History, Ph.D.

The graduate program in history at Saint Louis University is one of the oldest in the country, granting its first Ph.D. in 1919. Today, the tradition of excellence is continued by training students in a variety of historical fields.

SLU's history Ph.D. program ranks among the top history programs in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. SLU's history program offers students internationally renowned faculty, an outstanding mentoring program and high-quality professional training.

Curriculum Overview

History doctoral students at SLU choose a specialized area of study from the following concentrations:

• American History
• Early-Modern European
• Medieval European

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

History graduate students at SLU benefit from the rich archival and institutional resources available in St. Louis itself, including relationships with sites such as the Missouri Historical Society, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Circuit Court Records Project, the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, the Sheldon Galleries, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Historic Landmarks Association.

Careers

We expect that the majority of the students at the doctoral level will themselves become professional historians and teach at the college level.

Admission Requirements

Student transcripts, grade point average and English proficiency (if applicable). Each item in the application package is required for an applicant to be reviewed.

• A master’s degree in the field or the equivalent if applying directly to the Ph.D. program. A bachelors degree if applying for a joint MA/Ph.D degree.
• GRE scores
• An official transcript of undergraduate record and, for applicants to the Ph.D. program, graduate record
• A current resume
• Three letters of recommendation assessing potential in graduate studies
• A letter of intent describing professional and intellectual goals, and interest in graduate studies. The letter should include the specific field of historical study, a vision of how to contribute to existing research and criticism in an area of interest, and the SLU faculty members the applicant is interested in working with. While plans may well change as a result of further study, the statement will help the department assess the grasp of the field, and the ability to describe ideas coherently and compellingly.
• A 15- to 20-page writing sample which demonstrates competence in historical writing and analysis, and which may be an excerpt from a longer piece.

Language Requirements

While many applicants have studied foreign languages as undergraduates, this is not a requirement for admission to our program. However, doctoral students in medieval and early modern European history are required to display reading proficiency in Latin as well as one additional foreign language by the end of their second year in the program. All other Ph.D. students must demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages by the end of their second year, unless they are in U.S. history, in which case students must learn one foreign language by the end of their second year.

Application Procedures

Completed applications with all admission and financial aid materials must be received by Jan. 15. Students are not generally admitted in the spring or summer semester.

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Financial documents are required to complete an application for admission and be reviewed for admission and merit scholarships. 
• Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.

WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application and Assistantship Deadline

All applicants, whether US citizens or foreign nationals, are potentially eligible for multiyear funding packages if they submit an application for the following fall semester by Jan. 15.

Review Process

A standing graduate applicant review committee meets just after the expiration of the application deadline. The committee reviews each item of every complete application. The committee makes its applicant selections by the beginning of March.

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

For more information, visit https://www.slu.edu/financial-aid.

1. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in the field(s) of study.
2. Graduates will be able to apply the major practices, theories, or research methodologies in the field(s) of study.
3. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge from the field(s) of study to address problems in broader contexts.
4. Graduates will be able to articulate arguments or explanations to both a disciplinary or professional audience and to a general audience, in both oral and written forms.
5. Graduates will be able to evidence scholarly and/or professional integrity in the field of study.
6. Graduates will be able to demonstrates the ability to complete an in-depth study of at least 200 pages (excluding notes, bibliography, and front matter), using primary and secondary sources, that makes an original, defensible contribution to historical knowledge.

Program Requirements (Ph.D.)

None of the doctoral courses may be at the undergraduate level, and no more than six credits may be taken in a related department without the permission of the director of graduate studies.

For students studying American history, competency in one foreign language is required. Two languages are required for those studying medieval European and early modern European history — one of which must be Latin. In all fields of study, advisors can require additional languages if they are pertinent to the student’s research agenda.

Program Requirements (M.A. to Ph.D.)

For the Ph.D. in history, 27 credits of coursework beyond the M.A. are required, or 36 credits if pursuing the combined M.A./Ph.D. A minimum of 12 credits in the primary concentration and six credits in the secondary concentration are required.

The remaining credits are flexible. None of the doctoral courses may be at the undergraduate level, and no more than six credits may be taken in a related department without the permission of the director of graduate studies.

For U.S. history students, competency in one foreign language is required. Two languages are required for medieval and early modern European history students, one of which must be Latin. In all fields of study, advisors can require additional languages if they are pertinent to the student’s research agenda.

Early-Modern European Concentration with Medieval European

Secondary Concentration (6 credits)

Medieval European Concentration with Early-Modern European

Secondary Concentration

American Concentration with World History

Secondary Concentration

Non-Course Requirements

Following the completion of coursework, students must complete and pass a comprehensive examination that has both written and oral components.

The written examination consists of two four-hour written examinations, one each in the major and minor fields. The examinations are based on the texts on the preparatory reading list and selected from a set of choices developed by the examiners. The oral examination committee is comprised of the three faculty members from the dissertation committee and two other faculty agreed upon with an adviser in consultation with the graduate director and the department chair. The oral examination lasts two hours and is taken the week following the written examinations. The examination committee will ask about the written examination, as well as texts on the preparatory reading list.

After successfully completing the oral examination, students will meet with an adviser and the chair of the history department to discuss and give final approval to the prospectus. Students will then file an approved copy of the dissertation prospectus with the College of Arts and Sciences and proceed to write the dissertation. Twelve credits are given for the writing of the dissertation. Completed dissertations are assessed by the committee and are formally accepted after a public defense.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Early-Modern European Concentration with Minor in Medieval History

Program Notes

Students entering the doctoral program with an M.A. in history only have to take 27 rather than 36 credits before their comprehensive examinations.

Students must take a studies class and a seminar in both their major and minor fields.

Students must take a minimum 12 credits in their major field and six credits in their minor field.

Students must meet with their advisor every term to discuss their progress.

Comprehensive examinations consist of two four-hour written papers in the major and minor field followed by a two-hour oral examination before five examiners.

Medieval European Concentration with Minor in Early-Modern History

Program Notes

Students entering the doctoral program with an M.A. in history only have to take 27 rather than 36 hours before their comprehensive examinations.

Students must take a studies class and a seminar in both their major and minor fields.

Students must take a minimum of 12 hours in their major field and six hours in their minor field.

Students must meet with their advisor every term to discuss their progress.

Comprehensive examinations consist of two four-hour written papers in the major and minor field followed by a two-hour oral examination before five examiners.

American Concentration with Minor in World History

Program Notes

Students entering the doctoral program with an M.A. in history only have to take 27 rather than 36 hours before their comprehensive examinations.

Students must take a studies class and a seminar in both their major and minor fields.

Students must take a minimum of 12 hours in their major field and a minimum of six hours in their minor field.

Students must meet with their advisor every term to discuss their progress.

For more information about our program, please contact:

Nathaniel Millett, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Admissions, Department of History
nathaniel.millett@slu.edu