Th program in comparative history has three main objectives. One is to train students
to do comparative historical research — not only to study individual countries
in depth, but to analyze thematic issues in a broader transnational context. That
comparative perspective makes it possible to determine what is common, what is
unique, and thereby draw conclusions about general patterns and dynamics.
A second goal is make its students competitive in the academic marketplace.
That means providing expertise in a particular region or country, the capacity
to teach an array of courses (including global history) and effective teaching
skills.
A third goal is to develop generic research and writing skills. While most
students will pursue an academic careers, some use their training — and
communication skills — to pursue other kinds of employment. To meet these
goals, the doctoral program in comparative history includes dedicated graduate
courses, lays a strong emphasis on research (from the M.A. thesis to the doctoral
dissertation) and classroom instruction (with guidance to improve teaching skills).
Why Earn an Ph.D. in Comparative History?
* Academic opportunities: The Ph.D. is of course a requirement for any
permanent academic position in higher education.
* Nonacademic careers: The doctoral degree enhances your qualifications
for nonacademic careers (and higher salaries) in public and private organizations,
from service in the federal government to the private sector.
* Transferable skills: The emphasis on research, writing and public speaking
will give you skills that are critical for every career path.
It is certainly possible to earn a Ph.D. at many fine institutions, but there
are compelling reasons why you should consider studying at Brandeis:
* First-class training: The comparative history program at Brandeis
provides traditional disciplinary training with a comparative perspective that
is fundamental to a broader global understanding of issues, patterns and dynamics
of change.
* Dedicated mentoring: Brandeis is a small research university with an
emphasis on small classes and dedicated mentorship; this gives each student
the opportunity to work closely with a distinguished senior scholar.
* Scholarships and fellowships: To enable qualified students to come
to Brandeis, the graduate school provides a full-tuition scholarship and a five-year
fellowship, as well has a number of other special grants to conduct research,
present papers at conferences and the like.
* Intellectual diversity: Brandeis is richly endowed with an array of
graduate programs that complement comparative history and provide extraordinary
opportunities for interdisciplinary training.
* Career support: The program in comparative history plays an active
role in preparing students to compete on the academic market; the Office of
Career Services is especially helpful to those seeking nonacademic careers.
* Boston: Brandeis students can partake of the rich intellectual and
cultural environment of the Boston area, from the plethora of events at area
universities to the array of museums and other institutions in metropolitan
Boston.
The Ph.D. Curriculum and Requirements
This one-year, full-time program has the following requirements:
* Foreign languages: By the end of the fourth semester, each student
must pass an examination in two foreign languages (a test of reading knowledge,
with use of a dictionary permitted).
* Graduate seminars: Although the seminars vary from year to year, students
normally are expected to enroll in several graduate seminars (Historical Methods,
Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Comparative History, Global History, Historiography).
* First-year research paper: This M.A. thesis, based on original research
in primary resources, requires registration in both semesters; students present
a prospectus to the entire department for maximum faculty input and guidance.
* Interdisciplinary training: To promote interdisciplinarity, the program
encourages students to take graduate courses outside history.
* Qualifying examinations: Students take the oral qualifying exam at
the end of the fourth semester; the goal is encourage students to move as quickly
as possible to the dissertation stage and to complete the degree within the
five years of funding.
* Doctoral dissertation: The dissertation normally focuses on a problem
within a single national context, but informs the analysis by drawing on comparative
materials and scholarship from other countries and times.
View more details on
Brandeis University.
