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The
Graduate Handbook for the UIC Department of History
Introduction
The graduate faculty of the
Department of History welcomes your interest in its curriculum and has
prepared this handbook to familiarize you with its offerings, regulations,
and procedures.
The graduate faculty offers
three postgraduate degrees: the master of arts (MA), the master of arts in
teaching (MAT), and the doctor of philosophy (PhD). The MA program enables
students to expand their knowledge of history, improve their research and
writing skills, and, in certain cases, prepare for the PhD. There are two
separate tracks for MA students: MA-only, for those students whose final
goal in the UIC Department of History is to acquire the MA, and
doctoral-track, for those students whose goal is to acquire the PhD from
the UIC Department of History. The MAT program is designed for aspiring
secondary school teachers seeking state certification, as well as
certified teachers who are interested in learning more about their craft.
The PhD program prepares students for teaching and research careers in
colleges, universities, and community colleges, as well as professional
careers in museums, libraries, archives, historical consulting, and the
media. Graduates of our programs have also succeeded in careers in
business, government, journalism, and publishing. Though all of the
graduate programs have certain features in common, the requirements are
sufficiently flexible to enable every student to embark on a unique
intellectual journey.
Administration
The graduate programs in
history at UIC are administered by the Director of Graduate Studies in
consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee, the Graduate Admissions
Committee, the graduate faculty, and the Director of the Master of Arts in
Teaching program. The Graduate Secretary, who is also the assistant to the
Director of Graduate Studies, provides staff support.
All UIC
graduate programs are overseen by the Graduate College, which sets policy
regarding tuition, matriculation, and academic standards. In addition to
meeting the requirements of the Department of History, graduate students
must also comply with the requirements of the Graduate College.
Applying
Students interested in applying
to one of the graduate programs can obtain application forms and
information about the History Department's graduate program by mail from
the Graduate Secretary at the following address:
Graduate Secretary
Department of History (MC
198)
913 University Hall
601 South Morgan Street
Chicago,
Illinois 60607-7109
(312) 996-3141
Applications can also be made online at the following URL: http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/GradApp.pdf
Information about the UIC Department of History can be found at its website:
http://www.uic.edu/depts/hist/
Students are admitted to the graduate
program for either the fall or spring semester. Applicants who wish to
begin doctoral-track MA studies or PhD studies in the fall must ensure
that their application is received by January 1, if they are seeking
financial support, or February 1, if they are not seeking financial
support. Applicants who wish to begin MA studies on the MA-only track or
the MAT must ensure that their application is received by April 1.
Students who wish to begin in the spring must ensure that their
application is received by October 1. Admission decisions are made by the
Director of Graduate Studies in conjunction with the graduate faculty, the
Graduate Admissions Committee, and the Graduate College. Final authority
rests with the Graduate College.
Applicants to the MA and MAT
programs are expected to have earned a bachelor's degree in History or at
least 16 undergraduate credit hours, or the equivalent, in history or a
related field. Applicants to the PhD program are required to have earned
an MA in history or a comparable postgraduate degree.
What to Send and Where to Send It
Send to:
Office of Admissions and
Records (MC 018)
University of Illinois at Chicago
1100 Student
Services Building
1200 West Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois
60607
1. A completed application form.
2. The required application fee.
3. Complete and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate
work.
4. An official copy of your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results
from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The Educational Testing
Service can be reached at the following address:
P.
O. Box 6000
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000
(609) 921-9000
phone
(609) 771-7906 fax
Information on ETS can also be found at its website (http://www.ets.org).
Applications to the MAT program must also take the Basic Skills Test,
as mandated by state law for teachers. Informatoin on this test may be
found at the following website: http://www.icts.nesinc.com
Send to:
Director of Graduate
Studies
Department of History (MC 198)
913 University Hall
601
South Morgan Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607-7109
1. A photocopy of the completed application form.
2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your
academic work. At least two of the letters should be from faculty members
in history or related fields.
3. A brief statement of purpose. It should mention your educational
background, teaching or work experience (if relevant), and language
skills. Most importantly, it should explain why you wish to pursue an
advanced degree in history. Please specify what areas of study you plan
to specialize in and what topics you would like to pursue. Be as specific
as possible.
4. A photocopy (unofficial) of transcripts of all undergraduate and
graduate work.
5. A photocopy (unofficial) of the results of your Graduate Record Examination
(GRE).
6. A financial aid application (if applicable), the Application for
Graduate Appointment. Copies of this form are available from the Graduate
Secretary and online at the UIC website (http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/awards/index.shtml).
7. A sample of your written work such as a seminar paper or a master's
thesis. It is particularly helpful to include a writing sample that
demonstrates your ability to work with primary source materials.
Terms of Acceptance
Most applicants to the
graduate programs are admitted as regular students on full standing. Some,
however, are admitted on limited status. These students must meet certain
conditions that the Director of Graduate Studies specifies in the letter
of admission. Limited status students become students on full standing
by maintaining a specified grade point average for a specific period of
time or by correcting shortcomings in their academic preparation. If they
fail to meet these conditions, they will be dismissed from the program.
Students who have not been admitted to a graduate program can, with the
instructor's permission, enroll in graduate courses as nondegree candidates.
