General Course Categories and Requirements
A normal full-time program consists of twelve units (or three four-unit courses) per quarter. Ph.D. students are expected to complete at least one of the following minimum formal courses of study prior to their qualifying examination: (1) two two-quarter research seminars, three one-quarter historiography courses in the major field and four other courses (which may be a combination of colloquia, conjoined courses, or directed readings, but which must include one cross-field graduate colloquium like HIGR 200); or (2) three two-quarter research seminars (not necessarily in the same field), three one-quarter historiography courses in their major field, and three other courses (which may be a combination of colloquia, conjoined courses, or directed readings, but which must include one cross-field graduate colloquium like HIGR 200). Students are encouraged to take their first research seminar in their major field during the initial year of graduate study.
T.A. Ships: After the first year, most students' full-time program includes two regular academic courses each quarter (8 units), and employment as a 50% Teaching Assistant, which counts as four units.
1) Historical Scholarship Courses
Each field group has a sequence of colloquia, taught over the course of 1-2 years, designed to introduce students to the major works and important controversies in the field.
HIGR 210: Historical Scholarship on Modern Chinese History (3 qtrs.)
HIGR 211: Historical Scholarship on Modern Japanese History (2 qtrs.)
HIGR 212: Historical Scholarship on Modern East Asian History
HIGR 213: Sources on Modern Chinese History
HIGR 214: Readings in Japanese on Modern Japan
HIGR 217 A-B-C: Historical Scholarship on Pre-Modern Chinese History (3 qtrs.)
HIGR 220: Historical Scholarship on European History, 1500-1715
HIGR 221: Historical Scholarship on European History, 1715-1850
HIGR 222: Historical Scholarship on European History since 1850
HIGR 238: Introduction to Science Studies
HIGR 240: Colloquium in Science Studies
HIGR 241: Advanced Approaches to Science Studies
HIGR 255: Historical Scholarship in Ancient History
HIGR 265 A-B-C: The Literature of American History (3 qtrs.)
HIGR 267/268/269: Historical Literature of Latin American History (3 qtrs.)
HIGR 271: New Research Direction in U.S. History
2) Research Seminars
Each field group or sub-group offers one two-quarter research seminar each year, so that the student normally takes one research seminar in each of the first two years. The goal of these seminars is the writing of a research paper based on primary sources, and the identification of a potential dissertation topic. The model and standard for the seminar papers is a monographic article that makes a scholarly contribution to the field. In the first quarter students read and research intensively; by the end of the quarter they are expected to develop a prospectus for a research paper. When materials are not in English, it is assumed that the student can use the appropriate bibliographic tools. The selection of the paper topic requires special care to insure that the paper can be completed within the two quarters. In the second quarter, students write their papers and present them to the seminar. In addition, instructors may encourage students to submit their research seminar papers to be presented at various conferences and/or to be published.
HIGR 215 A-B: Research Seminar in Modern Chinese History
HIGR 216 A-B: Research Seminar in Modern Japanese History
HIGR 230 A-B: Research Seminar in Early Modern Europe
HIGR 231 A-B: Research Seminar in Modern European History
HIGR 239 A-B: Seminar in Science Studies
HIGR 247 A-B: Readings and Seminar on Colonial Latin America
HIGR 248 A-B: Readings and Seminar on Latin America, National Period
HIGR 260: Research Seminar in Ancient History
HIGR 267 A-B: Research Seminar in United States History
HIGR 275 A-B: Research Seminar in Middle Eastern History
3) Cross Field Thematic Graduate Colloquia
In addition to the graduate courses offered by the field groups, the department will offer at least one and up to three cross-field colloquia each year, which are designed to cross geographical and chronological boundaries. Two of these courses are taught at least every other year under this rubric:
HIGR 200: History and Theory [Required for US, Europe and LA]
An introductory graduate course for students in all fields. Themes include cross-field historiography and theory, interdisciplinary approaches to history and historical method. (May be taken twice for credit, if the reading list is significantly different.)
HIGR 205: Feminist Historical Studies
An introduction to feminist historical studies, this course will provide students with training in women's history, in the feminist theories that under gird that scholarship, and in gender analysis. (May be taken twice for credit, if the reading list is significantly different.)
HIGR 207: Nationalism, Colonialism and Race
A transdisciplinary and comparative course on the interplay of nationalism, colonialism and race (as well as class and gender/sexuality) in the 19th and 20th centuries.
*All Ph.D. students are required to complete at least one cross-field graduate course (typically in the HIGR 200 - HIGR 208 series) before advancement to candidacy. Students are strongly encouraged to meet this requirement in their first year, as their field and program of study permits.
4) Undergraduate/Graduate Colloquia (160/260 and above)
The department also offers a number of joint graduate/undergraduate courses each year, limited to 15 students, and identified by the slashed number, ie, 160/260. Course topics change each year, depending on the faculty members who teach them, but they can be both field-specific and cross-field. Graduate students may count a total of three of these conjoined colloquia towards their degree credits.
5) Directed Readings (HIGR 298)
In general, the department believes that historical competence and skills are best developed in the group context provided by seminars and colloquia. However, in cases where such options are not available, a student may make arrangements with a particular faculty member to plan a directed reading course (298). The faculty member and student develop an agreed-upon reading list, and then set up a series of meetings to discuss the readings (usually either weekly or bi-weekly), and written work submitted for evaluation. For the first two years of the Ph.D. program 298 courses must be taken for a letter grade. Circumstances that justify such arrangements include the need to pursue a special topic in preparation for the minor and/or major qualifying examinations.
A graduate student may use an upper division undergraduate lecture course in history or in other fields of study as the basis for their 298. In such cases, students must obtain the consent of the instructor prior to enrollment and consult with them to design a program of additional readings, individual meetings, and/or writing requirements to supplement the undergraduate materials and lecture attendance.
