HSTRY-PHD - History (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy in History

Stanford History Department’s graduate program trains students for careers as scholars, teachers, and a variety of rewarding careers in law, government, diplomacy, business, the arts, and administration. Ph.D. Students work closely with department faculty in 14 major fields to satisfy the Ph.D. We also offer a terminal M.A. program, a coterminal M.A. program, and two joint degree programs in Law and History (J.D./Ph.D. and J.D./M.A.) with Stanford Law School.

Students planning to work for the doctorate in history should be familiar with the general degree requirements of the University outlined in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

Upon enrollment in the graduate program in History, the student has a member of the department designated as an advisor with whom to plan the Ph.D. program. Much of the first two years of graduate study is spent taking courses, and, from the outset, the student should be aware that the ultimate objective is not merely the completion of courses but preparation for general examinations and for writing a dissertation.

Admission to the Department of History in the graduate division does not establish any rights respecting candidacy for an advanced degree. At the end of the first year of graduate study, students are evaluated by the faculty and given a progress report. A decision as to whether the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. is normally made by the start of the student's third year. After the completion of certain further requirements, students must apply for acceptance for candidacy for the doctorate in the graduate division of the University.

 Student success in the graduate program depends in large part on the quality of teaching and advising received. A current list of History faculty members is available on the History Department website.

In addition, there are two sets of archival collections on campus:

• The University Library maintains strong general collections in almost all fields of history. It has a very large microtext collection, including, for instance, all items listed in Charles Evans' American Bibliography, and in the Short-Title Catalogues of English publications, 1474-1700, and virtually complete microfilmed documents of the Department of State to 1906. It also has a number of valuable special collections including the Borel Collection on the History of California; many rare items on early American and early modern European history; the Brasch Collection on Sir Isaac Newton and scientific thought during his time; the Gimon Collection on French political economy, and other such materials.

• The rich collection of the Hoover Institution on the causes, conduct, and results of WW I and WW II are being augmented for the post-1945 period. The materials include government documents, newspaper and serial files, and organization and party publications (especially the British and German Socialist parties). There are also important manuscript collections, including unpublished records of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 and the Herbert Hoover archives, which contain the records of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, the American Relief Administration, the various technical commissions established at the close of WW I for reconstruction in Central and Eastern Europe, the personal papers of Herbert Hoover as United States Food Administrator, and other important personal papers. Other materials for the period since 1914 relate to revolutions and political ideologies of international importance; colonial and minority problems; propaganda and public opinion; military occupation; peace plans and movements; international relations; international organizations and administration including the publications of the United Nations, as well as principal international conferences. The Hoover Institution also possesses some of the richest collections available anywhere on the British labor movement; Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union; East Asia (runs of important newspapers and serials and extensive documentary collections, especially for the period of WW II); and Africa since 1860, especially French-speaking Africa, the former British colonies, and South Africa.

 Students who completed graduate coursework at another institution are strongly encouraged to begin the process of transferring course units in the Winter quarter of their first year of doctoral study. Transfer of units will be evaluated by the Director of Graduate Studies on a course by course basis. Graduate work accepted for transfer of residency does not automatically exempt a student from having to complete a course requirement for the degree. University policies related to transfer of  credit for graduate work done elsewhere is located in G.AP 3.2.1 Residency Policy for Graduate Students.

The Department of History is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisors guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

Upon enrolling, all students plan their work under the direction of a faculty member designated by the Department as their advisor. Entering students should meet with their advisor to discuss the selection of courses, choice of major and secondary fields, and the overall plan of their graduate programs. Faculty advisors and graduate student advisees meet at least once a quarter to assess the advisee’s course of study, performance over the past quarter, and plans for the next quarter’s program of study. Students should consult with their advisors on all academic matters. Faculty should help their advisees plan for orals, research grant applications, research projects, and the dissertation. Until a student is advanced to candidacy, the Director of Graduate Studies reviews the student's quarterly transcript and the advisor's evaluation. 

Normally the original advisor remains in this capacity during a student’s period of graduate study. However, in the event that a student wishes to change the admitting advisor, they may do so after consultation with and approval of the two faculty members involved. The necessary forms are available from the Graduate Program Coordinator.

The Director of Graduate Studies supervises the Graduate Program in the Department. The Director’s duties include approving the committees for the University oral examination, dissertation prospectus, and dissertation, certifying graduate students’ progress to degree and completion of University and Departmental requirements, and chairing the Department’s Committee on Graduate Studies.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.

The Ph.D. is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship and the ability to conduct independent research and analysis in History. Through completion of advanced course work and rigorous skills training, the doctoral program prepares students to make original contributions to the knowledge of History and to interpret and present the results of such research.