Students who wish to become a nondegree candidate apply to the Office
of Admissions and Records. For more information and application materials,
contact:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Office of Admissions
and Records (MC 018)
1100 Student Services Building
1200 West
Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(URL: http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/index.html)
Should a nondegree
candidate wish to secure admission to a graduate program, the candidate
can petition to the Graduate College to transfer up to 8 credit hours of
course work that the student obtained as a nondegree candidate. Students
should petition to transfer these credits as soon as possible following
their admission to a graduate program.
Funding Graduate Study
UIC offers three kinds
of financial support for graduate students in history: teaching assistantships,
tuition and fee waivers, and fellowships and awards. For application information
regarding these opportunities, consult the annual listing of important
dates that the Director of Graduate Studies mails to each graduate student
in the fall. This information is also posted on the departmental bulletin
boards, in the Graduate Secretary's office, and online at the department's
website (http://www.uic.edu/depts/hist/).
Applications for financial support from current students should be accompanied
by a statement of progress, a curriculum vitae, and a letter of recommendation
from the student's adviser. Prospective students can obtain this information
from the Graduate Secretary. Some awards are restricted to current students,
and are not available to entering students. Information on fellowships
offered by the Graduate College, including application deadlines, is available
online (http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/awards/index.shtml).
Each year the Graduate Advisory Committee, in consultation with the Director
of Graduate Studies, awards a number of teaching assistantships, each
of which carries a tuition and service fee waiver. Teaching assistantships
provide students with an opportunity to gain valuable classroom experience
under the supervision of a faculty member, typically by grading and leading
discussion sections. It is also possible, in special circumstances, for
advanced PhD candidates to teach a course of their own.
Teaching assistantships ordinarily are restricted to graduate students
in the PhD program. Initial appointments are made for one academic year
or two semesters; they may be renewed, and usually are, for a maximum
of six semesters. This limitation applies only to courses taught in the
fall and spring semesters and does not apply to summer school. Students
must inform the Director of Graduate Studies if they want to renew their
teaching assistantship. If they wish to assist a particular faculty member,
they should inform the Director of Graduate Studies of their preference
in writing. All teaching assistants must register for at least eight credit
hours each semester they teach. It is not necessary for teaching assistants
to teach all six semesters in succession. If they take a leave of absence,
it is their responsibility to inform the Director of Graduate Studies
when they wish to resume their assistantship. Students who take a leave
of absence have priority over other students when they wish to complete
their term.
Applications for teaching assistantships are due in the Graduate Secretary's
office on the first Monday in February. Students must reapply each year
that they wish to assist and are responsible for informing the Director
of Graduate Studies of their plans. Students who do not do so may find
that their reappointment has been delayed or suspended. The Graduate Advisory
Committee, upon the advice of the Director of Graduate Studies, can decide
not to reappoint a teaching assistant whose teaching and academic performance
is considered unsatisfactory. Since many UIC PhDs apply upon graduation
for faculty positions in colleges and universities that strongly prefer
candidates who already possess classroom experience, it is the policy
of the department to award teaching assistantships to as many PhD students
as possible. Advanced graduate students also often teach on a part-time
basis in Chicago-area colleges, universities, and community colleges.
The Graduate College offers tuition and service fee waivers each year
to a small number of exemplary students. These awards are made by the
Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Advisory
Committee and the graduate faculty. Tuition and service fee waivers can
be awarded for either an academic year or a semester. All recipients must
enroll for at least 12 credit hours during the period of their award.
Students interested in receiving a tuition and service fee waiver are
encouraged to apply directly to the Director of Graduate Studies. Applications
are due on the first Monday in February. For more information and application
forms, consult the Graduate Secretary.
The Graduate College and the Department of History also offer various
fellowships and awards. Every year, the Graduate College awards a small
number of highly competitive University Fellowships and Dean's Scholar
Awards. Nominations for these fellowships are made by the Graduate Advisory
Committee in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the
student's faculty advisor. University Fellowships are ordinarily awarded
to incoming students and advanced PhD students who are engaged in dissertation
research. Dean's Scholar Awards are reserved for outstanding advanced
PhD students who have already compiled a distinguished academic record.
Recipients of the University Fellowship and the Dean's Scholar Award must
enroll for at least 12 credit hours during the term of their fellowship.
The Graduate College also awards a number of fellowships to minority students
and students who meet particular criteria. These include the Diversity
Fellowship and the Abraham Lincoln Fellowship, which carries a tuition
and service fee waiver. Interested students should contact:
Graduate College (MC 192)
606 University Hall
601 South Morgan Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607-7109
(312) 413-2550 phone
Information and applications are available online
(http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/index.shtml).
Each year the
Department of History awards a number of prizes to assist students
undertaking dissertation research. These are the Marion S. Miller
Dissertation Fellowships, the Bentley Brinkerhoff Gilbert Endowed
Fellowship, the John B. and Theta Wolf Fellowship, the Robert V. Remini
Scholarship, and the Deena Allen Memorial Fellowship. The Miller and
Gilbert fellowships include tuition and service fee waivers. The
department also offers three awards in Polish history for promising MA or
PhD students: the Polish National Alliance Endowed Research Award*, the
Polish Resistance (AK) Foundation Scholarship, and the History of Poland
Scholarship*. Students interested in being considered for these prizes can
obtain information from the Graduate Secretary. Applications are due on
the first Monday in February. Every second year the department awards the
Leo Schelbert Dissertation Award to the recent PhD graduate who, in the
opinion of the prize committee, has completed the best dissertation during
the previous two years.
*Indicates that the
award carries tuition and service fee waivers.
