1768

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History of Science

The University of Washington does not offer a formal degree in History of Science or Science Studies, but students interested in doctoral studies in these areas can pursue them within the framework of a history PhD program. One of the strengths of our MA program and our PhD program is the extent to which studies in history of science here at UW are integrated within the broader contexts of historical scholarship. We encourage graduate students in our PhD program to take advantage of the department's policy allowing one of the four doctoral graduate fields to be taken outside of the department. Useful fields might include topics in the philosophy of science, graduate-level study in one of the natural sciences for those qualified, or science studies undertaken in one of the other humanities departments within the University.

Associated Faculty

Bruce Hevly

Division: history of science.

A general field, designed to begin preparation of graduate students aiming to teach undergraduate courses or pursue research in history of science during their careers, and to introduce the general historiographical framework and development of the field. The field can be modified to meet the student's particular interests. This would normally be the second field for students interested in becoming historians of science.

Science and Technology Studies

"STS" engages in the variety of new approaches to understanding the sciences which have emerged in the wake of Thomas Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). Drawing from diverse academic disciplines, such as philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, scholars in the 1970s and 80s developed powerful and controversial new methods of analyzing science as a social construction or network, and critiqued the role of gender and race in scientific practice, theory, and organization. More recently, cultural and anthropological studies of science have presented new means to interpret science alongside alternative systems of human (and even 'non-human'!) action and belief. Postcolonial studies of science and technology have traced science's interactions with empire, development, and indigenous knowledges. Students taking this field will engage with these diverse approaches of recent STS through reading, writing, and discussions. A knowledge of the tools and concepts of STS has been indispensable for recent history of science, and the field will deepen and broaden participants' perspectives on science.

History of Technology

A general field, designed to begin preparation for graduate students aiming to teach undergraduate courses or pursue research in history of technology during their careers, and to introduce the general historiographical frameworks and development of the field. The field can be modified to meet the student's particular interests; in the past, students interested in environmental and western history have been important members of the seminar.

History of Physics

Introduction to the literature, practices, and current problems in the study of the emergence and development of physics since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Professor Hevly has particular interests in nineteenth-century British and twentieth-century American cases, but other concentrations are possible as well.

History of Terrestrial Physics

This is a more specialized field, which aims to explore the history of terrestrial physics as an alternative to the standard view in history of modern physics which has focused on the reductionist program of atomic and sub-atomic sciences. Topics include various studies since the eighteenth century: terrestrial magnetism and electricity, auroral studies, glaciology and ice caps, ocean sciences, studies of the upper atmosphere. Also considers expeditionary science, and developing connections between science and state.

Science, Technology and the Military

Exploration of the institutional, cultural and conceptual relationships between science, technology and the military components of that state since the early modern period. This field centers on the modern military as a set of self-consciously technologically-conditioned communities, and on science and technology as constrained by the aspirations, commitments and structures of the modern state. Depending on the student's area of interest, the field may also be oriented towards issues of science and gender, cyborgia, space programs, or other issues of interest. Professor Hevly's particular interest is the development of intellectual systems to enlist the Earth into reliably-functioning technological systems.

Division: United States

History of science and technology in american culture.

This field is designed to explore science and technology in the context of American social, cultural, or intellectual history. Undertaking sufficient comparative history to justify claims about American peculiarities, the field will look for the ways in which American contexts since the seventeenth century influenced the content and construction of science and technology. It might be particularly appropriate for American historians interested in ways to integrate the history of science and technology into research and teaching programs in the broader field.

View Bruce Hevly's complete profile

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PhD History
Prospective Students
MA Programs

The Department of History offers a PhD program centered on rigorous research within a vibrant and diverse intellectual community. While most of our students have a history degree (BA) or degrees (BA and MA), we accept students with a variety of backgrounds and interests.

Admission is highly competitive. All offers include a full university fellowship for the duration of the program. Between 2017 and 2024, a number of excellent students selected for admission were named Neubauer Family Distinguished Doctoral Fellows and received additional fellowship support over for five years.

Admissions Deadline (Autumn 2025 program start): December 5, 2024 at 11:55

Application Process

Interested students apply to the PhD program through the Division of the Social Sciences . For questions regarding the application submission and fee waivers, please contact SSD Admissions. For questions regarding the History PhD Program or History-specific application components, please contact our graduate affairs administrator .

Official decisions are sent by the Social Science Admissions Office by late February. The Department cannot release any information on admissions decisions.

Application Advice

The requirements for the application can be found on the divisional admissions pages . The following advice is specific to your application to the Department of History.

Your writing sample should be a complete self-contained work. The ideal sample should be in the field of history (or a closely related field) that you plan to pursue at Chicago. Include the class or publication for which the sample was written. We do not have a page or word limit for writing samples. For papers longer than thirty pages, please flag a section for the committee.

Your candidate statement provides us with vital insight into the intersection of your intellectual goals and personal trajectory. It should communicate: 1) the ambitions you wish to pursue through doctoral work in history; 2) the specific questions and themes that will shape your dissertation research; 3) the personal and intellectual trajectory that has brought you to those themes and questions and prepared you to pursue them; and 4) the reasons that the University of Chicago and its faculty are well-matched to your doctoral plans.

