Is Graduate School for Me?
A small number of history majors opt to pursue an advanced degree in history itself. They do so for a variety of reasons. Students who seek a master’s degree (MA) are typically looking to gain a more specialized knowledge of an historical field and learn advanced research skills that will help them in their careers. A doctoral (PhD) degree is necessary for historians who want to teach at the college level. The PhD in recent years has increasing become a degree that leads to a range of careers. The American Historical Association has encouraged graduate students and doctoral programs to reimagine a PhD that can lead to careers in government service, business, and K-12 teaching. According to AHA statistics, roughly half of all people who received history PhD were working in positions on the tenure-track or with tenure (permanent academic employment). But the skills gained in the PhD – the craft of deep research and clear writing – translate into many fields. Students considering graduate study should share their interest with one or more faculty members. Having devoted their professional lives to the study of history, faculty are the best source for learning the ins and outs of getting an advanced degree in history. See also our Guide for Prospective Students.
Graduate instruction in history
What does graduate study involve?
A master’s degree in history places significant emphasis on research skills and critical thinking. An MA can be a great way for secondary school teachers to increase their qualifications or students to get specialized skills for the field of public history. Students often combine their MA work in history with accreditation for secondary school teaching, a certificate in museum studies or internships in museums, libraries or archives. It is also often possible to earn a double degree with library science, archival management and museum studies. The MA is also a great way for students to get a taste for graduate research before committing to a PhD program. UF offers a two-year MA in history and a combined 4-1 BA/MA program.
PhD training prepares students for teaching and research, typically at the university level. Together with the AHA’s efforts to increase career diversity, UF is helping students consider non-teaching careers, even as our program continues train excellent young faculty members. A PhD program in North America usually takes five to ten years, and a 2006 study showed that the average length of study was around eight years. The first years of PhD study involve coursework and directed reading, followed by a qualifying examination. After the qualifying examination, a PhD student becomes all-but-dissertation (ABD) and spends several years researching and writing a book-length academic thesis. Graduate work is challenging and rewarding. It involves significant self motivation and a great deal of flexibility. Many graduate programs in history (including UF’s) offer funding and teaching assistantships for the first years of the graduate program.
Preparing for a PhD program in history
Preparation starts with a solid undergraduate record. Entrance to top graduate schools is highly competitive. Language training is especially important, because most programs expect students to be proficient in their main research language before entering graduate school. Another important way to prepare is to put energy into original research. This work includes papers produced in seminars or independent studies, as well as senior theses and work in the honors program. UF has several programs that sponsor (yes, give funding!) for undergraduate research, including the University Scholars Program and the CLAS Scholars Program. Having written research works based on primary sources – the heart of graduate-level study – will demonstrate that you are ready to undertake serious research at the graduate level. When students identify the specific field of history in which they want to work in graduate school, they should consult with faculty members at UF about the universities that have appropriate programs. The best practice is to contact potential graduate advisors as early as the spring before you plan to apply and no later than the autumn before applying.
The actual application process begins in the fall. A graduate application begins with a writing sample. Select your best piece of work, based on the strongest original research and thinking. You will also need at least three letters of recommendation. Approach these faculty members early with a résumé, personal statement, and any other appropriate information they may need. A graduate application usually also requires a personal statement, and a mentor among UF faculty may also be able to assist you in shaping that document. Graduate programs used to require a standardized examination, the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), although since the beginning of the 2020s, UF’s Department of History and many other programs stopped requiring this examination. Though the hurdles for graduate school entrance may seem high, you have a number of resources available through the Department of History to help you in this process. Please do not hesitate to speak to the Undergraduate Coordinator or other department faculty for consultations.