I. The Department of History offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in History. We specialize in U.S. (especially African American) history and European history, with offerings in Asian, Latin American, Russian, and African history; we also offer an interdisciplinary concentration in Ancient Egyptian history.

Program objectives are: (1) development of the ability to think and write historically about contemporary and past problems and issues, to handle the evidentiary basis for historical arguments, to use primary and secondary sources; (2) acquisition of an appreciation of the diversity of human experience and a sympathetic understanding of at least one non-U.S. culture; (3) ability to make an evaluative presentation of historical material; (4) production of a publishable-quality piece of writing (Ph.D.); and (5) preparation for positions related to the discipline of history (e.g., teaching, librarian, researcher, etc.) for those graduates who seek such employment.

The Graduate Studies Committee considers applications for admission throughout the year, but applications for an assistantship (a separate application) are due by February 15 for the following Fall.

For a full description of our graduate program, its requirements, and our faculty, see the History Department's Guide for Graduate Students.

II. MA Degree Program

The MA program of study in history is a flexible one that prepares students for a variety of careers. Students who regard the MA as a terminal degree normally elect to fulfill its requirements by 33 hours of course enrollment without writing a thesis. Most of these students go on to teaching positions on the secondary and community college level; a smaller number enter government service at all levels; and some secure specialized positions in business, industry, and journalism. Those students preparing for teaching on the university level or related careers in research and writing should look upon the MA program as preparation for advanced graduate study. We thus urge them to write a thesis.

A. Program Admission

Following are the requirements for admission. In unusual circumstances we may admit a promising student who does not fully meet all of the requirements.

1. A minimum of 18 hours in history from an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate history courses.
2. Typically a GRE verbal score above 450, or an MAT scaled score of at least 405 or a raw score of at least 45.
3. Two letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant's academic ability.
4. A writing sample, such as a paper from a course, that demonstrates the applicant's ability to write and think about history.

B. Program Requirements

1. A total of 33 hours for the student who elects not to write a thesis.
2. A total of 30 hours for the student who elects to write a thesis, including 6 hours of thesis credit. No more than 6 hours of thesis credit may count toward the degree.
3. No more than 6 hours at the 6000 level.
4. At least one 7000-level historiography course in any field and at least one HIST 7070 seminar. Only 3 hours can be History 7012, although we may accept 6 hours in special circumstances by petition to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. All students who do not write an MA thesis must complete at least one additional 7070 seminar in their 15-hour requirement. The following courses do not count toward the degree: HIST 7020, 7021, 7022, 7990, and 7991.
5. At most 6 hours may be taken in a field outside history, with the approval of the student’s advisor and the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Under special circumstances students may petition for up to an additional 6 hours.
6. At most 21 hours may be taken in United States History, European History, or any one field of history, such as Ancient History.
7. A comprehensive examination over course work given by a committee chosen by the Graduate Advisor and the student.
8. For those who elect to write a thesis, approval by a department committee headed by the faculty member who directed the thesis. NOTE: Students electing to write a thesis should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

Students choosing this concentration must take twelve (12) hours (if writing a thesis) or eighteen (18) hours (if not writing a thesis) of MA level courses with a focus on ancient Egypt. Students must also take two semesters of basic Middle Egyptian (ARTH 7115 and 7116, which are required but will not count toward the degree), plus two more semesters of readings from ancient Middle Egyptian texts. Courses in ancient art, anthropology, and language (taught in the Art, Anthropology, and/or Foreign Language Departments) may count as being in field(s) separate from the field of ancient history.

III. PhD Degree Program

The Department of History also offers a program of study built upon the MA degree leading to the PhD degree. The program is designed to provide wide knowledge in two fields, more intensive preparation in a third field, and professional competence in original research and writing that will prepare the student for teaching and research in higher education or for a career in government, business, library service, and other research-related fields.

A. Program Admission

Following are the requirements for admission. Satisfaction of these criteria does not guarantee admission, and in unusual circumstances we may admit a promising student who does not fully meet all of the requirements.

1. A minimum of 24 graduate hours in history or a related field with at least a 3.25 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited institution. We strongly recommend an MA in history.
2. A GRE verbal score above 500 with quantitative and writing scores acceptable to the department.
3. A 750-1000 word “Statement of Purpose,” in which the applicant states educational goals, anticipated fields of study, and general research interests. In this statement, we expect the candidate to demonstrate some familiarity with the department’s program and faculty.
4. Three letters of recommendation recommendation commenting on the applicant’s academic ability and suitability for PhD work.
5. A writing sample, consisting either of a MA thesis or a paper written for a graduate course in history or a related field.