The most helpful letters of recommendation come from faculty members who can assess your ability to work on your proposed historical topic.

Prospective students are asked to identify one or two primary fields of scholarly interest from a list in the application. Our faculty pages are sorted by field. Please see those pages for more information on faculty working in your field of interest. Please note, however, that we highly encourage applicants who work across field boundaries and do not apportion admissions by field.

There is no minimum foreign language requirement to enter the program, but successful applicants should possess strong language skills in their proposed research language(s) and be aware of the language requirements for the various fields . All students are required to take a language exam in the first quarter of the program.

The University sets the English-language assessment requirements. Refer to the Division of the Social Sciences for English-language requirements and waivers.

Submission of GRE scores is entirely optional. Those who choose not to submit scores will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process.

MA Program Consideration

All applicants who are not admitted to our PhD program are automatically forwarded for consideration by our MA programs, unless the applicant specifically opts out of this process on their application. That said, as referred applications are considered later than most other MA applications, scholarship assistance for students admitted to an MA program through the referral process may be limited. If you are interested in our MA programs and would need scholarship assistance to attend, we would encourage you to apply directly to the MA as well as our program (note that this would require a separate application and application fee). MA applications are accepted multiple times per year with decisions typically issued within 6 to 8 weeks. Questions about applying to an MA program should be directed to [email protected] .

Campus Visits

We encourage prospective students to reach out to potential faculty mentors through email. Please consult our faculty page to find professors who share your interests. Our graduate affairs administrator can provide additional information about the program.

The University also offers graduate campus tours throughout the year that are led by graduate students. Please check their website for campus visitor updates.

Admitted PhD students are invited to visit campus for "History Day" at the beginning of Spring Quarter.

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History PhD

First awarded by the University of Maryland in 1937, the Doctorate in History is conferred for superior achievement in historical research, writing, and interpretation.

Additional Information

Forms and Resources
Funding and Awards
People (Department Directory)

PhD Program Overview

The Doctorate in History (PhD) is an essential component in the training of professional historians. The most significant requirement of the PhD degree program is the dissertation, an original and noteworthy contribution to historical knowledge. In anticipation of dissertation research, students spend several years mastering bibliographical tools, research and writing methods, and general, special, and minor fields of study.

Admission to the PhD program is offered to highly qualified applicants holding at least a Bachelor's (BA) degree, normally in History or a related discipline. Application and admissions procedures are described on the Department of History's graduate admissions page .

The length of time required to complete the PhD varies by field of study and student. Students admitted with a Bachelor's (BA) degree might expect to complete the program in five to six years of full-time study. Students entering with a Master of Arts (MA) degree might expect to complete the program in four to five years of full-time study. The degree must be completed in no more than nine years. Students typically take two years of course work, prepare for and take language exams (if required for their field) and comprehensive exams, and then research and write the dissertation.

Program Requirements and Policies

General program requirements.

Course work in the major and minor fields
Language examinations if required by field
Comprehensive examinations
Dissertation prospectus
Advancement to candidacy
The dDssertation

Each of these program requirements must be met before the PhD can be conferred.

Course Requirements

All PhD students entering with a Bachelor's (BA) degree (or equivalent) must take, at a minimum, the following courses (total 30 credits, not including 12 credits of “Dissertation Research”):

Contemporary Theory (HIST 601; 3 credits)
Major Field General Seminar (HIST 608; 3 credits)
Readings courses in the major field (HIST 6XX and 7XX; 9 credits)
Readings courses in the minor field (HIST 6XX and 7XX; 9 credits)
Research seminars (HIST 8XX; 6 credits)
Dissertation Research (HIST 898/899; 12 credits)

Special Notes:

Courses completed during previous post-baccalaureate degree programs and/or at other institutions may be considered to satisfy course requirements. However, students entering the PhD program with a Master's (MA) degree or equivalent in History or a related discipline must take a minimum of two 600-800 level courses in the major field, one of which should be with the major advisor.
Requests for course requirement waivers, equivalency, and credit transfers should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies. A request must include the course syllabus and transcripts showing the final grade. The endorsement of the advisor is typically sought.
Up to nine credit hours of major and minor field readings courses may be taken at the 400 level. Students seeking to take a 400 level course for graduate credit should consult the instructor of record to discuss course expectations before registering.
HIST 708/709: “Directed Independent Reading for Comprehensive Examinations” does not count toward the nine-credit readings seminar requirement.
Students in the U.S. and Latin America fields are expected to take two major field seminars (HIST 608)–in this case, one of these 608s will be counted toward the “Readings courses in the major field” requirement.
Students must complete the entire program for the doctoral (PhD) degree, including the dissertation and final examination, during a four-year period after admission to candidacy, but no later than nine years after admission to the doctoral (PhD) program. Students must be advanced to candidacy within five years of admission to the doctoral (PhD) program.