Maintaining Good
Standing
The Graduate Advisory
Committee may, in consultation with the student's advisor, review a
student's record at any time. Each spring the Graduate Office, in
conjunction with the graduate faculty, reviews the progress of all
graduate students. The graduate faculty may recommend that the Director of
Graduate Studies impose specific conditions on students who are not making
satisfactory progress. The graduate faculty can also decide if a student
should be shifted from limited status to full standing.
The
Graduate College requires all UIC graduate students to maintain a
cumulative grade point average of 4.00 (a B average). Students who do not
maintain a 4.00 grade point average for two consecutive semesters will be
dismissed from the program. History graduate students receive no credit
toward graduation for courses in which they do not earn a grade of A or B.
Meeting the Language
Requirement
The graduate faculty
requires all MA and PhD students to demonstrate a reading knowledge of at
least one foreign language. Students should consult with their faculty
advisor to determine how this requirement can best be met. Acceptable
languages include, but are not confined to: Spanish, French, German,
Polish, Russian, Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek. In addition, advisors
may require that their students demonstrate competence in additional
languages that they deem necessary to the student's field of study. It is
not necessary for students to demonstrate this proficiency prior to their
admission. The MAT program has no language requirement, though students
seeking certification as secondary school teachers in Illinois will need
two years of foreign language study to meet certification
requirements.
The purpose of the language requirement is to enable
students to conduct historical research in a language other than English.
The examination, which lasts one hour, consists of approximately 50 lines
of a text to be translated into English that has been chosen by a member
of the graduate faculty. Students are permitted to use a dictionary.
Students who lack adequate preparation are encouraged to enroll in
language courses at UIC. Occasionally, it is possible for students to
enroll in specialized translation courses that are designed for graduate
students in the humanities and social sciences.
Students who wish
to take the language examination must inform the Graduate Secretary in
advance so that the Director of Graduate Studies can make the necessary
arrangements. Examinations are offered in all three terms—see the annual
listing of important dates for details. Please note that students must
pass their language examination one semester prior to taking their
comprehensive or preliminary examinations. It is the student's
responsibility to ensure that this condition is met.
Advising
When a new student is
admitted to a graduate program, it is the responsibility of the Director
of Graduate Studies to assign the student a faculty advisor. Students in
the MAT program are ordinarily advised by the director of the program or
the Director of Graduate Studies. The initial assignment of faculty
advisors is preliminary and based on the student's intended field of
study. It may be changed at any time at the request of either the student
or the advisor. Students have the right to change advisors for any reason
and members of the graduate faculty have the right to decline to work with
a particular student. Should a student or faculty member desire a change,
it is his or her responsibility to inform the Director of Graduate Studies
in writing of the decision. Students who wish to change advisors must
secure the written consent of the faculty member with whom they wish to
study.
Faculty advisors serve several important functions. They
help students plan their program of study and oversee their preparation
for the major and minor field examinations. In addition, in the case of
PhD candidates, advisors select the dissertation committee and supervise
the research and writing of the dissertation. Advisors may also require
students to enroll in specific courses, prepare specific major or minor
fields, or meet additional requirements, such as the mastery of additional
languages or research skills.
Special Circumstances
Students seeking exemptions from a Department of History or Graduate College
regulation must fill out a special form, known as a petition, which can
be obtained from the Graduate Secretary. The student is responsible for
explaining fully and clearly the rationale for the exemption. The petition
should be signed by the student and endorsed by the student's faculty
advisor. Not all petitions will be granted. For example, PhD candidates
who have passed their preliminary examination are not eligible for a leave
of absence. Students should also be aware that certain requests, such
as petitions for the transfer of credits or a leave of absence, require
special forms. When in doubt, consult the Graduate Secretary.
Students who petition for approval of a minor field that is not included
in the graduate faculty curriculum listed at the end of this handbook
must secure the endorsement of at least two faculty members who are competent
to examine them. In certain circumstances, one or both faculty members
may hold faculty appointments outside the Department of History. All petitions
for special fields must be submitted for approval to the Graduate Advisory
Committee. (This regulation does not apply to MAT students preparing a
minor field in the School of Education.) Students are required to submit
their petition at least one semester prior to their comprehensive or preliminary
examination. It is also possible to petition for a major field that is
not included in the graduate faculty curriculum listed at the end of this
handbook. Students who wish to explore this option should consult with
the Director of Graduate Studies.
Structure of the Graduate Programs
All three of the
graduate programs have certain features in common. All require students to
choose a major field that they prepare through independent tutorials,
historiographical colloquia, and self-directed study. All require students
to choose minor fields that they prepare in 400-level courses, graduate
colloquia, independent tutorials, and self-directed study. And all require
students to pass at least one seminar that involves the preparation of a
major research paper that is based on primary sources. In addition, all MA
and PhD students are required to pass History 501—Introduction to the
Graduate Study of History—which is ordinarily taken during the first
semester of their first year in the program.
Pursuing the Master of Arts
Entering students
should familiarize themselves with the graduate curriculum so that they
can plan an appropriate program of study. In particular, students should
work with their advisors to choose courses that provide an adequate
foundation for the major field and two minor fields. Students pursuing the
master's degree may choose one minor field from a subject that falls
within their major field. At least one minor field, however, must be in a
subject distinct in space or time from their major field. If they so
choose, MA students may take both of their minor fields in subjects that
are outside their major field.
