History

The department requires a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses in history (36 units), at least six (24 units) of which must be graduate courses. All students must successfully complete the 36 units (normally nine courses) taken for a letter grade (unless only offered S/U). The six graduate courses must include at least one continuing two- or three-quarter research seminar which must include the preparation of a substantial research paper. History 495 and courses in the 300 series are not applicable toward course requirements. For students in fields other than U.S. History, only one 500-series course may be applied toward both the total course requirement and the minimum six graduate (200-series) course requirement. This may be either four units of 596 or four units of 597. Students in the U.S. field can substitute up to two 500-level courses toward the total course requirements.

For students in African history, six of the nine required courses must be at the graduate level, only one course in the 500 series may count and none in the 300 or 400 series will be counted. In addition to enrolling in History 204 (Fall seminar), first year students in African History are strongly encouraged to enroll in African Studies 201A, and inter-disciplinary seminar offered by the Interdepartmental Degree Program in African Studies each fall quarter. This course could substitute for a History 200/201 during the first quarter of study in the graduate program.

Students in Ancient History are required to complete at least one continuing two- or three-quarter seminar, or alternatively, a continuing sequence of at least two graduate courses.

Students in Chinese History must complete at least one two-quarter research seminar, History 282A-282B, in the major field.

Students in History of Science, Medicine and Technology are required to take at least two, 2-quarter research seminars in the first two years of study and are expected to take History 200O-Advanced Historiography in History of Science twice in the fall quarters of their first and second years.

Students in Japanese History must complete one continuing two-or-three quarter research seminars or alternatively, a continuing sequence of at least two graduate courses-which must all include the completion of a substantial research paper, based at least in part on primary sources.

Students in Jewish History are required to complete at least one continuing two- or three-quarter seminar or alternatively, a continuing sequence of at least two graduate courses.

Students in Latin American History must complete a two-quarter research seminar (History 266, 267, 268). The completion of two graduate seminars in the same subfield (colonial or modern) may be applied to satisfy the two-quarter research requirement if a relevant two-quarter seminar has not been offered during a student's term of pre-candidacy (i.e., within two to three years).

Students in Medieval History must take History 200C-Advanced Historiography or its equivalent, and must complete a two- or three-quarter research seminar or a sequence of two graduate history courses that results in the writing of a research based paper on primary sources.

Students in Middle East History must complete two of the following seminars: Historiography of the Pre-Modern Middle East, Historiography of the Early-Modern Middle East, and Historiography of the Modern Middle East.

Students in South and Southeast Asian History must complete at least one continuing two- or three-quarter seminar, or alternatively, a continuing sequence of at least two graduate courses.

For students in U.S. History Field, there is a minimum of 10 courses (40 units), which must all be taken at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). The 10 courses consist of: History 246A-246B-246C; one 200-level seminar in another field within the department; one 200-level course in another department; History 204 (the departmental seminar on historiography); and at least two continuing two-quarter seminars. When appropriate to specific research interests and scheduling exigencies, upon successful petition to the Field Coordinator, students may substitute courses within their two-quarter seminars. Either one or both of the two-quarter seminars can include a one-quarter seminar followed immediately by the next quarter a directed studies course (HIST 596). Both two-quarter seminars (and/or seminar with course substitution) must produce a substantial research paper each. A maximum of eight units of HIST 596 can be applied toward the U.S. History Field.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The department follows the capstone plan. Individual fields specify the fulfillment of the examination requirement by (1) a written examination designed to assess the candidate's ability to synthesize a broad field of knowledge; or (2) the submission of three essays as part of the candidate's program of study written for at least three different professors. At least two of these papers must have been submitted for graduate courses in the 200 series.

The comprehensive examination, regardless of format, is graded (1) pass to continue to the Ph.D.; (2) pass, subject to reevaluation for continuance to the Ph.D.; (3) terminal M.A. pass; or (4) fail. In cases where the M.A. degree is awarded with pass subject to reevaluation, the field M.A. committee conducts a special reevaluation of the candidate's progress after no more than three additional quarters of study.

All students must file a petition for advancement to candidacy with the Graduate Office within the first two weeks of the quarter in which they expect to receive their master's degree.

In addition, some fields have examination formats that differ from the above, and specify dates when the examinations are given, as follows:

The African field requires a four-hour comprehensive examination to be completed in May of the second year of study. Students entering the program with an M.A. degree must complete the examination by May of the first year or second year of study. Students entering with an M.A. in African Studies or African History are exempt from this examination requirement. The student is allowed one retake which should be taken within a month of the first attempt.