Fields of Study

Doctoral students should choose one of the following as their “major field” of study:

Global Interaction and Exchange

Jewish History (Classical Antiquity to the Present)

Latin America

Middle East

Technology, Science, and Environment

United States

Learn more about fields of study and faculty work produced in each field by visiting the research fields page .

The Minor Field

All doctoral students are required to complete a minor field of study outside the major field of study. This requirement is typically met through nine credit hours of coursework. However, a student may opt to satisfy the requirement by written examination.

A minor field is usually a field of history outside the student's major field of concentration. For example, a student in the U.S. field may select a minor field in Latin American history; a student in the Women & Gender field may select a minor field in European history. The minor field may be a standard national-chronological field (e.g., 19th-century United States; Imperial Russia; Postcolonial India), or it may be a cross-cultural, cross-regional thematic field (e.g., the Atlantic in the era of the slave trade; gender and Islam). Or, it might be taken in a department or program outside of History (e.g., Women's Studies, English, Government & Politics, Classics and Comparative Literature).

For students opting to satisfy the minor field requirement via coursework, all courses must be approved by the student's advisor and must, to the satisfaction of the advisor and the Graduate Committee, form a coherent field of historical inquiry distinct from the general field. Courses taken at the master's level may count towards fulfillment of the minor field requirements, subject to the approval of the advisor and, in the case of courses taken at outside institutions, of the director of graduate studies.

Language Requirements

Language requirements must be fulfilled before a student is admitted to candidacy. While no MA degree requires language examinations, students will often have to learn one or more foreign languages in their field of study to successfully complete their research. They will also need to learn these languages if they wish to continue on towards a PhD. When applying for either program, preference will be given to students with prior experience with languages in their fields of study.

Language requirements differ across the varying fields within history.

No foreign language requirements for the PhD. If a student’s dissertation topic requires research in foreign language materials, the advisor will decide if the student needs to show proficiency by taking an examination in the language in question.

Spanish and Portuguese. For admission, applicants will be evaluated on their language abilities, and preference will be given to applicants with a strong command of Spanish and/or Portuguese. All PhD students must show proficiency by examination in both languages by the time they are admitted to candidacy. Exceptions to one of those languages (typically Portuguese) if the student’s dissertation requires the use of indigenous languages or documents produced by ethnic minorities. In such cases, students must be proficient in those languages.

One language (in addition to English). Depending on the field, the adviser may determine that the student needs to show proficiency in an additional language.

For admission, students must have proficiency at the advanced intermediate level in at least one major Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Persian or Turkish). All PhD students must acquire advanced proficiency in their chosen language either by course work or exam by the time they are admitted to candidacy. In addition, students must demonstrate proficiency in one European language by the time of their comprehensive exams.

Ancient Mediterranean

For admission, students should present knowledge of classical Greek and Latin at the intermediate level and reading knowledge of either French or German. Knowledge of classical Greek, Latin, French and German is required for the PhD. Other language skills, eg. Italian, Spanish, Modern Greek or Hebrew, may prove to be necessary for dissertation research but are not formal program requirements. Students satisfy the requirement in Latin and Greek in one of two ways: either by completing three upper level or graduate courses (400-600 level) in each language and obtaining at least a B in all courses and an A- or better in at least two of the courses; or by passing a departmental sight translation exam. This exam consists of translating (with the help of a dictionary) three passages of three sentences each (roughly one-fourth to one-third OCT page) selected from prose authors of average difficulty. Students show proficiency in French and German through the regular departmental language exams.

Medieval Europe

For admission, proficiency in either Latin, French or German and familiarity with a second of those languages. All PhD students must demonstrate proficiency in Latin, French and German. They can satisfy the Latin requirement in one of two ways: either by taking three upper level or graduate courses (400-600 level) and obtaining at least a B in all courses and an A- or better in at least two of the courses; or by passing a departmental sight translation exam. This exam consists of translating (with the help of a dictionary) three passages of three sentences each (roughly one-fourth to one-third OCT page) selected from medieval prose authors of average difficulty. Students show proficiency in French and German through the regular departmental language exams. Depending on the field, students may have to know an additional national/regional language like Spanish or Italian.

Early Modern Europe

For admission, proficiency in one foreign language related to the field. All PhD students must demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages. Depending on the field, students may also have to know Latin.

Modern Europe

For admission, students must know the language of the country or region in which they are interested. All PhD students must demonstrate proficiency in the language of the country/region in which they are interested plus another European language.

Russia/Soviet Union

For admission, three years of Russian or the equivalent. All PhD students must demonstrate proficiency in Russian plus either French or German. Depending on the area of interest, the adviser may require an additional language.

For admission, advanced intermediate-level proficiency in modern Hebrew. All PhD students must demonstrate proficiency in modern Hebrew and one other language necessary for their fields. The advisor may require other languages as necessary.

Chinese History

For admission, students must have had at least two years of university-level Chinese language courses. All PhD students must acquire advanced proficiency in Chinese since they will be using Chinese documents for their dissertations. Before admission to candidacy students must pass a Chinese language exam in which they will translate about 30 lines of modern, scholarly Chinese into English. As with all departmental language exams, students will be able to use a dictionary, and they will have four hours to complete the translation.