B. Advising

The Coordinator of Graduate Studies will advise students when they first enroll. During the first school year enrolled, and whenever possible within the first semester, each student will choose an advisory committee to be composed of a major professor with full graduate faculty rank and at least two other faculty members. This committee assists the student in determining such matters as fields of study, the choice of courses, acceptance of transfer credit, and acceptance of credit from the master’s degree. The committee provides all of its decisions in writing with copies to the student and to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

C. Foreign Language

The student must demonstrate reading proficiency in one foreign language, whenever possible one directly related to the dissertation field. Proficiency consists of acceptably translating a selection from a historical work or source. The advisory committee may require the student may be required to demonstrate reading knowledge in two or more foreign languages.

D. Fields of Study

1. The student will choose, in consultation with the major professor, three fields of study.
2. 1. One will be designated the dissertation field. As determined by the advisory committee, a student must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of credit in the major field, plus 12 hours of dissertation.
   2. In each of the two minor fields, the student must complete a minimum of 12 hours of credit.
   3. In addition to the courses required in III.D.2.a-b, the student must take near the end of coursework 3 credit hours of “Reading for Comprehensives” (HIST 8990) in each minor field and 6 credit hours in the major field, each of which is devoted to intensive individual study of the historiography of the field as a whole, compiling a bibliography of the important literature, and gaining familiarity with the key debates.
3. Dissertation Fields
1. United States before 1877
2. United States after 1877
3. Ancient World; normally a dissertation in Ancient History must be in the area of Egyptology.
4. Britain
5. Modern Europe
6. African American History
4. Minor fields (in addition to the above)
1. Medieval-Renaissance Europe
2. Early Modern Europe
3. Latin America
4. Africa
5. China and Japan
6. Russia
7. Near East
5. The primary focus of at least one minor field must be on a geographical region different from that of the major field. With that restriction, a student may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for a field or fields not listed in the official list if the prospective field advisor agrees and the student’s advisory committee approves.
6. Furthermore, the student’s major field may be subdivided into two separate fields if it embraces separate regions or is conventionally divided into separate fields (such as Ancient or Medieval-Renaissance).
7. With the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee, one field may be taken in an academic department other than History or may be interdisciplinary, including courses from at least three departments (two in the case of Egyptology).
8. No course may fulfill the requirement for more than one field.
9. Upon approval of a petition to the Graduate Studies Committee from both the student and a prospective dissertation director, the student may write a dissertation in a field that is not normally a dissertation field.

Students choosing this concentration must take at least 12 hours of courses in the dissertation field of Ancient History that focus on ancient Egyptian history. We expect students to deepen their proficiency in Middle Egyptian and they must have a reading knowledge of French and German before they may take research seminars or write the dissertation.

F. Course Requirements

1. A minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate course work beyond the bachelor’s degree plus 12 hours of HIST 9000 (Doctoral Dissertation), for a minimum total of 72 graduate credits. No more than 12 hours of dissertation credits may count toward the degree.
2. At least 30 hours of regular course work at The University of Memphis that serve to fulfill the requirements.
3. At least 9 credit hours of research seminars (HIST 7/8080) or their equivalent. A master’s thesis in history will count as one of these seminars and, by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee, an article in a peer-reviewed jodurnal may count as one, but neither reduces the total number of credit hours required.
4. Core requirements: One 7/8000-leel course in the historiography of the major field, HIST 7/8011 (Philosophy of History), and HIST 7/8100 (Studies in Global History), or their equivalents. We recommend historiography courses in the minor fields and the advisory committee may require them. Whenever possible, students should take all the core courses in the first year.
5. At most 6 credit hours of HIST 8012 (Directed Readings), with an additional 6 hours permitted in special circumstances by petition to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.
6. At most 6 credits of MA courses and 6 credits of PhD courses at the 6000-level, none of which a PhD student may take in the major field. In special cases, the advisory committee may allow a total of 15 credits at the 6000-level, including ones in the major field.
7. With the approval of the advisory committee, up to 30 hours of course work from the master’s degree, or other graduate coursework completed before admission to the PhD program, may be counted toward the 60 credits.
8. A student who makes a grade lower than B (3.0) 6 hours of course work or more will be dropped from the PhD program.
9. The following courses do not count toward the degree: HIST 7/8020, 7/8021, 7/8022, and 7/8991 (except as described above in D.2.c) nor toward the requirement in F.6.

