PhD in History at University of Florida

University of Florida

United States of America, Gainesville

University Rank:#212

The History at University of Florida is a PhD program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus at the university's main campus in Gainesville , United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 5 years to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on January 9, 2027.

About PhD in History

Program Information

The Department of History offers the following graduate degrees: Master of Arts degree with fields of specialization in African, European, Latin American, and United States history and the Doctor of Philosophy degree with fields of specialization in African, European, Latin American, and United States history, or with a dual major which allows students to combine two minor fields to create their own major fields. We offer minor concentrations in the thematic fields of Atlantic, Gender, Legal, Religious, and World History.

Master of Arts: This degree serves to prepare students for admission to a Ph.D. program, for a teaching career in high school or community colleges, or for a career in government or business.

Fields of specialization:

African (East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa)
European (medieval, early modern, or modern)
Latin American (colonial Latin America, post-Colonial Latin America, Brazil, and the Caribbean or Spanish America)
United States history (early America, 19th century, 20th century)

Thesis option requirements:

A minimum of 30 credit hours
At least 15 graduate-level regular course credit hours in your major field. In European, you must take at least two seminars in your area of specialization. In U.S. history, you must take the 19th-century America readings seminar, either the 20th-century or early America readings seminar, and at least one research seminar. In Latin American and African history, you must take the relevant readings seminars in your area of specialization, one other readings seminar, and at least one research seminar.
At least 6 graduate-level regular course credit hours outside the major field (but in the Department of History). We recommend that you invest these regular course hours in readings seminars.
Take 3 hours of historiography (HIS 6061 Introduction to Historiography (3 cr.)) by the fourth semester of graduate study.
Take 3 regular course credit hours from outside the Department. These should be graduate-level hours, but undergraduate 3000 or 4000 level hours may be taken subject to approval by your adviser.
Complete a master's thesis of original historical research. The semester you graduate, you must be registered for a minimum of 3 thesis research hours (HIS 6971 Research for Master's Thesis (1-15 cr.)) in the fall or spring terms or 2 in a summer term. Your thesis should demonstrate your ability to handle the primary-source material of your field, and a working knowledge of the secondary literature; and should demonstrate your ability to present research results in a coherent, well-written study. The student must complete the thesis and make it available to readers 2 weeks before the oral examination, complete the application for the degree at the Office of the University Registrar before the deadline, and take the examination.
Each student must pass a final comprehensive oral examination at the end of the program.

Non-thesis option requirements:

A minimum of 30 credit hours.
At least 15 graduate-level regular course credit hours inside your major field. In European, you must take at least two seminars in your area of specialization. In U.S. history, you must take the 19th-century American readings seminar, either the 20th-century or the early America readings seminar, and at least one research seminar. In Latin American or African history, you must take the relevant readings seminars in your area of specialization, one other readings seminar, and at least one research seminar.
At least 6 graduate-level regular course credit hours outside your major field (but in the Department of History). We recommend that you invest these regular course hours in readings seminars.
Take 3 hours of historiography (HIS 6061 Introduction to Historiography (3 cr.)) by your fourth semester of graduate study.
Take 3 regular course credit hours from outside the Department; these should be graduate-level hours, but undergraduate 3000 or 4000 level hours may be taken subject to approval by your adviser.
Complete a research seminar and/or a non-thesis project in history. Your primary goal in either is to complete an article-length essay (approximately 35 to 40 pages) of publishable or near-publishable quality. The essay should be based largely on primary sources.
You must pass a final comprehensive oral and written examination conducted by your supervisory committee.

Supervisory committee for the M.A.: The committee normally consists of the chair and two other members of the graduate faculty. Additional members may be added if desirable. The committee assists in planning and supervising the student's program and conducts the final examination. The chair is also the thesis director if that option is chosen.