Language Examinations

Except as specified for Latin and ancient Greek, the typical language proficiency examination includes a summary and translation of a passage from a work of modern scholarship in the student’s field. The director of graduate studies appoints a faculty member, typically the student’s advisor, to coordinate the exam and select an excerpt from a published work of historical scholarship in the student’s field. Students write a 200-300 word summary of this five-to-seven page excerpt from the scholarly literature in their fields, and then they do a direct translation of an indicated 30-line passage within that excerpt. The direct translation must be accurate and rendered in idiomatic English. Students have four hours to complete the exam, and they may use a language dictionary that they themselves provide.

Language exams can be taken at any time before candidacy. The exams are read by two members of the faculty: typically, the student’s advisor, who chooses the passage and serves as chair of the exam committee, and one other member of the faculty chosen by the D\director of graduate studies in consultation with the advisor. Faculty from outside the department who have the necessary expertise are eligible to serve as evaluators. The two possible grades are pass and fail. If the two readers do not agree, the director of graduate studies will appoint a third faculty member to read the exam. Students who do not pass on the first attempt may retake the examination without prior approval. After a second failure, the student must petition for reexamination. The chair of the language exam committee will notify the director of graduate studies about the results of the exam within one week after the exam, and the graduate coordinator will notify the student in writing about the results, which will then be inserted into the student’s records. All students should normally pass their language examinations during their third year of the program, though given the complexity of the language requirements in different fields of study, the department recognizes the need to exercise some flexibility in the timing of this requirement.

Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive examinations (comps) are a standard feature of historical training in the United States. The examinations require the examinee to demonstrate mastery of historical scholarship and historiography in a major field, including specialized mastery of the authors, themes, works and topics most relevant to the intended dissertation topic. All students register for HIST 708/709: “Directed Independent Reading for Comprehensive Examinations” for two semesters, once in the semester prior to the one in which they are scheduled to take the examinations (normally the fifth semester of the student’s program) and the second in the same semester as their examinations (normally the sixth semester of the student’s program). As noted above, these courses do not count towards the nine-credit readings seminar requirement.

Comprehensive examinations include the following:

A special field examination in the form of an essay. Students prepare an essay of 4,000 to \5,000 words in length, 16-20 pages, double-spaced in a 12-point font. The special field is a subfield of the major field in which the dissertation is centered.
A take-home major field examination administered in written format. Students have 48 hours to complete the exam, which should be 5,000 to 6,000 words, 20-24 pages, double-spaced in a 12-point font in length.
A two-hour oral examination by the examination committee, including coverage of both the take-home major field exam and the essay that comprises the special field exam.

Timeline : The comprehensive examinations are administered during the first half of the student’s sixth semester in the program. The special field essay has to be submitted to the graduate coordinator before the student takes the major field examination. The oral examination follows within two weeks of passing the major field examination and the special field essay. Students entering the program with an MA in history might be expected to complete their comprehensive examinations during their fifth semester in the program. (Also see the “Combined Timeline for Comprehensive Examinations and the Prospectus” at the end of this document.)

Reading Lists : The format, content and length of the reading lists for the comprehensive examinations vary by field but the list should normally be in the range of 200 to 250 books. Of these, about two-thirds should be in the major field and one-third in the special field. In all fields, students develop their reading lists in consultation with their advisors and other members of the examination committee. The reading list must be compiled and approved by the examination committee by the end of their second-year summer (after the student’s fourth semester in the program). For students coming in with an MA in history who would like to take their examinations during their fifth semester in the program, the list must be ready by the end of the student’s third semester. After approval, limited changes may be made solely by mutual agreement of the student and his/her advisor.

The examination committee : The examination committee consists of three or four members of the Graduate Faculty, typically all members of the history faculty. The director of graduate studies designates the committee members and chair, in consultation with the major advisor and the student. The committee chair shall not be the student's advisor. All committee members contribute questions to the written and oral examinations. Most or all of these same committee members are normally also on the student’s dissertation committee but the composition of the examination and prospectus committees do not need to be the same.

Grading : Comprehensive examinations will be graded pass, pass with distinction or fail.

Combined Timeline for Comprehensive Exams and Prospectus

Both the initial version of the prospectus and the special field essay are due before the major field take-home examination during the first half of the sixth semester of the student's program.
The major field take-home examination should be completed also during the first half of the sixth semester of the student's program after the initial version of the prospectus and the special field essay are submitted.
The two-hour oral examination on both the take-home major field exam and the essay that comprises the special field exam follows within two weeks of passing the major field examination and the special field exam. This oral exam can take place during the second half of the sixth semester of the student’s program.
The one-hour oral examination based on the initial version of the prospectus also takes place during the second half of the sixth semester of the student’s program but only after successful completion of the two-hour oral examination (#3 above).
The final version of the prospectus as approved by the advisor is due on the first day of the academic semester that immediately follows the comprehensive examinations, which is normally the seventh semester of the student’s program.

