About the Program

The program provides students the opportunity to pursue doctoral level work in the area of modern world history in an interdisciplinary setting, focusing on modernization and globalization while encouraging a global awareness in the teaching of history.  

The program will prepare graduates to:

Integrate advanced knowledge of modern world history with theories and methods of history and other disciplines, such as anthropology, English and literature, geography, government and political science, philosophy, religious studies and sociology. 

  • Compare, contrast and analyze long-term processes and dynamics of change in the areas of concentration developed by the student.
  • Identify, define and analyze theories and methodologies of history that assist our understanding of modern world history.
  • Identify, define and analyze theories and methodologies in the social sciences and humanities that assist understanding of modern world history, related to the interdisciplinary orientation of the program and the specific courses taken by students.

Demonstrate critical and analytical skills required for an advanced reading and interpretation of the documents and texts used in historical analysis.

  • Critically evaluate information and sources.
  • Situate primary sources in their historical context.
  • Demonstrate ability to entertain empathetically the diverse viewpoints of individuals and groups, represented in documents, texts and other sources.
  • Articulate an intellectually coherent interpretation of historical events and processes, grounded in documents and texts under study.

Conduct sound ethical research, demonstrating proficiency in information literacy and the basic tools of historical research.

  • Design research objectives appropriate to various assignments.
  • Locate needed information from a variety of sources.
  • Critically evaluate information and sources.
  • Situate primary and secondary sources in their historical context.
  • Integrate information effectively to accomplish the planned objective.
  • Use information ethically and legally, related to the research traditions of our discipline.

Demonstrate an effective communication style in a variety of written formats and in the style appropriate to the discipline of history.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of specific requirements of assignment.
  • Formulate an intellectually coherent argument, claim or hypothesis, relevant to assignment.
  • Use multiple, reliable sources, correctly cited to support claim.
  • Use effective word choice, sentence variety and standard written English competently.
  • Demonstrate effective reflection, evaluation, and revisions of written work, relevant to the assignment.

Demonstrate understanding and explanation of the historiographical traditions and issues that serve as a foundation to our discipline.

  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the basic development of the discipline of history over time.
  • Give examples of the controversies and debates that have divided historians over time, related to the specific courses taken by the student.
  • Independently analyze the issues and concerns that have driven the discipline of history at different points in time.

Demonstrate recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of diverse socio-cultural and historical traditions.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of other cultures and societies, related to the requirements of the major.
  • Conceive viewpoints from a variety of socio-cultural and historical perspectives.

Apply theories and methods of historical inquiry in conjunction with the interdisciplinary framework of the program for the purpose of teaching history in various settings.

  • Identify, define and analyze theories and methodologies for teaching modern world history.
  • Apply theories and methods of historical inquiry about modern world history to the teaching of history in the classroom.
  • Design and integrate into a doctoral research essay an educational component that relates the subject matter of the essay to a pedagogical objective.