Duration: The M.A. program can be completed in 3 semesters of full-time registration but may take longer. The Department believes that normally no more than 4 semesters of full-time registration should be spent on the degree. These semesters need not be consecutive. The Board of Education has established 60 credit hours as a maximum for the master's degree. Up to 6 credits of graduate-level courses taken at another school with a grade of B or better may be transferred into the master's program if approved by the Graduate School.

Bachelor's/master's program: The Department offers a combination 4/1 degree program that enables outstanding undergraduates to obtain both the B.A. and M.A. degrees in history after successful completion of 150 credit hours. The program is designed for the students who wish to continue their education in history past the bachelor's level but do not intend to pursue a doctorate in history, or for students who wish to expand their training in a specific field before moving on to a doctoral program. The department offers a 4/1 degree program in the standard M.A. fields of study as well as oral history. Please see the Department website for more information. Students in this program are not eligible for departmentally controlled financial aid.

Doctor of Philosophy requirements:

Professional mastery of your major field, or major fields for students pursuing a dual degree.
Professional competence in a minor field, which may be drawn from the approved major fields of specialization for the doctorate (African, European, Latin American, or U.S. history), from approved minor fields (Atlantic history, gender, legal history), or may be self designed as a thematic research or teaching field. It must include at least 3 hours outside the historical area that defines your major field. Note: Students pursuing a dual major do not take a department minor field.
At least 3 regular course credit hours from outside the Department; these should be graduate-level hours, but undergraduate 3000 or 4000 level hours may be taken subject to approval by your adviser.
Pass a set of written and oral qualifying examinations testing competence in major and additional fields and your knowledge of the nature of history and the historian's task.
A dissertation of original historical research for which credit is given in HIS 7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation (1-15 cr.).

History/law joint degree program: The Department of History and the College of Law offer a program in legal history leading to either the M.A. or a Ph.D. degree in history and the J.D. in law. Because the faculties of history and law stress interdisciplinary training, students admitted to the joint degree program will be allowed to count a significant number of hours toward both degrees. Applicants must be accepted by both the Graduate School and the College of Law. Normally, students will complete the course and examination requirements of both degrees in 4 years. Students may begin their first year of work in either history or law, but they must complete the first year of law school within 1 year and they must do so within the first 2 years after admission to the joint degree program. For further information write to the:

Legal History Coordinator
Department of History
University of Florida
Box 117320
Gainesville, FL 32611-7320.

history (PHD)

SLO 1 Knowledge
Students will identify, define, and describe major issues in the history of their fields of study as well as mastery of the relevant body of historiography

SLO 2 Skills
Students will design and teach courses as teaching assistants or primary instructors

SLO 3 Professional Behavior
Students will contribute to the international community of historians in their field through the publication of their research, and through presentations at seminars, workshops and conferences

SLO 4 Skills and Content Knowledge
Students will apply and demonstrate the methods and practices of historical research and writing

History (MA)

SLO 1 Knowledge
Students will identify, define, and describe major issues in the history of their fields of study as well as mastery of the relevant body of historiography

SLO 2 Professional Behavior
Students write journal quality papers

SLO 3 Skills
Students will describe, define and apply methods and practices of historical research and writing

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in History at University of Florida

Entry Requirements

Applicants who should complete the SSAR:

Attended a high school regionally accredited in the United States for at least three years.
Attended a DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) school.

Applicants who should not complete the SSAR:

Attended a secondary school located outside the United States for more than one semester.
Studied a curriculum that did not follow the standard U.S. system.

Required: At least three full years of your most recent secondary school transcripts, including courses in progress (grades 9, 10 and 11 + senior schedule) in both the native language of instruction and a word for word certified English translation (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are accepted electronically via the status Check Status page for the review process, while official transcripts and translations are required upon enrollment.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6
TOEFLMin 80

English Program Requirements

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate English proficiency. English proficiency examination results, such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test, are encouraged for non-native English speakers, but are not required for freshman admission. SAT or ACT results are required for all freshman applicants.