Prospectus & Candidacy

Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus is a written précis of the proposed dissertation research, its significance, the sources and methods to be used, the relevant bibliography including primary source materials and the plan of completion. It is intended to form the substance of grant proposals students will write in order to apply for both internal and external grants and fellowships. Each field of study has its own expectations for the length of the prospectus, but normally these should be concise documents not to exceed 10-12 pages in length, followed by a bibliography. In all fields, the prospectus is developed by the student in close collaboration with the advisor and other members of the examination committee.

The preparation of the prospectus includes the following stages :

An initial version of the prospectus.
A one-hour oral examination based on that initial version.
A final version incorporating any revisions suggested by members of the dissertation committee and approved by the advisor submitted to the graduate coordinator.

Timeline : The initial draft version of the prospectus should be submitted to the graduate coordinator during the first half of the student’s sixth semester before the student takes the major field examination, normally at the same time as the special field essay. The one-hour oral examination of the prospectus based on the initial version is scheduled during the second half of the student’s sixth semester in the program following satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examinations. The final version of the prospectus as approved by the advisor is due on the first day of the academic semester that immediately follows the comprehensive examination. (Also see the “Combined Timeline for Comprehensive Examinations and the Prospectus” at the end of this document.)

The relationship between the prospectus and the special field Essay: The special field essay normally covers the historiography of the entire subfield within the major field in which the dissertation is anchored, while the prospectus is more narrowly concerned with the specific research topic of the dissertation.

The examination committee: The prospectus oral examination committee consists of the advisor and at least two other members of the Graduate Faculty, who are normally also members of the student’s dissertation committee. The advisor chairs the examination. All committee members contribute questions to the oral examination and make suggestions for revisions. Upon passing the oral examination, the student will complete any revisions requested (as determined by the advisor and the committee) and submit the final prospectus approved by the advisor to the graduate program coordinator.

MA “Along the Way”

When a student receives a pass or pass with distinction and the endorsement to continue on in the PhD program, the student has the option to request that the Master of Arts degree be conferred "along the way," subject to fulfillment of the standard requirements of the MA degree.

In some instances, the examination committee may recommend that a PhD student taking comprehensive examinations be given a pass at the MA level, sufficient for the conferral of a terminal master's degree. Such a recommendation will be made with the expectation that the student not continue on towards doctoral candidacy.

Petition for Reexamination

In the case of failure of a language examination taken for the second time or one or more components of the comprehensive examinations and the prospectus preparation process (special field essay, take-home major field examination, two-hour oral examination and prospectus oral examination), the student may petition the director of graduate studies to take the whole examination or the relevant component(s) a second time. If the petition is approved, the student may retake the examination as soon as possible. A student may petition only once to retake all or part of the comprehensive examinations and the prospectus preparation process.

Successful completion of the prospectus is typically the last step before application for advancement to candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy

A doctoral student advances to candidacy when all degree requirements (i.e., course work, demonstrated competence in languages or special skills, comprehensive examinations and the dissertation prospectus) have been satisfied, with the exception of the dissertation.

Formal admission to candidacy (sometimes known as "All but Dissertation" or "ABD" status) is granted by the dean of the Graduate School. The application is routed through the director of graduate studies.

Advising & Committees

Each student admitted to the PhD program will choose an advisor who is a member of the Graduate Faculty and whose intellectual interests are compatible with the student's plan of study. All graduate students are required to choose an advisor by November 1 of their first semester. If they do not choose an advisor by that date, the director of graduate studies will appoint one for them. The faculty advisor will be responsible for advising the student on all aspects of their academic program, for approving the student's course of study each semester, for monitoring their progress through the program,and for notifying the student of the nature and timing of examinations and other evaluative procedures. The advisor, in consultation with the student and the director of graduate studies, will be responsible for constituting the Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation Examination committees. The advisor will also represent the student to the Graduate Committee, as appropriate.

At the conclusion of the first year of study, all students will make available to their advisor a transcript of coursework and major written work completed during the first year. Upon review of the appropriate materials, the advisor will then recommend to the director of graduate studies continuation, modification or, as appropriate, termination of the student's program. All recommendations for termination require discussion and approval of the Graduate Committee.

Students may change advisors. The director of graduate studies and the new faculty advisor shall approve changes in advisors before a student advances to candidacy. After advancement to candidacy, changes shall be approved only by petition to the Graduate Committee. A change of advisor must be recorded in the student's electronic file.

Registration and Degree Progress

Continuous Registration

All graduate students must register for courses and pay associated tuition and fees each semester, not including summer and winter sessions, until the degree is awarded.

Pre-candidacy doctoral students who will be away from the university for up to one year may request a waiver of continuous registration and its associated tuition and fees. Waivers shall be granted only if the student is making satisfactory progress toward the degree and can complete all the degree requirements within the required time limits. Interruptions in continuous registration cannot be used to justify an extension to time-to-degree requirements.

