Program Overview

History (Ph.D.) Program Overview

The Ph.D. in History at Howard University's Graduate School provides students with a solid foundation in historical theory and analysis, preparing them for academic careers, consulting, public history, and research. The program is ranked 48th in the nation by U.S. News, and the graduate program in African American History is ranked 3rd in the nation.

Program Details

Program Snapshot

• 72 credit hours
• Full-time
• On-campus format
• Degree: Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

• Spring 2026 entry: No spring entry
• Fall 2026 entry:
  • November 15 (early deadline)
  • February 15 (priority deadline)
  • April 15 (final deadline)

Admission Requirements

Application for Admission

• Online application
• Statement of purpose/Statement of academic interest (500-1,000 words)
• GRE scores not required
• Official transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical statement (500-750 words)
• Critical writing sample of best academic research or historical analysis

GRE Requirements

• GRE scores not required
• No preferred minimums for GRE Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, or Analytical Writing

GPA Requirements

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.0
• No minimum undergraduate GPA requirement

Reference Requirements

• Evaluator type accepted:
  • Professor (Required)
  • Supervisor/Manager
• Evaluator type not accepted:
  • Coworker
  • Clergy
  • Friend
  • Family Member
  • Other

Program Structure and Specializations

Students can choose from six distinct fields of specialization: United States, African-American, African, African diaspora, Latin American and Caribbean, or public history. Students select one major subfield and one minor subfield and pursue significant original research tailored to their individualized program of study. The program benefits from its location, with quick access to the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian, as well as extensive archival collections, library resources, and coursework across the regional academic Washington, D.C. Consortium of colleges and universities.