History, PhD
The History PhD is designed for those who are driven by big questions, a passion for original research and discovery, and the pursuit of new historical knowledge. UT’s doctoral program in History prepares the next generation of scholars, educators, and public intellectuals to make significant contributions to multiple fields through dissertations that require deep inquiry, innovative methodologies, and sustained engagement with historical questions that matter. Not only do you learn how to interpret historical insights, but you also gain the skills needed to apply your knowledge to the challenges of today.
Program Overview
The History PhD teaches students to conduct historical research, preparing them for careers in teaching and research, public service, and the private sector.
From the earliest stages of study, students are encouraged to identify compelling research questions, engage critically with existing historiography, and contribute original perspectives to ongoing scholarly debates. Through seminars, workshops, conferences, and collaborative research initiatives, doctoral students become active participants in the broader historical profession.
With three available concentrations, students can specialize in either American history, modern Europe, or premodern Europe within the larger Mediterranean world. Each field features a range of distinguished faculty who are internationally known for their scholarship and teaching.
Whether you want to pursue a career in higher education, research and analysis, or historical preservation, our program prepares you with the skills needed to make bold inquiries and blur boundaries.
Concentrations
Our current selection of concentrations includes:
- American History
- European History
If you’re interested in studying European history, you can choose from two specializations either in pre-modern Europe with a religious emphasis or modern Europe with an emphasis on German history.
Why Study History?
As a doctoral student, you will join a dynamic community of researchers dedicated to exploring the nuances of the human past. Working closely with accomplished faculty mentors, you will develop expertise in your chosen field while gaining the analytical, methodological, and professional skills necessary for success in academia and beyond.
Our faculty’s diverse research interests create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and intellectual exchange across geographical regions, historical periods, and thematic areas. Our PhD students also receive generous opportunities for graduate research and teaching assistantships, as well as traveling to conferences and presenting research. PhD students also frequently do coursework in other disciplines, ranging from Classics to Anthropology to Sociology.
At its core, historical scholarship seeks to deepen our understanding of human societies, challenge assumptions, and illuminate the forces that continue to shape our world. Our PhD program empowers students to pursue ambitious research projects that expand historical knowledge and contribute meaningfully to public and academic conversations.
What Can You Do with a PhD in History After Graduation?
A PhD in History prepares graduates for a wide range of rewarding careers. The majority pursue positions as university faculty, researchers, and academic administrators, contributing new knowledge through teaching and scholarship.
Others apply their expertise in museums, archives, libraries, historic preservation, public history organizations, government agencies, and cultural institutions. The advanced research, writing, analytical, and communication skills developed during doctoral study are also highly valued in fields such as publishing, editing, consulting, policy analysis, nonprofit leadership, and business.
A History PhD equips graduates to think critically, solve complex problems, and lead with insight in diverse professional settings.
Featured Courses
HIST 511 Teaching World History
In this course, students will learn learn methodology, conceptualization, historiography, textbook selection and syllabus construction to prepare them to teach courses in world history.
HIST 512 The Profession of History
This course trains students in the practical skills necessary for converting their degree into meaningful employment after graduation. Topics include grant and fellowship applications, pursuing academic and non-academic jobs, the ethics of teaching, etc.
HIST 532 The Catholic Church in Modern Europe since 1500
This graduate readings seminar examines the role and trajectory of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe since just before the Reformation, in terms of leadership, doctrine, everyday practice, institutional and cultural change, and wider society.
HIST 544 American Historiography I
This readings seminar explores some of the major themes and significant historiographic debates in American history up through the era of the Civil War and Reconstruction. It serves as essential preparation for comprehensive exams, and furthermore provides significant background information for teaching the first half of the U.S. history survey.
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