History Graduate Programs
Explore flexible options with professional or research-focused tracks to achieve your goals.
PhD in History
The PhD in History at UT Dallas is designed for those with a passion for historical scholarship and a commitment to advancing original research. This program prepares students to make significant contributions to historical knowledge, equipping them with expertise to pursue academic, public history, or research-intensive careers. Throughout the program, students engage deeply with historical contexts, learning research methodologies and critical analysis skills that support the rigorous demands of a scholarly or research-oriented career. Graduates emerge as scholars capable of shaping new understandings of the past and advancing public discourse around historical narratives.
Proficiency in a foreign language may be required based on research needs, adding depth to the student’s research toolkit. Following coursework and examinations, students submit and defend a dissertation proposal under the guidance of a faculty committee. This proposal evolves into a comprehensive dissertation.
Working closely with distinguished faculty, PhD candidates receive individualized mentoring, enriching their research skills and professional networks. Faculty expertise spans areas such as the history of ideas, race, religion, and public history, with a global range covering North America, Europe, and East Asia. Through one-on-one guidance and collaborative opportunities, students build research portfolios, conference presentations, and publications that enhance their academic and professional prospects.
| Program Type | Doctorate |
| Format | On campus; full- and part-time options are available |
| Estimated Time to Complete | 5-7 years |
| Semester Credit Hours | 60 |
Dissertation
Students are formally advanced to PhD candidacy when they have successfully completed the doctoral field examinations and received final approval for dissertation topics. After that examination, a four-person supervising committee is formed, normally from the examining committee plus another faculty member proposed by the student, to oversee dissertation work. The supervising committee must then approve a formal dissertation proposal before the student submits it to the Graduate Studies Committee for final approval.
Each candidate then writes a doctoral dissertation, which is supervised and defended according to general University regulations.
Fact Sheet
Scholarships & Awards
Bass School Dean’s Dissertation Completion Award
Harry W. Bass Jr. Graduate Travel Award
Harry W. Bass Jr. Graduate Research Award
Mala and Adolph Einspruch Fellowship for Holocaust Studies
Ragen S. and Roy D. Elterman Scholarship
The Mike Jacobs Fellowship in Holocaust Studies
Betty and Gifford Johnson Travel Award
Nina and Thomas Lambert Scholarship/Fellowship
Edith O’Donnell Graduate Fellowship
Marvin and Kathleen Stone Scholarship/Fellowship
Master of Arts in History
The Master of Arts in History is an ideal choice for individuals seeking advanced historical knowledge, whether for professional development or as a step toward doctoral studies. MA students explore diverse eras and approaches, gaining valuable research, teaching, and critical thinking skills relevant to careers in education, museums, government, and beyond. This program is adaptable, allowing students to align their studies with their interests and career goals, preparing them for a variety of settings where historical insight is essential.
MA students may choose between a professional option, which consists solely of coursework, or a research option, where they complete a thesis under the guidance of a faculty committee. The professional track provides a terminal master’s degree without foreign language requirements or a thesis, while the research track includes a thesis and potential language requirements based on research needs.
Throughout the program, MA students benefit from close collaboration with faculty mentors who are renowned scholars in fields like public history, the history of philosophy, and the history of gender. These mentorships provide invaluable support, helping students develop expertise, engage in research projects, and build professional connections that extend beyond their time at UT Dallas.
| Program Type | Master’s |
| Format | On campus, full- and part-time options are available |
| Estimated Time to Complete | 2-3 years |
| Semester Credit Hours | 36 |
Fact Sheet
Scholarships & Awards
Harry W. Bass Jr. Graduate Travel Award
Harry W. Bass Jr. Graduate Research Award
Mala and Adolph Einspruch Fellowship for Holocaust Studies
Ragen S. and Roy D. Elterman Scholarship
The Mike Jacobs Fellowship in Holocaust Studies
Betty and Gifford Johnson Travel Award
Nina and Thomas Lambert Scholarship/Fellowship
Marvin and Kathleen Stone Scholarship/Fellowship
Victor L. Worsfold Grant Program
Research Opportunities
Six centers and institutes affiliated with the Bass School promote interdisciplinary research:
Discover Our Centers, Labs and Studios →
Our graduate students conduct and present research national and internationally.
See our graduate student accomplishments.
Faculty Mentors
Our faculty members will help you gain the knowledge, skills and support you need for a rewarding career. Meet our faculty.
Contact Information
Natalie J. Ring
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Phone: 972-883-2365
Email: nring@utdallas.edu
Office: JO 5.206
Pia K. Jakobsson
Graduate Academic Advisor
Phone: 972-883-4706
Email: pia.jakobsson@utdallas.edu
Office: JO 4.128
Graduate Advising
Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
The University of Texas at Dallas, JO31
800 W. Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Phone: 972-883-4706
Email: ahtgradvising@utdallas.edu
Office of Admission and Enrollment
800 W. Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
972-883-2270 or 1-800-889-2443
admission@utdallas.edu
utdallas.edu/enroll