Before scheduling the Reading for Comprehensives courses, the student must choose, in consultation with the advisor and with the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee, a Comprehensive Committee composed of at least one faculty member from each minor field and two faculty members from the dissertation field. No sooner than the last semester of course work, and after the student satisfies the language requirement, Comprehensive Committee will administer a Comprehensive Examination over all fields. On the written part of the examination, eight hours are allotted to the dissertation field and four hours to each of the minor fields. After a student has taken all parts of the comprehensive exam, the Comprehensive Committee will conduct an oral examination over all the fields, normally within two weeks, but if necessary the Comprehensive Committee may extend the time. After the oral exam, the committee will either pass the student or require the retaking of one or more written parts. After the student has retaken any required exams, the committee may choose to hold another oral examination, but it is not required to do so.

The student may not retake any written examination sooner than one full semester after the first attempt. After the student has retaken all required parts, including a second oral examination, if required, the Comprehensive Committee will decide whether, with the approval of at least three of the four members, the student should be promoted to late doctoral status or dropped from the program. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the coordinator of graduate studies will notify the Graduate School of the student’s late doctoral status. The student may enroll in dissertation hours only after passing the comprehensive examination.

H. Dissertation

To complete the requirements for the PhD in History, the student must prepare a dissertation based on a substantial amount of original research and submitted in the acceptable form. The student determines the dissertation topic in consultation with a faculty member in the dissertation field who agrees to direct the research. NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

Each PhD student must, within one semester after passing the comprehensive examination, present a prospectus of the proposed dissertation in a colloquy attended by the Dissertation Committee. All history faculty and graduate students are invited to this colloquy, and all other interested persons are welcome. This is not intended as an examination, but rather as a forum in which the candidate can discuss ideas and receive suggestions and criticisms. Within a reasonable period after the colloquy, the student must present a revised prospectus in written form to the Dissertation Committee and the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.

The Dissertation Committee consists of at least four graduate faculty, chaired by the director, who, with at least two other members, must have full graduate faculty status. It is recommended that one member be outside the discipline, department, or university. Prospective committee members not on the University of Memphis faculty must apply for Adjunct Graduate Faculty status. The Coordinator of Graduate Studies may waive the departmental requirement that three of the required four members hold Full Graduate Faculty membership when an Adjunct/Affiliate member's credentials warrant it. In these instances, only two of the departmental faculty members will be required to hold full Graduate Faculty membership. Only one adjunct or affiliate graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member; the director must hold full membership.

Formal approval of the final dissertation will be given by the Dissertation Committee and the Graduate Studies Committee.

6020. Internship in History. (1-12). Supervised internships working with various governmental agencies, private foundations, or businesses of interest to historians. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 hours credit, not more than 6 of which can be counted toward the satisfaction of degree requirements. PREREQUISITE: Permission of department.

6022. Oral History. (3). Applied history covering oral history theory, research, and interviewing procedures.

6050-69. Special Topics in History. (1-3). Intensive study of selected topics in History. Topics are announced in online class listings.

6126. Victorian and Edwardian England. (3). Social, political, and cultural adjustments of England to the experience of industrialization in nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

6145. History of Modern Germany. (3). Germany from the origins of the unification movement in the Napoleonic Era through the Second World War.

6160. Russia to 1917. (3). Russia from earliest times to 1917, with special emphasis on the rise of serfdom and autocracy and the evolution of the Revolutionary Movement.

6162. History of the Soviet Union. (3). The 1917 Revolution and the major developments in government economy, cultural and social life, and international affairs that followed.

6213. Women and Gender in the History of Latin America. (3). Historical examination of the roles of women and gender in Latin America from colonial times to the beginning of the twentieth century.

6221. Twentieth-Century Latin American Revolutions. (3). Critical comparative examination of twentieth-century revolutionary movements in Latin America, focusing on Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Chile.

6222. Race and Class in Latin America. (3). Examination of race and class in Latin America from colonial times to the present, focusing on development of racial, ethnic, and class identities, and their roles in economic, social, political, and cultural life.

6260. The World Since 1945. (3). Global, ideological, economic, and political developments since World War II; emphasis on rising affluence of industrial free market, movement of former colonies to independence, and growth in diversity among the Soviet bloc nations.

6272. Modern Middle East. (3). Political, diplomatic, social, and religious developments in the Middle East from 1800 to present.

