A doctoral program in history allows students freedom to choose from a wide range of topics and research methods. Since the average doctoral program in history takes around eight years to complete, it can be a grueling and exhausting experience. There are currently more than 150 schools in the US that have history-related doctoral programs; each of these programs requires students to narrow their field of historical study. Students who enter a graduate program in history can be expected to do a great deal of research and are typically required to submit a dissertation at the end of their program.
The individual prerequisites for acceptance into a Ph.D. history program may vary from school to school, but an undergraduate degree is a must. Most schools also require or strongly encourage a Master's Degree. These degrees do not have to be in history, and can in fact be in any subject. However, aspiring graduate students in history will be expected to exhibit a great deal of interest and knowledge in a historical field of study. Some schools may require history Ph.D. applicants to submit previous writings or thesis papers they have completed on a historical topic in their area of interest.
Once accepted into a doctoral program, students will have to complete the university requirements for obtaining their degree. These requirements will vary from school to school but typical courses include American History, Transnational History, Ancient History, Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Medieval History, Industrial History, and the History of technology, to name a few.
Graduates of a Ph.D. program in history will have tremendous career opportunities in front of them. Someone with a Ph.D. in History might go on to become a college history professor or a renowned historian; other career possibilities include an archivist, a writer of historical nonfiction, a librarian of historical works or a researcher.