Program Overview

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Program Overview

The History Ph.D. program at Emory University encompasses coursework, examinations demonstrating language facility, a comprehensive portfolio, and the research and writing of a doctoral dissertation.

Program Schedule

Normally, students will take coursework for two academic years, the Comprehensive Portfolio in the Fall of the third year, and, upon passing the portfolio, proceed to the dissertation. A Dissertation Prospectus must be submitted and approved by the end of the semester following satisfactory completion of the Comprehensive Portfolio.

Satisfactory Progress

Students are bound by expectations outlined in the LGS handbook. They are expected to proceed through the History Ph.D. program making satisfactory grades and at a satisfactory pace. Satisfactory grades are defined as receiving at least as many A's and A-'s as B+'s, B's and B-'s in any given year (a 3.367 GPA or above). Satisfactory pace is defined as avoiding incompletes and keeping to the schedule outlined in Section I above.

Residence and Course Requirements

The usual minimal residence requirement is three academic years, including fall and spring semesters, while summer semesters often include national or international travel to conduct pre-dissertation research. The Laney Graduate School requires students to be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester--fall, spring, and summer--until degree completion.

• Students register for coursework through the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• With the help of advisors, the student chooses the courses for the semester and when taking HIST 599R or HIST 799R sets out three goals for the semester.
• The normal course load is three courses per semester for four semesters at the 500 level or above and must be taken for a grade.
• Of these twelve courses, up to two may be taken as HIST 597R: Directed Reading and up to two may be taken as supplemented undergraduate courses, HIST 596R: Special Studies.
• Students may take up to three courses (including HIST 597R: Directed Reading) with the same instructor.
• Students may also take up to three courses from instructors outside of the program, meaning they are not offered by or cross-listed with History.
• One semester of coursework may be taken at another institution (see Section VIII below) and the three remaining semesters of coursework must be spent in continuous residence at Emory University.

Language Requirements

Reading competency in at least two foreign languages is required of Ph.D. candidates in all fields, except American History, which requires competency in a minimum of one. In any focus area, however, a student's adviser(s) may elect to require language facility beyond these minimum guidelines.

• Students in Latin American History must show facility in both Spanish and Portuguese.
• To satisfy program language requirements, students must demonstrate competency in one foreign language by the end of their first academic year.
• Competency in further foreign languages must be demonstrated by the end of the second academic year.
• Facility in a foreign language will be demonstrated either by passing a translation examination (with dictionary) administered each semester or by passing, with a minimum grade of B, an approved reading or translation course above the 100-level at Emory.

TATTO Teaching Program

All graduate students are required to participate in the Teaching Assistant and Teacher Training Opportunity (TATTO) program. TATTO is designed to provide a systematic introduction to college teaching.

1. A Laney Graduate School online course (TATT 600, 1 credit hour) covering general topics of importance, taken immediately prior to the first teaching experience;
2. A department seminar (HIST 786A: Introduction to College Teaching, 2 credit hours) in the fall semester of the second year which addresses pedagogical issues and teaching strategies;
3. Two teaching assistantships (TATT 605) in the fall and spring semester of the second year overseen by the faculty member who is the instructor of record.
4. A teaching associateship (TATT 610) in the third or fourth year, following successful completion of doctoral exams or comprehensive portfolio in which students have the sole responsibility for teaching an introductory-level survey course, with supervision of a faculty member.

Comprehensive Portfolio

The comprehensive portfolio aims to provide students with a format for showcasing teaching and research that more closely resembles modes of professional evaluation that they will encounter later in their career.

Comprehensive Portfolio Components

1. Introduction to the portfolio (750 words).
2. Mastery of field-specific literatures
   • One historiographical essay.
   • Three annotated bibliographies modeled on Oxford Bibliographies Online format.
   • Two revised research papers, which by definition are equivalent in length and scope to a journal article (8,000-10,000 words).
   • Grant proposal.
3. Teaching preparation
   • Two annotated syllabi.
   • TA-ship teaching evaluations.
   • A teaching observation from each TA-ship semester.
4. Oral defense/discussion of portfolio.

Fields Declaration Form & Committee

By the end of the first year of residence, and after appropriate discussion with the assigned adviser(s), each student will complete a Comprehensive Portfolio Fields Declaration Form.

Submission & Oral Defense

The portfolio must be submitted in the third year, either in the fall semester between the first day of classes and December 1 or in the spring semester between the first day of classes and April 1.

Evaluation

The committee will judge during the defense whether the components of the portfolio merit a pass. If one or more sections are deemed not to merit a pass, including the defense itself, the student's adviser (and committee chair) will alert the student immediately after the defense.

Prospectus & Dissertation

Prospectus

Within one month of passing the comprehensive portfolio, the student and adviser should identify a prospectus committee and schedule the presentation of the prospectus during the designated period in the following semester.

Dissertation

Following approval of the prospectus, the student will undertake the final component of the Ph.D.: completion of the Ph.D. dissertation. In completing their dissertations, students will work with their dissertation committees.

Transfer Credit

Students entering with an M.A. degree may, after one semester of satisfactory coursework, submit a program petition to the Director of Graduate Studies to transfer one semester of coursework taken at another institution.

Exceptions

Exceptions to these rules can be made for cause by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Grievance Policy

Students who have a grievance related to some aspect of the History Ph.D. program should report it to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Honor Code & Conduct Policy

The History Ph.D. program follows the LGS Honor Code and the Conduct Code. All students are expected to cooperate in maintaining the academic integrity of the program.

Probation

The academic integrity of the History Ph.D. program relies on students meeting the expectations outlined in this handbook and program materials, the LGS handbook, and the codes of conduct. A student will enter academic probation for failing to meet History Ph.D. program and/or LGS expectations.

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