Admissions | The M.A. Program | The Ph.D. Program Graduate Advising | Fields | Types of Courses Welcome to the history department at the University of Miami. We pride ourselves on providing a close individualized training for the next generation of teachers and researchers who will form and lead the historical profession in the twenty-first century. We take particular pride in our high success rate to date in placing our Ph.D. students in jobs. We also aim to help in the development of exciting, well prepared, and innovative individuals who will contribute in significant ways to the culture and life of our society. With a program and a faculty that are recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally, we are committed to producing M.A.s and Ph.D.s of the highest quality, capable of living up to these goals and going beyond them. The information below is designed to introduce you to the nature and requirements of our program. You should also look through our list of faculty elsewhere on the history site since the most important aspect of any graduate program is the faculty involved. If you have any questions after looking over our material here, we encourage you to contact either Lenny del Granado, our graduate secretary, at lgranado@miami.edu or Dr. Michael B. Miller, our Director of Graduate Studies, at mbmiller@miami.edu. In addition, feel free to contact any faculty member you might be interested in working with (contact information is found in the faculty section of the site). AdmissionsWe are looking for applicants with a record of outstanding academic achievement and evidence of potential success in graduate studies, attributes which can be measured in various ways such as grades, recommendations, written work, and test scores. Students with a master’s degree from an accredited institution may apply for admission to the doctoral program. Students with a bachelor’s degree only and with very strong credentials may be admitted into the doctoral program. Applicants must meet the admissions requirements set by both the graduate school, which are listed in its materials, and the department of history. Because one of the strengths of our program is a close working relationship between faculty members and students, we cannot always accept qualified applicants when no one in the department can provide the guidance they need in their area of interest. Applicants should explore the listing of faculty on our website and contact the DGS or relevant faculty members if they have any questions. The complete application contains:
For an application, please go to:
DeadlinesJanuary 20: Applications for admission and financial aid for fall semester The DGS may, at her or his discretion, ask the graduate committee to consider admitting stellar candidates at a later date, and if a teaching assistantship is open, the committee may consider granting it to the person in question. Review of ApplicationsAll applications are reviewed by at least three members of the graduate faculty. The DGS or a designated member of the graduate committee appoints the reviewers. Each reviewer indicates on the standard form provided whether he/she recommends for or against admission. No candidate will be admitted unless there is an appropriate potential advisor who is in favor of admission. The graduate committee reviews all files, votes on each case, and informs the department of its decisions. Graduate advising and counseling activitiesCareful advising is crucial to the success of graduate education. The department provides counseling to graduate students in a variety of forms:
Admission from M.A. to Ph.D. StatusStudents admitted at the masters level who are performing well in their studies are encouraged to proceed to Ph.D. status. Advisors who believe that a student should be admitted to the Ph.D. program, and have the consent of the student, inform the DGS of this desire early in the spring semester and at least before the annual departmental meeting reviewing graduate students’ progress. The request is then reviewed by the department at its annual meeting for recommendation to the graduate committee. Students who move from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program are eligible for the same number of years aid as students entering the Ph.D. program directly from the B. A., minus the years of aid they have already received. For course requirements, see below under the Ph.D. program. Assigning of Teaching AssistantshipsStudents who are making good progress through our program may normally expect up to 5 years of funding. Students already in the money stream and who are performing up to our high expectations have priority over all new applicants. Students who receive single year funding from outside grants are still eligible for the full number of years of aid in addition to the grant year’s funding.
