History, PhD
Cultivate a strong background in historical research methodology and scholarly analysis. Your skills in text analysis, research and writing acquired from systematic examination of many issues relevant to today's society prepare you to enter the competitive workforce.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
In the Doctor of Philosophy program in history, you have access to outstanding opportunities for graduate study in North American, European, public and global-comparative history.
The School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies' world-class faculty members deliver courses and individualized mentoring in a wide variety of historical topics, such as urban history, environment and sustainability studies, politics and policy, immigration, gender, race and ethnicity, and comparative history. In addition, as a history PhD student, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the numerous collaborative opportunities throughout the university in ASU's many innovative schools and centers.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (16 credit hours) Electives and Research (44 credit hours) Other Requirement (12 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The doctoral program requires a minimum of 84 credit hours and may be completed in four to five years. Students with a master's degree may apply 30 credit hours toward the 84 required credit hours with approval of the academic unit and the Graduate College. If the student does not already have a master's degree in a related field, the remaining 30 credit hours are made up of electives and research to reach 84 credit hours.
HST 502 Public History Methodology (3)
HST 640 Historical Methods (3)
HST 641 North American History (3)
HST 643 Global History (3)
HST 644 Area Studies in History (3)
HST 682 Advanced Research Skill (1)
HST 591 Seminar (6)
HST 792 Research (6)
HST 799 Dissertation (12)
In general, all credit hours must be at the 500 level or higher. Graduate credit may be awarded for 400-level courses; it must be approved in advance and documented in the student's file.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Demonstrate mastery of three domains of historical knowledge as well as display expertise in their proposed topic of study
- Accomplish meaningful contributions to the profession through accepted publications and presentations
- Identify and complete applications for funding opportunities that can support their research
Demonstrate mastery of three domains of historical knowledge as well as display expertise in their proposed topic of studyAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. The most competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.30 or higher. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Students are required to submit a minimum of three email addresses of faculty or others qualified to speak to the student's suitability for graduate study in history. Letters of reference should be submitted by the recommenders in addition to the electronic reference form they are asked to complete. The statement of purpose should be addressed to the history admission committee and explain the applicant's scholarly background and training, career goals, the primary field the applicant wishes to pursue, the proposed research specialization, and why the applicant wants to pursue graduate study at ASU; it should be about 500 words in length. The writing sample, either published or unpublished, may be an article, a research paper, or any other extended sample of expository skill, and it must be no longer than 35 pages. Longer writing samples should not be submitted without first consulting the graduate director. Documents and files should not be password protected. Acceptable file types are .rtf, .pdf and .doc.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The program requires a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 4.5, or 90 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026. A student whose native language is not English also must submit a copy of an article or research paper in their native or principal research language, in addition to the English writing sample required of all students.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Graduates have the foundational skills in research, writing and communication and the fundamental training needed for careers in research, archival work, higher education, teaching, public history, government service, and a host of other areas in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
They serve as first-rate historians, highly qualified instructors at universities and two-year schools, researchers and consultants for business and government, archivists, foreign service officers, management professionals, community organizers and public servants. Other career examples include:
- archivist
- diplomat
- editorial and publishing professional
- K-12 school teacher
- museum director or staff member
- nonprofit director
- university professor
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4595
SHPRSGradInfo@asu.edu
480-965-5778
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