Students in the China field are examined in three fields, and must begin the written qualifying exams no later than the end of the ninth quarter of graduate work. Students are permitted to retake a written examination once, within a six-month time period. Further, the oral qualifying examination is based on the dissertation prospectus and is scheduled once the three written examinations have been successfully completed.

Students in the European field who fail the written examination may petition to retake it in the following Spring Quarter. The written examination may be retaken only once. The field can also require that the student retake one section of the exam by the end of the following June (i.e. two months later). In either case, the exam has to follow the same procedure as before: administered by the three examiners of the student’s committee, with a full report to the field as a whole (communicated through the Field Coordinator).

The History of Science field requires their students to pass the written comprehensive examination, to earn the M.A. degree, and continue to the oral qualifying examination for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. It is normally administered at the end of the sixth quarter of study, normally in June of the second year. Graduate students are allowed to retake the exam once.

South and Southeast Asia students are expected to take their written qualifying exams no later than the end of the third year; once passed, they will have earned the M.A degree. Students are required to take written examinations in three of their four chosen fields. The exams are usually take-home exams that are either 48 or 72 hours, in an open book format.

At the end of the first year for Medieval History students, the field committee will evaluate the results of a student's course work, and research paper, and will determine whether a student will be awarded an M.A., and be admitted to the Ph.D. program.

The Middle East field requires students to pass the written comprehensive examination, to earn the M.A. degree, and continue to the oral qualifying examination for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Retakes are decided by the student’s faculty adviser.

The U.S. field requires students to pass the written comprehensive examination following 12 months in academic residence, to earn the M.A. degree, and continue to the oral qualifying examination for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Students who fail the examination may retake it once by petition within the quarter or year. Students failing the exam a second time will not continue in the program.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Students are advised to complete the Master's requirements within six quarters of full-time study. The department will recommend to the Graduate Division academic disqualification for students who do not complete the requirements for the Master's Degree within six quarters, unless, by petition, the Graduate Affairs Committee grants an extension of time.

MAXIMUM TTD

Advising

Entering students must select and submit the name of a faculty adviser to the graduate adviser by the end of the sixth week of the first quarter. Students are expected to meet with the adviser no less than two times a quarter during the first year. By the end of six quarters, students must submit the name of a dissertation chair and committee members to the graduate counselor. During the third year, students are expected to maintain contact (at least two times during the quarter) with the dissertation chair and all committee members, including the faculty member from the outside field. Upon advancing to candidacy, students are expected to maintain contact (at least three times during the year) with the dissertation chair. Failure to maintain contact with the dissertation chair and committee members will result in departmental probationary status and may result in a recommendation for academic disqualification. The department's graduate adviser, a full-time staff member, monitors the progress of students in their programs. Students are encouraged to consult the graduate adviser about requirements and procedures for progress toward the Ph.D. degree.

The departmental Graduate Affairs Committee, consisting of five faculty members and one graduate student are appointed by the chair of the department. The committee reviews and makes recommendations regarding all doctoral programs, and any petitions requesting exceptions from the regular program requirements. The vice chair for graduate affairs is an ex officio member of this committee and channels all petitions and programs for review to the committee. The student's committee chair is normally consulted about petitions and exceptions.

The following evaluation procedures determine whether continuing students may proceed to the Ph.D. degree:

All students must present to the Graduate Affairs Committee a field approval form signed by the faculty member who has agreed to support their work for the Ph.D., and in accord with the following schedule: by the end of the seventh quarter or earlier for those who enter with only a B.A. degree, and by the end of the third quarter or earlier for those entering with an M.A. degree from another department. Students who do not meet the time limits for proceeding to the Ph.D. degree are subject to recommendation for academic disqualification.

An annual review of all graduate students is conducted every spring quarter by the Graduate Affairs Committee. Letters are written to those students with program or grade-point deficiencies or other academic problems.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome; medieval constitutional and legal; medieval social and economic; medieval ecclesiastical and religious; medieval intellectual and cultural (specialists in medieval history may offer no more than two of these fields in medieval history); Byzantine; ancient Middle East; the Middle East, 500 to 1300; the Middle East 1300-1700; the Middle East since 1700; Armenian; survey of African history; topics in African history (preferably on a regional basis); history of science since ca 1450; Topics in European history from c.1450 onward (for Russia from c.800 onwards) - for further information, see the section below for the European Field; China 900 to 1800; China since 1800; early modern Japan; modern Japan; pre-modern Korea; modern Korea; South Asia; Southeast Asia; Latin America, 1492 to 1830; Latin America since 1830; Latin America and globalization; history of religions; Jewish history; history of Christianity; comparative history; U.S.: Afro-American, American diplomatic, American West, American Indian, Asian American, California, history of the South, Civil War and Reconstruction, Colonial, cultural, economic, immigration, intellectual, Jeffersonian and Jackson Ian America (1800 to 1850), labor, 20th century, urban, women's history.