THE M.A PROGRAMCommitteeUpon admission to the masters program in history, the student is assigned a provisional major advisor. An advisory committee of three, including the major advisor and a faculty member representing the student’s secondary field, must be formed no later than the student’s second semester in the program. There are then two options for completing the masters. One requires 27 hours of coursework and an exam. The other requires 21 hours of coursework, a masters thesis (6 thesis credits), and an exam. In the case of both options, one member of the committee may be from a cognate discipline, but this is not required. It is the responsibility of the student and the advisor to form the committee and to notify the DGS of its composition. The major advisor chairs the advisory committee and oversees the student’s course of study and progress in the program. The advisory committee also administers the oral comprehensive exam that is given in the case of either option. In the case of the second (thesis) option, the advisory committee and the thesis committee are usually, but not necessarily, composed of the same faculty members. Requirements
THE PH.D. PROGRAMCommitteeUpon admission to the program, the student is assigned a provisional major advisor. As noted above, students should then concur or select a different advisor by the beginning of the second semester in the program. An advisory committee of four or five, including the major advisor and faculty members representing the second and third fields, must be formed no later than the student’s third semester in the program. Concurrent with the formation of the committee, the student should choose the 4 fields of study. One of these must be from a cognate discipline. It is the responsibility of the student and the advisor to form this committee and notify the DGS of its composition. The major advisor chairs the advisory committee and oversees the student’s course of study and progress in the program. The advisory committee will also administer the oral and written comprehensive examinations. Students may change advisor and other committee members throughout the program provided that the faculty member(s) selected agree(s). Requirements
IncompletesAll incompletes from the fall semester must be made up by the official end of the following spring semester. All incompletes from the spring semester must be made up before the official start of the subsequent fall semester. No student will be allowed to proceed to exams until all incompletes have been made up. Language RequirementReading knowledge of at least one foreign language is required. More than one foreign language may be required if the major advisor deems it necessary. The Modern Languages and Literatures Department administers examinations in the languages that it teaches and offers preparation courses in a handful of languages. Students may contact the DGS for the various options for taking courses in foreign languages. Students must, in conjunction with their advisor, prepare a plan that specifies how they will demonstrate language proficiency. The language requirement must be completed before a student can take the comprehensive examinations (see below). ProspectusAn advanced draft of the dissertation prospectus must be submitted to the examination committee before the comprehensive examinations can take place. See Appendix Two for prospectus guidelines. Students who are applying for grants to study at archives are strongly urged to start the process much earlier so as to be able to apply for grants in the fall semester of their last year of classes. Such applications are often due between late September and November. Comprehensive ExaminationsIt is the responsibility of the student and major advisor to organize the comprehensive examinations. Students may take them at any time of the year that classes are in session. Arrangements for the exams, including selection of their dates and a final list of committee members, should be made by the end of the first month of the semester in question, with notification to the Department Chair and DGS. The student takes the written part of the examinations in three history fields, which are normally administered over a period of two successive weeks. The portion for each field is four hours in duration. Only after the advisory committee deems that the student has successfully passed the written portions for each field is the student permitted to take the oral part of the examination. The oral section covers the three history fields and one cognate field and is approximately two hours in duration. The prospectus may form part of the discussion, but the examination will focus on coverage of the fields. The committee consists of four to five faculty members. One member of the examining committee must be from outside the department. Normally this is the committee member representing the cognate field. The student advances to candidate status after passing the comprehensive examinations and submitting an acceptable dissertation prospectus. Students who have not already received a masters degree from the University of Miami will be awarded an M.A. upon successful completion of their doctoral comprehensive exams. DissertationAfter passing the examinations, students form a dissertation committee. This may be the original advisory committee, but it may also be revised to meet the needs of the dissertation work. The student, in consultation with the Major Advisor, puts forward the names of individuals suggested to serve on the dissertation committee. The committee is then approved and appointed by the dean of the graduate school. The dissertation must make a significant contribution to the candidate’s field of specialization. It must meet the highest standards of research, substance, and form, and demonstrate an ability to conduct and report independent and original scholarly investigation. The student must apply for graduation in his or her penultimate semester (i.e. fall semester for spring semester). Upon completion of the dissertation and its tentative approval by the dissertation committee, the student takes a final oral examination that is a “defense” of the dissertation and that lasts for approximately two hours. It is open to the university community. Following the defense of the dissertation, the dissertation committee will render its decision to accept or reject the dissertation. Approval of the dissertation mut be indicated by the signature of all members of the