The Graduate College requires
master's degree students to graduate within five years of their entry into
the program. Full-time students are expected to earn at least 12 and not
more than 16 credit hours each semester they are enrolled. Part-time
students may, however, enroll for fewer than 12 credit hours. With the
approval of their faculty advisor and the Graduate Advisory Committee,
students can also enroll for a limited number of credit hours in courses
offered by other departments.
Students enrolled in the MA program
must meet the following requirements:
1. Obtain a grade of A or B in History 501—Introduction to the
Graduate Study of History. This course is ordinarily taken in the first
year of graduate study.
2. Complete at least 32 credit hours in graduate-level courses while
maintaining a grade point average of at least 4.00. (Graduate courses
are courses listed at the 400 or 500 level.) At least 20 of the 32 credit
hours must be in courses taught at the 500 level, and at least 16 credit
hours must be in 500-level courses taught by members of the graduate
faculty in the Department of History. No student may receive graduate
credit for a course at the 100, 200, or 300 level. Should a student
enroll in a 400-level course, which is also open to advanced undergraduates,
the instructor has the right to require the student to undertake extra
work or to demonstrate a higher standard of proficiency.
3. Obtain a grade of A or B in a seminar in which the student prepares
a major research paper based on primary sources. The subject, length,
and scope of this paper must be approved by the member of the graduate
faculty who teaches the course.
4. Complete any colloquia that are required for the student's major
or minor fields. Students majoring in the history of colonial America
and the United States are required to pass the two-semester historiographical
colloquium History 551—Bibliographic Colloquium, parts 1 and 2.
Students majoring in other fields are required to complete colloquia
on appropriate topics. To find out which colloquia are required, students
should consult their faculty advisor.
5. Demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language. For more
information, see Meeting the Language Requirement.
6. Students on the MA-only track must pass a comprehensive written examination
in one major field and two minor fields. For more information, see Passing
the Comprehensive Examination. Students on the doctoral-track must,
after completing 24 hours of coursework, be approved by the Department
of History for promotion to the PhD program on the basis of a review
of their record, including, but not necessarily limited to, grades,
faculty recommendations, and a writing sample. A doctoral-track student
who is not so approved will be transferred to the MA-only track, and
will therefore be required to pass comprehensive examinations, as described
above.
Graduation requires the approval of the Department and the Graduate
College. Students who expect to graduate should submit a Graduation
Request Form, which is available in the office of the Graduate Secretary
and online (http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/gcforms/index.shtml).
Pursuing the Master of Arts in the Teaching of
History
The Master of Arts in the Teaching of History
program is designed to meet the distinctive needs of secondary school
teachers. It combines a traditional MA curriculum with specialized
training in teaching strategies and instructional development. In
addition, it can provide students with state certification as a secondary
school teacher. Students who wish to obtain certification should inform
the Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching program of this fact during
the first semester that they are enrolled. To obtain state certification,
students must teach on a full-time basis in a Chicago-area secondary
school for a full semester. With the exception of this semester, students
may enroll in the program on a part-time basis. Students are, however,
expected to enroll for at least three course credits each
semester.
Entering students
should familiarize themselves with the graduate faculty curriculum so that
they can plan an appropriate program of study. In particular, students
should work with their advisor to choose a mix of courses that will
provide an adequate foundation for the major field, the minor field in the
Teaching of History, and one additional minor field, which is often taken
in the College of Education. All fields taken within the College of
Education must be approved by the Director of the Master of Arts in
Teaching program; it is not necessary to petition the Graduate Advisory
Committee.
Students enrolled in the
MAT program must meet the following requirements:
1. Obtain a grade of A or B in the three colloquia in the teaching of
United States, European, and world history (History 500). These courses
form the core of the MAT program and prepare students for the minor
field test in the teaching of history.
2. Complete at least 32 credit hours in graduate-level courses while
maintaining a grade point average of at least 4.0. (Graduate courses
are courses listed at the 400 or 500 level.) At least 16 of the credit
hours must be in 500-level courses taught by members of the graduate
faculty in the Department of History. No student may receive graduate
credit for a course at the 100, 200, or 300 level. Students are strongly
encouraged to take at least two courses that are directly related to
their outside minor field.
3. If a student seeks certification, the student must be admitted to
the certification program and take a minimum of four courses in the
College of Education. For more information, consult the Director of
the Master of Arts in Teaching program.
4. Obtain a grade of A or B in a seminar in which the student prepares
a major research paper based on primary sources. The subject, length,
and scope of this paper must be approved by the member of the graduate
faculty who teaches the course.
5. Complete any colloquia that are required for the student's major
or minor fields. Students majoring in the history of colonial America
and the United States are required to pass the two-semester historiographical
colloquium History 551—Bibliographic Colloquium, parts 1 and 2.
Students majoring in other fields are required to complete colloquia
on appropriate topics. To find out which colloquia are required, students
should consult their faculty advisor.
6. Pass a comprehensive written examination in one major field, the
minor field in the teaching of history, and one additional minor field.
For more information, see Passing the Comprehensive Examination.
Graduation is not automatic,
and requires the approval of the Department and the Graduate College.
Students who expect to graduate should submit a Graduation Request Form,
which is available in the office of the Graduate Secretary and online
(http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/).
Passing the Comprehensive Examination
To graduate from the
MA-only MA and the MAT program, students must pass the comprehensive examination.
