About the Graduate Program
The graduate program of the Department of History is a small and select one that offers both the MA and PhD degrees. The program uniquely combines the personal attention of a tutorial system with the resources of a major research institution. While in residence, students have access with the distinguished faculty, a world-class library, and opportunities with one of the premier academic journals, Reviews in America History, which is edited here.
The graduate program revolves around the research and writing interests of the faculty. These fall into three spheres of inquiry — the world of nations, which emphasizes the complications of government, nationalism, war, and power, the world of goods, which concentrates on commerce and trade, the supporting institutions and the consequence of various modes of production and consumption, and the world of ideas, which focuses on the production and uses of knowledge. Because these areas of inquiry are not confined to a single nation-state, the department strives to provide opportunities for transnational and comparative study and encourages dissertations with that emphasis.
Please consult the Graduate Handbook for the most updated requirements of the graduate program, including comprehensive exams, language requirements, major fields, teaching assistantships, and adviser selection. For rules and regulation concerning graduate study at the University of Rochester please access the Graduate Bulletin.