Once advanced to candidacy, a student is no longer eligible for Waivers of Continuous Registration. Doctoral candidates must maintain continuous registration in HIST 899: “Doctoral Dissertation Research” until the degree is awarded.

The Graduate School makes available an official leave absence for childbearing, adoption, illness and dependent care. The dean of the Graduate School must approve the leave. The time-to-degree clock is suspended during an approved leave of absence.

Additional information on continuous registration and leave absence policies is published online in the Graduate Catalog.

Time-to-Degree

All students admitted to the doctoral program are expected to

advance to candidacy within three years from initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program, and
complete all degree requirements within six years of entering the program.

Progress-to-Degree

All students in the doctoral program will be expected to demonstrate steady progress toward the completion of degree requirements. At a minimum, the Graduate School requires students to maintain a B average in all graduate courses. However, the Department of History expects a higher level of performance, with the great majority of a student’s grades at the level of an A- or above.

Students in major fields that require lengthy language or special skill acquisition might be granted a one-year extension to progress-to-degree expectations. Additional extensions will require the approval of the Graduate Committee.

In order to meet progress-to-degree expectations :

800-level research seminar work should normally be completed by the end of the fourth semester in the program.
The major field reading list must be compiled and approved by the examination committee by the end of the summer after the student’s fourth semester in the program.
Students should complete their comprehensive examinations by the end of their sixth semester in the program. Students coming in with an M.A. in history should normally complete their comprehensive examinations by the end of their fifth semester in the program.
Each student will be expected to submit a copy of the final dissertation prospectus approved by the advisor to the graduate program coordinator at the beginning of their seventh academic semester in the program.
All students should normally pass their language examinations during the third year of their program.
The director of graduate studies will review fully each student's progress-to-degree as well as the overall progress-to-degree by degree cohort at least once a year.

Failure to make satisfactory progress-to-degree or to maintain the expected grade point average may result in the suspension or loss of departmental funding, the denial of a petition for extensions, and in extreme cases, a recommendation for dismissal.

NOTE : The above guidelines on continuous registration, time-to-degree and progress-to-degree guidelines are for students matriculating in fall 2018 or thereafter. Students entering the graduate program in prior semesters are subject to guidelines at time of matriculation.

Extensions and Waivers

The Graduate Committee will consider petitions for waivers to departmental guidelines. Petitions for waivers to Graduate School requirements must be submitted to the dean of the Graduate School, using the appropriate form. In most instances, the petitioning student will be required to provide a rationale for the waiver request, and, as appropriate, a convincing plan of study. The advice of the student's advisor may be sought. The advisor will be required to endorse any waiver request that involves extensions to overall time-to-degree as well as the major benchmarks of progress-to-degree.

All petitions should be directed to the director of graduate studies. The director of graduate studies, and in some cases the dean of the Graduate School, will notify the student of their disposition of petitions for extensions.

Sample Program of Study

Introduction.

The program of study often varies by field and many factors may extend or reorder the sequence and length of the program of study.

The following program of study assumes that the doctoral student will be assigned a teaching assistantship in the second, third and fourth years of study. Students coming in with an MA in history will be expected to complete the program in five or five and a half years.

Foreign language study is not incorporated into this program.

First Year (Departmental Fellowship)

Major Field General Seminar (608) or Contemporary Theory (HIST 601)
Major Field Readings Seminar
Minor Field Course

Spring

Research Seminar OR Minor Field Course
Exploratory Research

Second Year (Teaching Assistantship)

2 courses out of the following three categories:
Research Seminar
Research Seminar
Reading for Comprehensive Examinations
Initial Prospectus Preparation

Third Year (Teaching Assistantship)

HIST 708: Readings for Comprehensives”
Prospectus Preparation
Grant Applications
HIST 709: “Readings for Comprehensive Examinations”
Prospectus Oral Examination
Final Version of Prospectus
Dissertation Research

Fourth Year (Teaching Assistantship)

Dissertation Research (HIST 899)

Fifth Year (Departmental or External Fellowship)

Grant Applications

Spring & Summer

Dissertation Writing

Sixth Year (Departmental or External Fellowship)

Job applications
Job applications

Graduate Placement

Learn more about the career and life paths of our PhD alumni.

Graduate Coordinator, History

2139 Francis Scott Key Hall College Park MD, 20742

Department of History

College of Social Science

History PhD Candidate Spotlight: NAEd Spencer Dissertation Fellow Gloria J. Ashaolu

Posted on August 14, 2024 August 20, 2024 Author mcdon625

By: Patti McDonald

Gloria J. Ashaolu, a Michigan State University History PhD candidate majoring in African American history with minors in U.S. history and Black comparative/diaspora history, was recently named a 2024 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Dissertation Fellow.

This prestigious fellowship was only offered to 35 graduate students nationwide. The fellowship supports these students with the writing phase of their dissertation. The fellowship is comprised of three key components: fellows receive $27,500 for one academic year (distributed in two installments), students participate in two professional development retreats facilitated by NAEd members and other distinguished scholars, and have the opportunity of selecting an NAEd member or another respected scholar as their mentor to offer advice and assistance during the school year.