The graduate faculty offers this examination twice each year, once in
the fall and once in the spring, and recommends that full-time students
take their comprehensive examinations in their second year of study. Students
need not be enrolled during the semester in which they take the examination.
To take the comprehensive examination, the student must submit to the
Graduate Secretary a written application that lists the fields in which
the student intends to be examined, as well as the members of the graduate
faculty with whom the student has worked. The application must be signed
by the student's advisor. The deadline for the application and the examination
schedule are included in the annual listing of important dates that the
Director of Graduate Studies mails to each graduate student in the fall.
This information is also posted on departmental bulletin boards and in
the Graduate Secretary's office.
The purpose of the comprehensive
examination is to give students the opportunity to demonstrate a mastery
of three areas of historical inquiry or pedagogy. It consists of three
parts: the major field test and two minor field tests. The major field
test takes three hours; the minor field tests take two hours each. The
examination takes place during a single week, with each test scheduled
for a different day. Ordinarily, the major field test is evaluated by
three faculty members, and each minor field test by two faculty members.
Each test is graded in one of three ways: high pass (for performances
of superior quality), pass, or fail. It is the student's responsibility
to prepare adequately for the comprehensive examination. Major field comprehensive
examinations are based largely on the colloquium or colloquia offered
in each major field.
Students who plan to take comprehensive exams should meet with the appropriate
faculty member in each minor field at least six months before the exam,
to discuss the exam. The faculty member should provide a written description
of the contents of the exam to the student and to the Graduate Office.
Students in the MAT program often take one minor field test from within
the College of Education. If an MA or MAT student wishes to be examined
in a field that is offered outside the Department of History or the College
of Education, the student must secure approval from the Graduate Advisory
Committee.
Students who pass the comprehensive examination must apply, in writing,
to the Graduate Secretary in order to receive their degree. If a student
fails all or part of any portion of the comprehensive examination, the
student may retake that portion no more than once. Students are reexamined
only on those portions of the examination that they fail. Should a student
fail a minor field, the student may choose to be examined again in a different
minor field, in which case the student will be permitted to take the new
examination only once. Students who fail any part of the comprehensive
examination twice will be dismissed from the program.
Note: Examination questions are often historiographical and/or analytical
and are not necessarily restricted to topics that are covered in particular
courses. For this reason, it is extremely important for students to consult
those members of the graduate faculty who are responsible for their examination
fields in order to become familiar with their expectations. Students are
strongly encouraged to consult previous examinations, as well as syllabi
in courses that are related to their fields. Previous examinations in
most fields, as well as many course syllabi, are available for inspection
and photocopying in the Graduate Secretary's office.
Pursuing the PhD
The graduate faculty offers training at the PhD level for a select number
of advanced graduate students. Admission is restricted to those students
who, in the opinion of the graduate faculty, have demonstrated the potential
to make a significant contribution to scholarship. Admission is not
automatic for graduates of the MA program. With the exception of doctoral-track
MA students, UIC graduate students who hope to enter the PhD program
after securing the master of arts in history must submit a letter of
intent, a sample of written work, and letters of recommendation from
three members of the graduate faculty. Admission to the PhD program
is not automatic. In reaching a decision, the graduate faculty considers
the writing sample, letters of recommendation, comprehensive examination,
seminar paper, and course work.
It is imperative that all incoming students in the PhD program consult
with their faculty advisor to plan an appropriate program of study.
It is particularly important that students make the necessary arrangements
to obtain adequate preparation in the one major and three minor fields
in which they are to be examined. The graduate faculty expects full-time
students to take their preliminary examinations during their second
year and to defend their dissertation at some point within the next
four years. The Graduate College requires students to complete their
PhD degree within seven years of their admission to the PhD program,
and within five years after passing the preliminary examination.
Students entering the PhD program with a master's degree from another
department or discipline may be required to complete additional coursework,
which is specified upon admission.
Students in the PhD program can take advantage of the opportunity to
study at institutions that belong to the Committee on Institutional
Cooperation (CIC). These institutions consist of the Big Ten universities,
UIC, and the University of Chicago. For information on application procedures,
contact the CIC Liaison Officer in the Graduate College at (312) 413-2550.
Students enrolled
in the PhD program must meet the following requirements:
1. Obtain a grade of A or B in History 501—Introduction
to the Graduate Study of History. This course is ordinarily taken
in the first year of graduate study. This requirement is waived for
students who took History 501 as MA candidates at UIC.
2. After completing all other coursework, students must obtain a grade
of A or B in History 591—Preparation for Preliminary
Examinations and Dissertation Prospectus (eight credit hours).
3. Obtain 64 credit hours in graduate-level courses while maintaining
a grade point average of at least 4.00. (Graduate courses are listed
at the 400 or 500 level.) Students must take 16 of these credit hours
prior to the preliminary examination. The remainder are earned in History
599—Thesis Research—in which the student enrolls
when preparing the dissertation. At least 12 credit hours of these 16
hours must be in courses that are taught at the 500 level, including
one research seminar, and at least 12 credit hours must be in 500-level
courses that are offered by members of the graduate faculty in the Department
of History. These credit hours are in addition to any credit hours the
student may have obtained when enrolled in the MA program.
No student may receive graduate credit for a course at the 100, 200,
or 300 level. Should a student enroll in a 400-level course, which is
also open to advanced undergraduates, the instructor has the right to
require the student to undertake extra work or to demonstrate a higher
standard of proficiency.
