PhD in History
Become a scholar. Shape the field.
It is in the doctoral program that our students truly become historians in their own right. The PhD in History at the University at Buffalo prepares students to become independent scholars and teachers of history. Through intensive reading, sustained mentorship and original research, you will develop the expertise and professional confidence required for academic careers and advanced research roles beyond the university.
As a doctoral student, you join a focused research community within a flagship public research university. Faculty mentor students closely from first-year coursework through dissertation defense, supporting intellectual growth and professional development at every stage. UB’s PhD program is known for its strengths in:
Political, intellectual and cultural transformation across early modern Europe and related regions.
Investigating modern conflict, social change and global interconnection.
Doctoral students also pursue comparative, thematic and methodological approaches in consultation with faculty advisors.
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Field: History
Program length: Typically five to seven years
What makes this program stand out?
- Mentor-based training: Work closely with a faculty advisor who guides your coursework, qualifying exams and dissertation research.
- Advanced scholarly foundations: Complete “Historical Inquiry” in your first year along with core seminars that build theoretical and historiographical depth.
- Research-intensive preparation: Take multiple 600-level research seminars that prepare you for independent archival and primary source scholarship.
- Global breadth: Complete coursework outside your primary geographic field and demonstrate reading knowledge of at least one language other than English.
- Dissertation-centered development: Design, propose and defend an original dissertation that makes a sustained contribution to historical scholarship.
For full policies and current requirements, consult the official Graduate Course Catalog and PhD Handbook.
By the time you complete the PhD, you will:
- Demonstrate deep historical and historiographical knowledge in your specialization
- Identify complex interpretive problems and analyze them with advanced methodological precision
- Design and execute an ambitious original research project grounded in appropriate sources
- Produce a major scholarly work with original arguments written in clear and compelling prose
- Present research effectively in professional academic settings
- Develop competency in college-level teaching
- Understand how doctoral training prepares you for academic and non-academic careers
Through the dissertation process, you move from guided study to independent scholarly contribution.
Funding opportunities
Graduate education is a significant investment, and funding may help support your studies. MA students may have access to teaching assistantships, tuition scholarships, Graduate School fellowships, and research or professional development funding. Availability varies by year and stage of study.
Graduates of the MA in History pursue academic and professional paths that rely on research, analysis and clear communication.
Common directions include:
- Preparation for PhD study in history or related disciplines
- Teaching and education roles
- Public history positions in museums, archives and historic preservation
- Research and policy analysis roles
- Government and nonprofit work
- Further professional or graduate study
The MA builds advanced skills in reading, argumentation and contextual thinking that transfer across sectors.
If you are ready to conduct original research, contribute new knowledge to the field and grow as a scholar and teacher, the PhD in History at UB offers the mentorship and rigor to help you succeed.