We sat down with Gloria and asked her about her dissertation, how grateful she is for being recognized as a NAEd/Spencer Fellow, and why she decided to major in African American history and minor in U.S. history, and Black comparative/diaspora history.

What were you thinking when you found out you were awarded The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship? 

I was overwhelmed with joy and a deep sense of gratitude.

What is this fellowship going to allow you to do? How is it so helpful you received this? 

The financial support from the NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship alleviates the need for significant employment and will allow me to dedicate more time to my dissertation—toward meeting the goals I set for my time to degree trajectory. I am also immensely grateful for the unique opportunity to engage with members of my cohort and distinguished scholars in the field of education at the two professional development retreats organized by the National Academy of Education. Participating in the discussions and sessions will provide me with the resources and insight to meaningfully contribute to the field and the improvement of education. Furthermore, fellows are paired with mentors who will provide further research and career development over the academic year. 

What is your dissertation about? Tell us about it in a few sentences. 

Between the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, the model of educational vision Black teachers fostered and were deeply committed to greatly mirrored what we today regard as anti-racist systems of knowledge and educational practices. My dissertation attends to the understudied educational activism, pedagogies, and praxes of local Black teachers during the Early Black History Movement through a biographical analysis of the life and times of Jane Dabney Shackelford, a Black female educator from Terre Haute, Indiana who was most active during the era of Jim Crow segregation. The educational trajectory and systems of teaching Shackelford and her peers embodied serve as a useful tool for conceptualizing the significant ways in which local schoolteachers cultivated an intentional educational and intellectual practice that challenged the beliefs, politics, and policies of Jim Crow segregation. Driven by what Anna Julia Cooper referred to as the “moral forces of reason and justice and love,” these educators inspired Civil Rights Movement participants, Black Power Movement activists, and Black Studies revolutionaries.

Why is this type of research so important? 

Amid the regime of violence, discrimination, and disfranchisement of Jim Crow segregation, local Black teachers played critical roles in the lives of countless Black youth by educating them about their rich history, heritage, and culture. This study situates the underappreciated presence and pedagogies of these educators within their rightful historical legacy. The first contribution of this project entails the study of the life and times of an influential—yet understudied—historical actor as a window into the education-activism of Black teachers during the Early Black History Movement. Second, this project attends to the principles and conventions of Jim Crow North, by challenging static, flattened, and selective narratives that loom in popular remembering of the era of Jim Crow segregation. Third, the use of the robust repository that makes up the Shackelford papers seeks to excavate the scholarly and intellectual work and the service ethos that guided her educational activism and that of her community of educators. 

Why did you decide to major and minor in African American history, U.S. history, and Black comparative/diaspora history?

The decision to major and minor in African American history, U.S. history, and Black comparative/diaspora history in the Michigan State University History PhD program was inspired by the trajectory of my research, the opportunity to learn from leading scholars in the fields, and my aspiration to create meaningful historical work that helps us better understand the present through our collective history towards a just and inclusive society.

  Who have been some of your mentors within the History department? 

My mentors within the department include my major Advisor, Dr. Pero G. Dagbovie (University Distinguished Professor of History, Associate Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and Dean of the Graduate School), and Dissertation Committee Member, Dr. LaShawn D. Harris (award-winning historian, Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lecturer, and Associate Professor of History). I am sincerely thankful for their instrumental guidance and supportive mentorship. 

  Anything else you would like to include? 

  I am also grateful to God for the scholar-friends in the Department of History and College of Education who have been thought-partners and for their community of support. 