Students should plan their course of study to prepare themselves for
the major and minor field tests. Students must pick at least two outside
minor fields from parts of the graduate curriculum that are distinct
in either space or time from their major field. Students may, if they
wish, take all three of their minor fields in subjects that are distinct
from their major field. If a student wishes to be examined in a field
that is offered by a department other than history, the student must
petition the Graduate Advisory Committee for approval.
4. Obtain a grade of A or B in two seminars in which the student prepares
a major research paper based on primary sources. The topic, length,
and scope of this paper must be approved by the member of the graduate
faculty who teaches the course. Students with prior research seminar
experience will, with the approval of the department's Graduate Office,
normally be exempt from the requirement to take one of these seminars.
5. Pass any colloquia that are required for the student's major or minor
fields. Students majoring in the history of colonial America and the
United States are required to pass the two-semester historiograpical
colloquium History 551-Bibliographic Colloquium, part 1 and part 2.
Students majoring in other fields are required to complete colloquia
on appropriate topics. To find out which colloquia are required, students
should consult their faculty advisor. The faculty advisor can waive
all or part of these requirements if the student already obtained an
MA in history at UIC.
6. Demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language. For information,
see Meeting the Language Requirement. This requirement is waived for
students who received an MA in history from UIC.
7. Pass a preliminary written examination in one major field and three
minor fields. For more information, see Passing the Preliminary Examination.
8. Prepare a dissertation prospectus, and pass an oral defense before
a committee consisting of the student's advisor and at least two other
dissertation committee members. This prospectus (approximately 25-30
pages in length) should describe the topic of the proposed dissertation,
the primary sources on which the dissertation will be based, the existing
secondary literature relating to the topic of the dissertation and the
relationship of the dissertation to that secondary literature, and the
dissertation's original and significant contribution to knowledge.
9. Complete and defend a dissertation that is an original and significant
contribution to historical scholarship.
Note: Any exceptions
to these requirements must have the support of the student's faculty
advisor and the approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee.
Passing the Preliminary Examination
The graduate faculty
offers the preliminary examination twice a year, once in the fall and once
in the spring. To take the preliminary examination, the student must
submit to the Director of Graduate Studies a written application listing
the fields in which the student intends to be examined, as well as the
faculty members with whom the student has worked. The application must be
signed by the student's faculty advisor. The deadlines for the application
and the examination schedule are included in the annual listing of
important dates that the Director of Graduate Studies mails to each
graduate student in the fall. It is also posted on departmental bulletin
boards and in the office of the Graduate Secretary. Students must have
completed all outstanding course work prior to taking their preliminary
examination, and must be enrolled for the semester in which they are being
examined.
The purpose of the
preliminary examination is to give students the opportunity to demonstrate
a superior understanding of four areas of historical inquiry. It consists
of two parts: the written tests and the orals. The written component has
four sections: the major field test and the three minor field tests. The
major field tests takes four hours; the minor field tests take three hours
each. The tests occur during a single week, with each examination
scheduled on a different day. Each test is graded in one of three ways:
pass with distinction (for performance of outstanding merit), pass, or
fail. It is the student's responsibility to prepare adequately for the
preliminary examination.
The student's written
tests are evaluated by a specially constituted preliminary examination
committee. Ordinarily, the major field test is evaluated by three faculty
members and each of the minor field tests by two faculty members. This
committee is appointed by the Dean of Graduate College on the
recommendation of the student's faculty advisor, who customarily serves as
chair. The advisor should inform the Director of Graduate Studies of the
composition of the committee three weeks before the written tests so that
the Graduate Secretary can secure the approval of the Dean of the Graduate
College.
Major field
preliminary examinations are based largely on the colloquia offered in
each major field.
Students who plan to
take preliminary exams should meet with the appropriate faculty member in
each minor field at least six months before the exam, to discuss the exam.
The faculty member should provide a written description of the contents of
the exam to the student and to the Graduate Office.
If a student
fails all or part of any portion of the preliminary examination, the
student may retake it that portion no more than once. Students are
reexamined only on those portions of the examination that they fail.
Should a student fail a minor field, the student may choose to be examined
again in a different minor field, in which case the student will be
permitted to take the new test only once. Students who fail either their
written tests automatically forfeit their teaching assistantship. Students
who fail any part of their written tests twice will be dismissed from the
program.
Note: Examination
questions are often historiographical and analytical and are not
necessarily restricted to topics that are covered in particular graduate
courses. For this reason, it is extremely important for students to
consult those members of the graduate faculty who are responsible for
their examination fields in order to become familiar with their
expectations. Students are strongly encouraged to consult previous written
tests, as well as syllabi in courses that are related to their interests.
Previous written tests in most fields, as well as many course syllabi, are
available for inspection and photocopying in the Graduate Secretary's
office. It is expected that students, in conjunction with their advisors,
will prepare reading lists for each field in which they are to be
examined.
Following the
completion of the preliminary examinations, the examining committee
decides whether the student is to be officially admitted to candidacy for
the Ph.D. This is why the examination is called preliminary. No student
can be admitted to candidacy who has not satisfactory completed all
outstanding course work. Students who are admitted to candidacy for the
Ph.D. are ineligible for a leave of absence.