dissertation committee. FIELDSChronological/ Geographical fields Medieval Europe Early Modern Europe Modern Europe Early American History Modern U.S. History Colonial Latin America Modern Latin America East Asia Russia Africa Caribbean Topical Fields These must cover either two of the geographic or two of the temporal fields listed above. African Diaspora Race and Ethnicity Gender and Sexuality History of Religion History of Science and Medicine History of Crime and Law Political History Diplomatic History Urban and Environmental History Economic History Business History Labor History History of Sport Military History Cultural and Intellectual History Public History Atlantic World Customized FieldsStudents may create their own fields in consultation with their advisory committee. The student opting for this approach must file a plan of study listing relevant courses, the faculty member(s) involved, and the rationale. To pursue the individualized concentration, the student must obtain written approval of the plan by the major advisor, DGS, and the Department Chair. The plan and signed approvals are placed in the student’s file. With rare exceptions, a customized field may not be the major field of study. TYPES OF COURSESHistoriography This course is required of all first semester graduate students. It is designed to introduce the student to a challenging range of approaches across the field of history and beyond. Students entering in the fall will take the course in their first semester. Should a student be admitted for the spring, that student will take it in the following fall. 500 level seminars These are courses designed both for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Generally they focus on specific topics but are designed to help students develop broader research, analytical, and methodological skills. Field Preparation Courses These courses are designed to introduce graduate students to key historiographic works in specific fields. They are offered whenever there is sufficient demand for them. In some cases, they may be offered through the medium of a directed readings course. Research Seminars These are two-semester graduate courses that stress research in primary materials and the production of a substantial paper. The Historian’s Craft This course is designed to prepare graduate students for entering the profession. Students are introduced to material and exercises that prepare them for different aspects of a career as a professional historian, such as the preparation of conference papers, organizing a job talk, and writing an article. Other 600 Level Seminars These courses are limited to graduate students and involve a variety of approaches and styles. Like the 500 level seminars, they generally focus on specific topics, but are designed to help students develop broader research, analytical, and methodological skills. Directed Readings Courses These offer students tailored courses with professors. Arrangements for taking directed readings courses are made between the student and faculty member in consultation with the major advisor. M.A. students and Ph.D. students who enter with a M.A. can take no more than 12 credits of directed readings. Ph.D. students entering without an M.A. may take no more than 18 credits. A list of readings and requirements should be placed in the student’s file.
APPENDIX ONEDegree RequirementsAll graduate courses earn 3 credit hours. All full-time students take three courses (9 graduate credit hours) per semester. Coursework refers to graduate courses taken at the University of Miami. I. Masters Exam Option Only: 27 credit hours of graduate coursework Thesis + Exam Option: 21 credit hours of graduate coursework. The thesis earns an additional 6 credit hours to total 27 II. Ph.D. Entering with B.A. Only: 45 credit hours of graduate coursework Entering with Masters from Another University: At least 27 credit hours of graduate coursework Entering with Masters from Another U. of M. Program: At least 27 additional credit hours of graduate coursework Entering with a Masters in History Earned at U. of M.: 24 additional credit hours of graduate coursework All Ph.D. students must complete 60 credit hours beyond the B.A. to receive the doctorate. After completion of coursework and the comprehensive exams, all students sign up for dissertation research credits (History 740; History 730 if the comprehensive exams have not yet been taken) to complete this requirement. Graduate School rules require that a minimum of 12 dissertation credits must be taken. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another university or from another program at the U. of M. receive 30 credit hours towards the 60 credit hour requirement.
APPENDIX TWOProspectus GuidelinesBelow are some general guidelines to use when preparing the dissertation prospectus. Remember that each advisor may have specific requirements for his or her students. The guidelines below are meant to give you a general framework from which to begin drafting the prospectus. The prospectus should be between 10 and 20 pages in length, and should include a tentative bibliography. Every dissertation prospectus should answer the following questions: 1) What is the main question that the dissertation seeks to answer? Why is this question interesting and important? 2) What are the main areas of historiography with which this study will engage? What have other authors written about the topic? How will this study change, revise, or enhance the existing literature? What could become some significant contributions of the project? 3) What are the main sources the author will use in the study, both primary and secondary? What archives exist to support the work and what specific collections within these archives will be or have been explored? Why are these the most appropriate sources to help answer the questions under study? 4) How will the dissertation be organized? What is the general structure of the narrative? What might a chapter outline look like? Remember that writing a prospectus necessarily involves some degree of speculation about what you plan to do and hope to find. As you get deeper into the research and writing, your argument will become more focused and your understanding of your contribution to the field more defined. The process of writing the prospectus is designed to help you begin the process of articulating your argument and situating your work within a larger historical framework.
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