6273. Islamic Egypt. (3). Political, economic, social, and cultural development of Egypt from Islamic conquest (640 A.D.) to the present.

6283. History of South Africa. (3). South Africa from human origins to present, emphasizing 19th and 20th century economic and political history, examined within larger context of events throughout entire southern African region and globally; Apartheid system and liberation ideologies such as socialism, Pan-Africanism, and Black Consciousness explored through study of primary documents, film, and music.

6288. History of West Africa and the African Atlantic Diaspora. History of West Africans from the 15th century to the present, focusing on trans-Atlantic slave trade and African diaspora in the Americas; particular emphasis on economic and social history through study of primary documents, film, and music.

6289. African Women's History. (3). Experiences of women throughout entire history of African continent, from human origins to present; covers major epochs in African history, diversity of continent, and theoretical issues related to gender through study of primary documents, fiction, and film.

6292. History of Modern China, 1800 to the Present. (3).

6294. History of Modern Japan, 1800 to the Present. (3).

6295. Intellectual History of East Asia since 1800. (3). Evolution of modern Chinese and Japanese thought.

6320. Ancient Near East. (3). From the beginnings in Mesopotamia down through the great “Oriental Empires” (Assyria, Babylon, Persia).

6321. The Greek Experience. (3). Politics, society, and culture in ancient Greece to Alexander the Great.

6322. The Roman World. (3). Hellenistic kingdoms and the Roman Empire.

6323. Egypt of the Pharaohs. (3). A historical survey of ancient Egyptian civilization, covering major political and social developments and topics such as religion, writing, and literature, Egypt’s relations with the rest of Africa, and sample problems that illustrate how Egyptologists approach the past.

6361. History of the Byzantine Empire. (3). Byzantine or East Roman Empire from 330 to 1453 and its influence on the Slavic, Turkic, and Islamic peoples.

6372. High Middle Ages. (3). Summary of the Early Middle Ages, economic, technological, cultural, intellectual, and religious expansion after 1000, courtly love, Romanesque and Gothic art, limited government, church and state conflicts, reason vs. revelation, universities, scholasticism, women, Judaism, science, Franciscans, Heretics, life of ordinary people, disasters of the fourteenth century, roots of the Renaissance.

6380. Renaissance Europe. (3). Rise of humanism during fourteenth century disasters; intellectual, economic, social, cultural, religious, and artistic developments of fourteenth through sixteenth century, emphasizing Italy, especially Florence; women, life of ordinary people, guilds, republicanism and despotism, neoplatonism, Christian and civic humanism, Northern Renaissance. Is the Renaissance revolutionary or a development of medieval culture?

6390. Europe in the Age of the Reformation. (3). Characteristic political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural developments and the religious conflicts of the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

6401. Europe in the Age of the Baroque. (3). Political crises, the development of monarchial absolutism, the rise of modern science, and cultural synthesis in the seventeenth century.

6440. Era of the French Revolution. (3). Old Regime, origins and development of Enlightenment thought, and revolutionary and counter-revolutionary movements in 18th century Europe.

6453. Europe, 1815-1914. (3).

6461. Europe, 1914-1945. (3).

6620. Colonial America to 1783. (3). Political development and economic, social, and cultural institutions of English colonies in America, including origins and conduct of American Revolution.

6630. The New Nation, 1783-1815. (3).

6640. Jacksonian America, 1815-1850. (3).

6670. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877. (3).

6680. Emergence of Modern America, 1877-1914. (3).

6701. The United States, 1914 to the Second World War. (3).

6702. The United States, from the Second World War. (3).

6823. American Labor History. (3). Historical development of the labor movement in the United States; emphasis on social, economic, and political trends related to the labor movement.

6824. Business History. (3). Historical development of business in the United States; attention to social, economic, and political trends related to American business communities.

6831. History of American Family. (3). Analysis of changes in family size and structure and relationships between family and society from colonial times to present.

6851. History of Women in America. (3). Economic, political, social, and intellectual history of women in the English American colonies and the United States.

6853. History of African American Women. (3). The social, political, economic, and cultural history of African American women from the sixteenth century to the present.

6861. Parks/People/Public Policy. (3). A comparative study of the history and administration of public land areas in the United States and of American conservation.

6863. History of Childhood in America. (3). Historical consideration of children and childhood in American society from early 17th century to present.

6871. United States Urban History. (3). Development of American cities, including formation of local social, economic, and political institutions and impact of urbanization on US.