Completing the
Dissertation
Following the
student's admission to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student's faculty
advisor (or mentor) nominates a dissertation prospectus committee. This
committee is headed by a chair and at least two other faculty members. The
chair, who is usually the student's mentor, must be a member of the
graduate faculty. The chair is responsible for ensuring that the student
(now known as the candidate) prepare a dissertation prospectus that the
candidate submits to the dissertation prospectus committee for discussion,
comment, and approval. Should the candidate subsequently change topics,
the candidate must inform the committee of this fact in writing and submit
a new prospectus. Candidates must also keep their committee informed of
their progress. It is the responsibility of the mentor to decide when the
candidate is to submit all or part of the work-in-progress to the other
members of the dissertation committee. Students should register their
dissertation with the American Historical Association so that it can be
listed in Dissertations in Progress.
If for some reason the
mentor no longer wishes to supervise a candidate's dissertation, the
mentor must inform both the candidate and the Director of Graduate Studies
in writing. If a candidate wishes to change mentors, the candidate must
secure the consent of another member of the graduate faculty and notify
the current mentor and the Director of Graduate Studies in writing. If a
mentor is for any reason unable to supervise a candidate, the candidate,
in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, is responsible for
securing an appropriate alternate.
When the candidate in
the judgment of the adviser and the dissertation prospectus committee is
nearing completion of the dissertation, the dissertation committee will be
broadened to include a total of five members; these five faculty members
constitute the specially constituted dissertation defense committee. The
committee is nominated by the student's mentor and approved by the Dean of
the Graduate College. Graduate College regulations mandate that it consist
of five faculty members, at least two of whom must be tenured members of
the graduate faculty, and at least one of whom must have an appointment
outside the Department of History. At the request of the adviser, the
Graduate Secretary then schedules the dissertation defense. The defense is
oral and focuses on the dissertation's finding, methods, and significance.
In attendance are the members of a specially constituted dissertation
defense committee. The dissertation defense is ordinarily scheduled
approximately within five weeks after the mentor and the second reader
have given the dissertation their tentative approval. This time period is
intended to give the remaining members of the committee sufficient time to
evaluate the dissertation.
The committee may
accept the dissertation as it stands, reject it outright, or accept it
conditionally pending certain revisions. The revisions can range from
minor editorial changes to a major recasting of a substantial portion of
the text. Ordinarily, the committee delegates to the mentor the
responsibility for ensuring that these conditions are met. All
dissertations must meet the format and stylistic requirements of the
Graduate College.
Graduate Concentration in Work, Race, and Gender in the
Urban World (WRGUW)
Taking advantage at
once of an uncommon gathering of scholars with overlapping interests and
the unmatched resources of the city of Chicago in addressing these issues,
the PhD concentration in the History of Work, Race, and Gender in the
Urban World (WRGUW—pronounced "argue") offers students a foundation in
labor, immigration, and business history; race and African-American
history; and/or gender, women's and gay and lesbian history. In addressing
these themes we intend at once to connect the issues of our own day to
their historical antecedents and to widen our appreciation of human
possibility by exploring both paths taken and those not taken.
Framed initially
around a modern U.S. history core, the program nevertheless encourages in
all students a trans-national perspective on its core themes. To this end,
among a minimum of four graduate seminars linked annually to the
concentration, at least one treats a topic in comparative or global scope.
Of three required minor fields for concentrators, moreover, two address
non-U.S. or comparative topics. In addition to their department-based
course requirements, WRGUW concentrators entering with a BA must
satisfactorily complete five WRGUW-related courses, while those entering
with an MA must complete three such designated courses.
Among participating
faculty and students alike, we are committed to building a supportive but
critical community of colleagues. "Expanding the Circle," a regular
lunch-time series of speakers on related topics, helps to stimulate
discussion across the department. The regular "Wednesday Brown-Bag" offers
a forum for new work by departmental faculty and graduate students. At a
more convivial level, "First Fridays" gathers WRGUW students, faculty, and
friends in informal conversation.
For further
information about the graduate programs in history at the University of
Illinois at Chicago, contact:
Professor Susan Levine
Director of Graduate
Studies
900 University Hall (M/C 198)
601 South Morgan
Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7109
(312)
996-3141
For information about
routine administrative matters, consult:
Graduate Secretary
902 University Hall (M/C 198)
601
South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL
60607-7109
(312)996-3141
The Department of History
also maintains a Web site at http://www.uic.edu/depts/hist/
CURRICULUM FOR THE M.A. PROGRAM
M.A. Major and Minor Fields
(major fields indicated in blue bold typeface)
Africa
Africa since 1500
East Africa since 1500
West Africa since 1500
Southern Africa since 1500
Ancient
Mediterranean World
Greece, 750 B.C. to 336 B.C.
