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History - Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in History prepares students to become professional scholars, college and university teachers and independent researchers in private or public research institutions.

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Doctorate's Degree in History

The aim of Kent State University’s Ph.D. Degree in History is to cultivate a deep understanding of historical research methodologies, critical analysis, and interpretive frameworks. This program is designed to foster scholarly expertise in a diverse range of historical topics, encouraging students to engage with primary sources and contribute original research to the field. We strive to equip students with the analytical skills and theoretical insights necessary to explore complex historical narratives, prepare for academic careers, and advance their knowledge in specialized areas of history.

Program Information for History - Ph.D.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Analyze secondary sources in a variety of areas of historical specialization and participate actively and positively in discussions of those sources.
  2. Read and master the formative as well as the most significant recent scholarship in their particular areas of focus.
  3. Construct effective and analytical book reviews, comparative review essays and historiographical pieces with a high level of proficiency, particularly when it comes to integrating various historical works together into an analytical/argumentative whole.
  4. Form their own judgments about secondary historical works and the historiographical fields of which they are part.
  5. Analyze a wide array of primary sources in a sophisticated manner; and integrate these sources with secondary sources in order to make an original historical argument.
  6. Demonstrate an ability to conceptualize; research; and write book reviews, annotated bibliographical essays, historiographical essays and seminar papers.
  7. Produce a professional-quality book-length piece of rigorous academic work.
Admissions for History - Ph.D.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university in history or related discipline
  • Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • GRE scores
  • Goal statement describing professional objectives and proposed field of study
  • Significant piece of written work
  • Three letters of recommendation (preferably academic)
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority deadline: February 1
      Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
Coursework
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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (min B- or S grade required in all courses)
HIST 71005TEACHING WORLD HISTORY 3
HIST 81002HISTORIOGRAPHY 10-3
HIST 81070WRITING SEMINAR IN HISTORY 23
HIST 82070
& HIST 82071		AMERICAN HISTORY FROM PRECONTACT NATIVE AMERICA THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR
and AMERICAN HISTORY FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT 3		0-6
History (HIST) Doctoral Electives (70000 or 80000 level) 415
Focus Field Requirement, choose from the following: 59
History of Everyday Life Focus Field
HIST 82300
MAJOR READINGS IN THE IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
HIST 82325
MAJOR READINGS IN ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY
HIST 82326
BETWEEN PLOWS AND SWORDS: U.S.-CHINA CULTURAL RELATIONS SINCE THE LATE 1700S
HIST 82350
REVOLUTION AND REFORM: THE DEPRESSION ERA AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
HIST 82360
MARGINALITY AND POWER: HISTORY FROM BELOW
HIST 82385
HIGH-LIFE HISTORY: AFRICAN URBAN CULTURAL HISTORIES
Rustbelt Studies Focus Field
HIST 82500
REGIONAL IDENTITY AND OHIO HISTORY
HIST 82505
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE 19TH-20TH CENTURY RUST BELT
History (HIST) Doctoral Electives (70000 or 80000 level)
States of Violence Focus Field
HIST 71060
COMPARATIVE FACISM
HIST 82400
THE LENS OF WAR: AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH THE STUDY OF THE MILITARY
HIST 82405
NATIVE WESTS
HIST 82415
RELIGION AND VIOLENCE IN THE MODERN WEST
HIST 82475
MARXIST REVOLUTION IN VIETNAM
Culminating Requirement
HIST 89199DISSERTATION I 630
Minimum Total Credit Hours:60
1

Students who did not complete a historiography class for their master's degree must take HIST 81002.

2

Students may take HIST 81070 more than once.

3

Students working in U.S. history must complete HIST 82070 and HIST 82071.

4

Students' electives must include at least four seminars/colloquia. Outside of the focus field, students elect one general and one specialized field. General fields include Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. Specialized fields explore a particular subfield (e.g., history of American foreign relations) or methodology (e.g., cultural history) across a broad sweep of time and are designed to deepen students' knowledge of their general field.

5

Students may apply special topics courses HIST 79095, HIST 79195 and/or HIST 79295 to their focus field requirements with the approval of the graduate coordinator.

6

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for HIST 89199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will thereafter register for HIST 89299 until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • All students must demonstrate reading knowledge of a foreign language.
  • Course grades help to measure student performance. Only work of B- grade or better is considered "passing" at the graduate level. Any students whose grades are deficient are dismissed.

Candidacy

After completing all of the requirements, students must successfully complete written and oral examinations in the three elected fields of history.

Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • ​In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
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