History (PHD)
Description
Students in the doctoral program may focus on the histories of Africa, America, Europe, and modern Latin America, with secondary fields in any of these regions as well as East Asia and the Middle East.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 54
Course Requirements
In addition to the Graduate School requirements for the Ph.D., the doctoral program in history includes the following specific requirements and regulations:
Foreign Language Requirement
Students must meet a minimum requirement of proficiency in one foreign language. The requirement may be met by either of the following methods:
- Attainment of a passing grade of B or better in a fourth-semester (2002-level) language course taught at the University of Mississippi. An equivalent course that has been completed within three calendar years prior to enrollment in the graduate program will satisfy this requirement.
- Attainment of a passing grade on a departmentally administered translation exam or certification from another history department that the student has passed an equivalent translation exam within three calendar years prior to enrollment in the graduate program.
In certain fields a second language may be required. Students whose native language is not English are excused from the foreign language requirement.
Course Work
Ph.D. students should pursue a rationally structured course program, to be designed on an individual basis in close consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee. In addition to Graduate School requirements, the following departmental course requirements must be met. Students who have not previously taken a graduate-level bibliography/methods course must take HIST 5500 Historical Methods & Philosophy of Hist as soon as it is offered. Before they may petition to take the comprehensive examination, all Ph.D. students must take at least one 7000-level research seminar, Professionalization and Colloquium II (HIST 6012 Professionalization and Colloquium II), at least two 6000-level courses, and at least 6 hours of graduate course work in each of their minor fields. Students are strongly urged to take more than the prescribed minimum of course work. Upon consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee, students may take 3 to 12 hours of graduate-level courses related to one or more of their fields outside the department. Up to 12 hours of such outside course work may be taken in one discipline to constitute a minor field outside the department.
Comprehensive Examinations
Ph.D. students are required to take written examinations in each of their two minor fields and a combined written and oral examination in their major field. The written and oral examinations for the minor fields and the major field are to be prepared, conducted, and evaluated by a committee of at least two faculty members in each case. The examination committees are appointed by the Graduate Advisory Committee in consultation with the student, the dissertation director, and the department chair. If one of the minor fields is outside the department, the examination committee in that field is to be composed of two faculty members from the outside department(s) and one faculty member from the Department of History. A student who fails a comprehensive examination is allowed to retake the examination one time. Comprehensive examinations will be offered two or three times per year at designated times. These times will be publicized and made available to all graduate students and faculty.
Ph.D. Dissertation
Ph.D. students should select a faculty member in the department who is willing to direct a dissertation in their major field no later than the end of their third semester. The dissertation director in consultation with the student and the Graduate Advisory Committee will select two additional faculty members within the department and one faculty member from another department willing to serve as readers and members of a dissertation committee. The dissertation director will be the student's primary adviser and liaison with the Graduate Advisory Committee, and together with the other two members of the dissertation committee pass judgment on the dissertation.
Final Oral Examination
The final oral examination is directed primarily to the defense of the dissertation.
Other Academic Requirements
Advisers: Each graduate student is expected to select an adviser in the intended research area (or area of specialization), who is willing to act in that capacity, not later than the end of the second semester in the program. That adviser will consult with the student on the student’s schedule. Students also shall be advised and have their schedules approved by the department’s Graduate Advisory Committee.
Specializations
- Concentration - Gender Studies
Concentration - Gender Studies
Description
The Gender Studies Concentration (GSC) is designed to provide doctoral students in history with a rigorous grounding in gender studies methods and theory.
Course Requirements
Students completing the GSC must fulfill 18 hours of coursework in gender/sexuality, including the 12 hours of required core Gender Studies courses (ISOM 6000 Gender Studies Methodology, ISOM 6110 Gender Theory, ISOM 6160 Feminist Pedagogy, ISOM 6410 Readings in Global History: Gender). Students should consult their graduate coordinator to determine additional electives.
Other Academic Requirements
Ph.D. candidates with a concentration in gender studies will complete all requirements of the Ph.D. in their home department and will ensure that one of their committee members has gender studies expertise. The comprehensive exam will include material related to gender studies, and the dissertation must have a significant focus on gender/sexuality. Students should consult their graduate coordinator to determine the procedure for completing these requirements.