Gloria J. Ashaolu

IMAGES

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COMMENTS

Ph.D. in History of Science
The Program in History of Science at Princeton University trains students to analyze science, medicine, and technology in historical and cultural context. We are a community of scholars including roughly a dozen core and affiliated faculty members and about twenty graduate students, in addition to undergraduate concentrators and visiting fellows.
History of Science
The History of Science Department is one of the world's leading institutions for producing the next generation of professional historians of science through a course of study that lays a broad foundation for teaching and research. Our unique, interdisciplinary program expands on the typical Euro-centric focus for a more global examination ...
Graduate Program
Science Center 371 Office Hours: By Appointment Phone: 617-495-9978 Anne Harrington Franklin L. Ford Professor of the History of Science, Acting Director of Graduate Studies Phone: 617-496-5234 [email protected]. Linda Schneider Graduate Program Coordinator Department of the History of Science Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone: 617-495-9978
Ph.D. Programs
The Program in the History of Science and Medicine (HSHM) is a semi-autonomous graduate track within the Department of History. HSHM students receive degrees in History, with a concentration in the History of Science and Medicine. There is a separate admissions process for students interested in the History of Science and Medicine. For more information, please see the HSHM website.
History and Philosophy of Science, PHD
Program Description. Degree Awarded: PHD History and Philosophy of Science. The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." The field is based on the idea that the best way to understand science is to study how it ...
Program Requirements: Ph.D.
PhD students in the History of Science normally take the General Examination at the end of the spring semester of the G2 year. The aim of the General Examination is to deepen and expand students' historical knowledge for the purposes of both research and teaching. It is an oral examination in three fields, each one directed by a different ...
PhD Graduate Field in History of Science :: Center for Science
The Department of History offers a graduate field (MA/PhD) in the history of science. Graduate students in the history of science at Berkeley enjoy a kind of dual citizenship: not only are they enrolled in a top-ranked doctoral program, but they also have full access to the resources available in the Office for History of Science and Technology ...
Graduate Admissions
Department of the History of Science. [email protected]. 617-495-9978. Inquiries concerning the Harvard Graduate School's admissions process and requirements in general may be directed to: Office of Admissions. Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. [email protected].
History of Science
The Department of the History of Science offers a comprehensive graduate program leading to the A.M. and Ph.D. degrees. The program's goal is to produce the next generation of professional historians of science, training students to examine the development of science through a course of study that lays a broad foundation for teaching and research across the field.
Graduate
Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science can pursue PhDs either in the Philosophy Department, through its PhD subplan in History and Philosophy of Science or in the History Department, through its PhD field in History of Science, Medicine and Technology.Diplomas will be issued by the respective departments, but the HPS study will not be noted on the transcript nor ...
PhD in History and Philosophy of Science
PhD students work closely with a doctoral supervisor and advisor (usually both from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science but sometimes from other departments in the University). With the benefit of this expert guidance, students learn how to articulate, develop and present their own research. Students meet their supervisor and ...
History and Philosophy of Science: PhD
The Ph.D. Program in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) welcomes students of diverse intellectual backgrounds: humanities students who have an interest in the sciences, medicine, or technology, as well as students who have training in the sciences and engineering, and who are curious about the history of their discipline, and its philosophical grounding.
History of Science
The History of Science Interdepartmental Graduate Certificate Program is aimed at enabling students who are taking seminars in the program, working closely with program faculty, and writing dissertations on aspects of the history of science, medicine, and technology to receive a formal credential in History of Science. ...
History of Science and Technology
Understand the Impact of Science. The Department of the History of Science and Technology concentrates on science and technology since the Renaissance. It offers programs in collaboration with the Department of the History of Medicine at the School of Medicine. Degrees OfferedBA, MA, PhD. MajorHistory of Science, Medicine, and Technology.
Graduate Programs in History of Science
Human and Social Science Program. Bielefeld University. PhD in History (Focus in Historical Studies of Science) or MA in History, Economics and Philosophy of Science. History Department or Program in History, Economics and Philosophy of Science (HEPS) University of Coimbra. PhD in History of Sciences.
About History of Science & Science Studies
Who we are: The Department of the History of Science is a lively interdisciplinary community of scholars, undergraduate and graduate students, visiting researchers, and affiliated faculty in other Harvard programs.We seek to understand the sciences, technology, and medicine in their historical, cultural, and current contexts, using history as a tool to help illuminate how knowledge of various ...
History and Philosophy of Science, PhD
The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." ... The PhD program in history and philosophy of science combines training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary ...
History of Science
History of Science. The University of Washington does not offer a formal degree in History of Science or Science Studies, but students interested in doctoral studies in these areas can pursue them within the framework of a history PhD program. One of the strengths of our MA program and our PhD program is the extent to which studies in history ...
PhD History
PhD History. The Department of History offers a PhD program centered on rigorous research within a vibrant and diverse intellectual community. While most of our students have a history degree (BA) or degrees (BA and MA), we accept students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. Admission is highly competitive. All offers include a full ...
Department of the History of Science, Harvard University
History of Science, physics, astronomy, molecular biology, evolutionary theory, technology, brain, behavioral science, medicine, public health, philosophy, technology ...
History PhD
The Doctorate in History (PhD) is an essential component in the training of professional historians. The most significant requirement of the PhD degree program is the dissertation, an original and noteworthy contribution to historical knowledge. In anticipation of dissertation research, students spend several years mastering bibliographical ...
History of Science
PhD in History of Science. Why do this PhD? Our programme is a response to the historical and current importance of science, technology and medicine: the history of science can offer a global vision of the processes that have shaped contemporary science, technology and medicine, and is an excellent tool for analysing and understanding science and its social relations.
History PhD Candidate Spotlight: NAEd Spencer Dissertation Fellow
By: Patti McDonald . Gloria J. Ashaolu, a Michigan State University History PhD candidate majoring in African American history with minors in U.S. history and Black comparative/diaspora history, was recently named a 2024 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Dissertation Fellow.. This prestigious fellowship was only offered to 35 graduate students nationwide.
PDF PhD Theses in History of Science by Year 1941 through 2015
Jones, Matthew Avicenna and Aquinas on Individuation. Mobilizing for War, Engineering the Peace: The State, the Shop Floor and the Engineer in Japan, 1935-1960. Technical Subjects: Natural Philosophy and Mathematics as Spiritual Exercises in Descartes, Pascal and Leibniz Sabra, A.I. Galison, Peter.

Department of History