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in History at University of Florida

How to Apply for PhD in History at University of Florida

Start by exploring our more than 250 degree programs to determine the application requirements and if additional items, such as transcripts, portfolios or recommendation letters, are needed in your application. Application deadlines also vary by department, so be sure to apply before the deadline.

Regardless of program, all graduate students apply using the UF graduate school application through CollegeNET. You will select your college and major within the application. Complete the application and pay the $30 non-refundable application fee. Review your application carefully before submission, as changes cannot be made once the application is submitted.

The Office of Admissions does not provide an application fee waiver. If needed, check directly with the program to which you are applying. Additionally, if your application is not considered because the application deadline is passed, UF will not issue you a refund for the application fee. It is important to know the application deadlines for the intended major.

If you are applying to more than one program, you must complete an application for each program and pay the non-refundable application fee

Official test scores must be sent to UF electronically by the testing agency.

GRE

Review your program requirements to determine if GRE scores are needed. Most applicants must submit GRE scores, but some programs in the College of the Arts do not require these. When using electronic delivery, select school code 5812 (University of Florida). UF does not superscore the GRE.

GMAT

All MBA applicants must submit satisfactory scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test. GMAT scores may also be accepted by certain MHA, Sport Management, and Food and Resource Economics programs. Contact individual departments for specific requirements. When ordering your scores from GMAC, select the department you intend to apply to here at the University of Florida.

Fundamentals of Engineering

Some engineering programs will accept FE scores as a substitute for the GRE. Contact individual programs for requirements.

Exemptions

Applicants with a previous graduate or professional degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution may be exempt from the Graduate Record Exam or Graduate Management Admission Test at the program's discretion.

Verifying Receipt of Scores

Requested scores generally arrive to UF within 2-4 weeks

Send your transcripts to the UF Office of Admissions.

For the purpose of initial review, the Office of Admissions accepts unofficial transcripts. These can be uploaded through your Application Status page.

Applicants who receive an offer of admissions should arrange to have official transcripts sent to the UF Office of Admissions from each postsecondary institution attended. If you attended UF as your postsecondary institution, you do not have to order a transcript from the Office of the University Registrar. Official transcripts can be sent to UF in two ways: paper transcript received by UF in a sealed envelope or electronic transcripts sent from your institution directly to UF, which can save up to two weeks response time. UF accepts electronic transcripts through FASTER, Parchment, National Student Clearing House, ScribbleSoft, e-Scrip Safe, Credential Solutions, SCOIR or Transcripts Plus.

All academic credentials become property of the university. They will not be returned to you or forwarded to a third party. For diplomas and academic credentials that are only issued once, please send an attested or certified copy of the original.

Transcript updates can be found within your Application Status page. Transcripts uploaded or received by mail will display on the Application Checklist as Transcript - Under Review. Once the transcripts are reviewed, these checklist items will be removed, and the Awaiting Transcript checklist items will be updated accordingly. We process transcripts as quickly as possible. The Admissions Office prioritizes the review of transcripts needed for students to register for the current term.

Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé that is uploaded within your graduate application.

If the program of interest requires recommendation letters, these should be submitted electronically through the admissions application. You must request these recommendations prior to submitting your application. You cannot add or delete recommendations once your application has been submitted. If your recommendation is supplied by paper or PDF, check with your academic program to inquire if this will be accepted.

You can check the receipt of materials by the Office of Admissions on the Check Status page. This page will only reflect information concerning materials forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions and does not include materials that are required to be sent directly to your academic unit.

Approximately 24-48 hours after submitting your online application, your 8-digit UF Identification Number (UFID) will be available on the status of your application. Use the same username and password used to submit your CollegeNET application.

Your UFID is unique to you and should be used in all email communication and any subsequent applications submitted. If you do not use your UFID in communications and submissions, it is difficult for us to match your test scores, transcripts, and financial aid information to your academic record.

PhD in History at University of Florida

University of Florida

United States of America, Gainesville