Comparative history Ph.D. students may choose comparative history as one of their four fields. This means choosing one topic across three existing Ph.D. fields. The topic should be chosen with the help of the student's Ph.D. advisers; among possible topics are labor history, women's history, history of religions, economic history, and many others. The geographical/temporal fields covered may correspond to some or all of the other student's three Ph.D. fields. The comparative field is more intensive and involves genuine comparisons. It is highly recommended (and comparative chairs may require) that those majoring in a Western field choose one non-Western field and vice versa. Two or three professors may, if needed, supervise a comparative program, and may help examine the candidate either on the orals or by written examination.

Foreign Language Requirement

A reading knowledge of the languages listed below for the major fields is required. If only two languages are listed for the field, students must demonstrate competency by passing examinations administered by the department, for certain fields, or by the appropriate language department. In cases where the field deems it appropriate, course work or alternate languages may be used to fulfill the language requirements, subject to the approval of the field coordinator and faculty adviser. For a third or fourth language, evidence of competence satisfactory to the chair of the doctoral committee is considered acceptable.

No oral qualifying examination for the Ph.D. degree may be scheduled until students have passed an examination in at least two foreign languages, except for students in U.S. history, who are required to demonstrate competency in only one foreign language.

While graduate courses are conducted in English, reading knowledge of an appropriate secondary language may be required for admission to seminars by some fields.

African History: Students must demonstrate proficiency and pass an examination in at least two languages, one of which must be an African language. In cases where the field deems it appropriate, course work or alternate languages may be used to fulfill the language requirements, subject to the approval of the field coordinator and faculty adviser. The student who chooses the course work option should have a grade of ‘B’ or better.

Ancient History: Students must take Ph.D. exams that include translation from Greek and Latin (as well as other languages they may elect in their major or minor fields such as Hebrew, Aramaic, Egyptian, etc.). For a third or fourth ancient language, course work may be accepted at the discretion of the field. Modern languages for all students (French, German, and Modern Greek) and (Italian for students in Roman History) require examinations set by the field. The exam will be administered by a faculty member and proctored by the History Graduate Office. The student will have 90 minutes for the exam and they are allowed to bring their own dictionary.

Chinese History: A minimum of three years of Chinese; for the Ph.D., a high degree of proficiency in Chinese, and, normally, at least one quarter of third-year Japanese. The Japanese requirement can be fulfilled by successful completion of Japanese 100A or its equivalent. In certain cases, reading knowledge of another foreign language may also be required. Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. in the Chinese field requires the completion of a research seminar in the major field. Successful completion of this seminar requires the equivalent of at least four years of superior college-level language work in Chinese. In cases where the field deems it appropriate, course work or alternate languages may be used to fulfill the language requirements, subject to the approval of the field coordinator and faculty adviser.

European History: Students must demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages prior to advancement to candidacy. Proficiency in foreign languages is to be determined by successful completion of a departmental language examination. The exam will be administered by a faculty member and proctored by the History Graduate Office. The student will have 90 minutes for the exam and they are allowed to bring their own dictionary. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the faculty adviser, the field coordinator, and the Vice Chair of graduate affairs. For those working on (1) Europe: French and German, either of which can be replaced by another language deemed necessary for research; (2) Russian or East European history: Russian plus German or French, any of which can be replaced by another language deemed necessary for research. All substitutions must be approved via petition by the faculty adviser, the field coordinator, and the Vice Chair for graduate affairs.

Japanese History: For the Ph.D., four years of Japanese course work (Advanced level) or its equivalent, demonstrated ability in specialized Japanese that will allow one to read source materials (e.g. course work or its equivalent in Kanbun, Sorobun, Bungotai, and/or Meiji documents). Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. in the Japanese field requires the completion of a research seminar in the major field. Successful completion of this seminar usually requires the equivalent of at least four years of superior college-level language work in Japanese.

Jewish History: Students must pass departmental examinations in at least two foreign languages which are to be determined in consultation with the student's adviser. The exam will be administered by a faculty member and proctored by the History Graduate Office. The student will have 90 minutes for the exam and they are allowed to bring their own dictionary. Students should consult with their primary adviser in the first year of graduate study to determine the course of language preparation most suitable to their research interests.

Latin American History: Students in the Latin American field should demonstrate fluency in Spanish or Portuguese and proficiency in a second language, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, or an indigenous language . In cases where the field deems it appropriate, course work may be used to fulfill the language requirements, such as Nahuatl or Quechua, in accordance with the...