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The Ph.D. program in history accepts only well-prepared students who intend to work closely with a particular Tufts faculty member. Students in the Tufts M.A. program may apply to be transferred into the Ph.D. program after one year of study, and the department will consider applications from students who have completed a Master's Degree in History or the equivalent elsewhere.
The Tufts History Department offers the Ph.D. in History in a limited number of fields:
- Modern South Asia
- Global History
Global History begins with the premise that the world is an ever changing, interconnected system. This program pursues a comparative and connected approach to the study of history. It also explores formations and processes such as colonialism, empire, globalization, and diaspora, that situate places, social groups, and events beyond the limiting conceptual framework of the nation-state, or the world region. At the same time, a global perspective also enhances understanding of a particular region's history, and can illuminate the significance of a well-defined historical place and time by situating it within a larger comparative horizon. Our commitment to cross-cultural studies, perspectives from the Global South, and comparative history provides a context within which students can conduct research across and beyond national or imperial histories.
Requirements for completion: proficiency in two foreign languages; completion of sixteen courses at the graduate level, including the Historiographical Proseminar and two Graduate Colloquia; at least three semesters of independent readings or research; oral and written examinations in three fields, based on course work and readings, administered by the appropriate members of the department; dissertation directed by the supervising faculty, to be read and defended before a committee including the adviser, at least one other member of the department, and a third faculty member in the field, drawn, if possible, from another institution. This defense will also include presenting a chapter to the Graduate-Faculty Roundtable.
Additional requirements for the Ph.D. in Global History
- Three graduate fields:
- a major field in a specific regional/national area directly related to the thesis topic.
- a second regional/national field that complements the major field.
- a thematic field that emphasizes global history approaches.
- At least one of the fields should be in non-European/U.S. history.
- Demonstrated competence in two languages besides English.
- At least one graduate course in another discipline.
- Online application for admission
- Scanned copies of all college transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation: one for certificate programs, two for the engineering management program, and three for all other degree programs
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
- Personal statement elaborating on your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate study at Tufts
- Application fee of $85
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Achieved competitive scores on both the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections of the GRE
- Applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 90 on the internet based exam is required for M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. applicants, and a minimum score of 85 is required for M.F.A. applicants. The minimum IELTS score is 6.5.
- Proficiency in one foreign language.
- Submit a statement of intent, detailing the planned dissertation field.
- GRE General Test scores and writing sample required.
Scholarships
For students who show scholarly promise, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering offer scholarships, fellowships, and research or teaching assistantships to full-time students in doctoral programs. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences also offers awards to full-time students in master’s programs. Certificate students are not eligible for these awards.
- Tuition Scholarships are available in most master's and doctoral programs for qualified students.
- Teaching Assistantships are offered by most departments.
- Research Assistantships are generally available in the science and engineering areas.
- Fellowships are offered to students who demonstrate outstanding records of achievement and a well-articulated plan of study.