Roman Republic
Roman Empire
East
Asia
China
Japan
Medieval
Europe
Medieval Europe
Church History
Early Middle Ages
Later Roman Empire
Medieval France
Medieval Germany
Modern
Europe
Enlightenment
Europe, 1815 to 1914
Europe since 1914
Eastern Europe since 1800
France since 1789
Germany since 1815
Poland since 1764
Social History
Nationalism
Great
Britain and Ireland
Tudor and Stuart England
Hanoverian England, 1714 to 1837
Great Britain since 1837
Ireland
Russia
Muscovite Russia
Imperial Russia
Soviet Russia
Latin
America
Colonial Latin America
Latin America since 1810
Central America
Andean South America
Mexico
Caribbean
Colonial
America and the United States
Colonial and Revolutionary Era
Early Republic
Civil War and Reconstruction
Progressive Era, 1877 to 1917 1920
United States since 1917 1920
African-American History
Business and Economy History
Chicago History
Cultural History
Diplomatic History
Immigration and Ethnic History
Intellectual History
Labor History
Religious History
Social History
Southern History
Urban History
Women's History
Other Minor Fields
Middle East, 950 to 1500
Middle East since 1500
Islam
Demographic History
History of Medicine
History of Religions
History of Science
History of Technology
Teaching of History
Gender and Women's History
Women's Studies
World History
Other minor fields by petition
CURRICULUM FOR THE Ph.D. PROGRAM
Ph.D. Major and Minor Fields
(major fields indicated in blue bold typeface)
Africa
Africa since
1500
East Africa since 1500
West Africa since 1500
Southern Africa since 1500
Ancient
Mediterranean World
Roman Republic
Roman Empire
Greece
Medieval
Europe
Later Roman Empire
Church History
Early Middle
Ages
Later Middle Ages
Medieval England
Medieval
France
Medieval Germany
Early
Modern Europe
Renaissance and Reformation
France, 1500 to 1800
Germany,
1500 to 1800
Spain, 1500 to 1800
Eastern Europe, 1500 to
1800
Habsburg Empire
Social History
Modern
Europe
Enlightenment
Eastern Europe since 1800
Ancien Regime and
Revolutionary France
France since 1789
Germany since 1815
Poland
since 1764
Social History
Nationalism
Great
Britain and Ireland
Tudor and Stuart England
Hanoverian England, 1714 to
1837
Great Britain since 1837
Ireland
Russia
Muscovite
Russia
Imperial Russia
Soviet Russia
Latin
America
Colonial Latin America
Latin America since 1810
Central
America
Andean South America
Mexico
Caribbean
Colonial
America and the United States, 1607 to 1877
Colonial America and the United States since 1763
Colonial and Revolutionary Era
Early Republic
Civil
War and Reconstruction
Progressive Era, 1877 to 1920
United States
since1920
African-American History
Business and Economy
History
Cultural History
Demographic History
Diplomatic
History
History of Sexuality
Immigration and Ethnic
History
Intellectual History
Labor History
Religious
History
Southern History
Urban History
Gender and Women's
History
Other Major Fields by
petition
Other Minor Fields
Greece, 750 B.C. to 336 B.C.
China
Japan
Middle East, 950 to 1500
Middle East since 1500
Islam
Demographic History
History of Medicine
History of Science
History of Technology
Jewish History since 1750
Women's and Gender History
Gender and Women's Studies
World History
Other minor fields by petition
The Graduate Faculty
Michael C. Alexander
University of
Toronto
Ancient Rome, Roman Law
Eric
Arnesen
Yale
University
African-American, Race, Labor History
Renato Barahona
Princeton University
Early
Modern Europe; Spain
Cynthia Blair
Harvard
University
African-American History, Women's History
Burton J. Bledstein
Princeton
University
U.S. Intellectual and Social Thought
Christopher Boyer
University of Chicago
Modern Mexico, Environmental History
Jennifer
Brier
Rutgers
University
Gender, AIDS, Gay and Lesbian
Bruce
J. Calder
University of Texas at Austin
Latin America, Central America, Caribbean
Corey
Capers
University of California Santa Cruz
Early American
Elspeth Jane
Carruthers
Princeton
University
Medieval Germany, Medieval Poland
James Cracraft
Oxford University
Modern
Russia
Jonathan W. Daly
Harvard University
Modern
Russia
John D'Emilio
Columbia University
Gay and Lesbian Studies, History of Sexuality
Perry
R. Duis
University of
Chicago
U.S. Urban History, Chicago History
Steven
Fanning
University of
Minnesota
Medieval Europe, Byzantium
Leon Fink
University of Rochester
U.S.
Labor
Richard Fried
Columbia University
Recent
U.S. History
Kirk A. Hoppe
Boston University
East Africa, World History
Brian Hosmer
University of Texas at
Austin
American Indian History
Laura Hostetler
University of
Pennsylvania
Late Imperial China
George Huppert
University of California at Berkeley
Renaissance Europe; Renaissance & Reformation, France
Richard R. John
Harvard University
U.S. State & Society, Business, Technology, and Communications
Robert Johnston
Rutgers University
Teacher
Education, U.S. Progressive Era
David P. Jordan
Yale University
Eighteenth
Century European Intellectual and Urban History, French
Revolution
Nicole Jordan
London School of
Economics
European Diplomacy
Susan Levine
City University of New York
U.S. Women, Labor
Richard S. Levy
Yale University
Modern
Germany
Mark Liechty
University of
Pennsylvania
Southern Asian Culture and History
Deirdre N. McCloskey
Harvard
University
Economic History
Guity Nashat
University of Chicago
Islam, Women's History
Michael Perman
University of Chicago
U.S.
Politics, the South, Civil War and Reconstruction
Barbara Ransby
University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor
African-American History
James
Sack
University of Michigan at
Ann Arbor
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Britain
Katrin
Schultheiss
Harvard
University
Modern France, Gender and Women, Medical History
James
F. Searing
Princeton
University
West Africa
Daniel S.
Smith
University of California at
Berkeley
Demography, Colonial America, Family
Margaret Strobel
University of California at Los Angeles
East Africa, Comparative Women
Javier Villa-Flores
University of California at San Diego
Colonial Mexico
Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska
Cambridge
University
Modern Britain, British Women and
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