According to the American Historical Association (AHA), doctoral students in history take an average of 8 years to complete their degrees.
The AHA further reported that the 8 years usually involves about 3.5 years of required coursework and exam preparation, plus more than 4 years of dissertation work.
A doctorate in history requires students to complete required coursework, including a concentration in a specific area of history in which a student wishes to specialize. Students must then complete written comprehensive examinations.
The AHA reported that students specializing in European history complete required coursework in less time than students who specialize in Latin American or African history. The association cautioned, however, that it has only limited data on these differences.
The final task for a doctorate is the completion and successful defense of a thesis, or dissertation. This work should demonstrate a student's mastery of her subject as well as an ability to conduct scholarly research.