6879. From Africa to the Americas: African American History to 1820. (3). Surveys arrival of Africans in western hemisphere to expansion of antebellum slavery in the US Lower South by 1820; examines African diaspora, colonial slavery, impact of slavery upon formation of US, and development of African American culture; also explores relationships between enslaved and free Blacks, Europeans, and Native Americans.

6880. Slavery to Freedom to Segregation: African Americans, 1820-1920. (3). Examines social, political, and economic developments; antebellum slavery and freedom impact of westward expansion; Civil War emancipation and post-war construction of black freedom; development and impact of legal and extra-legal segregation; black nationalism and pan-Africanism; and Progressivism through the beginnings of the Great Migration.

6882. Civil Rights Movement: Roots, Protest, Legacies. (3). Struggle for African American equality, with emphasis on key civil rights issues, events, leaders, and strategies.

6941. History of the American Indian. (3). Role of the Indian in American history.

7011-8011. Philosophy of History. (3). Speculative philosophy of history and recent problems in analytical philosophy of history.

‡7012-8012. Directed Readings. (1-3). Arranged on an individual basis between a student and a particular instructor, whose permission is required. Master’s students may take a maximum of 3 hours (6 by petition), PhD students a maximum of 6 hours (12 by petition).

7020-8020. Seminar for Teaching Assistants. (3). Overview and practical demonstrations of art of teaching history. Required of all graduate assistants.

†7021-8021. Colloquium for Graduate Assistants. (3). Supervision of and consultation with graduate assistants. For history students only. PREREQUISITES: HIST 7020-8020 and appointment as graduate assistant. May be repeated.

†7022-8022. Teaching Skills for Graduate Assistants. (3). Develop skills in classroom teaching and assemble a teaching portfolio. May be repeated for up to 12 credits. May be restricted to graduate assistants.

7030-39–8030-39. Topics in History. (3). Topics within periods or problems that cross periods or subject areas. May be repeated when topic varies.

7070-8070. Research Seminar. (1-3). Emphasis on original research and writing in topics drawn from the fields generally covered by the Studies courses. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. PREREQUISITE: : One 7000-level historiography course in any field.

The following Studies courses consist of readings and reports to survey the important literature on a period or its principal divisions. May be repeated with departmental permission.

7100-8100. Studies in Global History. (3). Formation, development, and importance of global/ subglobal systems over time, societal interactions, and factors that favor or hinder the formation, development, and decline of various kinds of society; significance of biological, cultural, linguistic, intellectual, political, social, and economic elements for large-scale historical development. May be repeated with permission when content varies.

7120-8120. Studies in English History. (3).

7160-8160. Studies in Russian History. (3).

7210-8210. Studies in Latin American History.(3).

7270-8270. Studies in Near Eastern History. (3).

7280-8280. Studies in African History. (3).

7290-8290. Studies in Asian History. (3).

7310-8310. Ancient Historiography. (3). Examines scholarship of ancient history and controversial problems in the field with a view to developing a more sound historical methodology for reconstructing ancient history; usually focuses on Egypt, but may address another area of ancient history. May be repeated when focus area changes.

7320-8320. Studies in Ancient History. (3).

7370-8370. Studies in Medieval-Renaissance European History. (3).

7400-8400. Studies in Early Modern European History. (3).

7430-8430. European Historiography. (3). Introduction to major themes, methodologies, and scholarly debates in European history; explores historiographic flashpoints represented in major texts that constitute key points of referene for scholars; usually focuses on Modern Europe, but may address other periods of European history. May be repeated when focus area changes.

7440-8440. Studies in Modern European History. (3).

7601-8601. US Historiography to 1877. (3). Reading seminar in early US history that explore historiographical debates and in-depth examinations of major themes and periods in American history to 1877.

7602-8602. US Historiography after 1877. (3). Reading seminar in modern US history that explores historiographical debates and in-depth examinations of major themes and periods in American history from 1877 to the present.

7650-8650. Studies in US History before 1877. (3).

7680-8680. Studies in US History after 1877. (3).

7880-8880. African American Historiography. (3). Introduction to basic philosophical problems of recreating and understanding the African American past, to history of historical writing by African Americans and other scholars, and to practical skills needed by professional historians in this field.

7881-8881. Readings in African American History to 1865. (3). Introduces some of the most recent as well as standard scholarship in the field; discussion of assigned core readings supported by written reports.

7882-8882. Readings in African American History since 1865. (3). Introduces some of the most recent as well as standard scholarship in the field; discussion of assigned core readings supported by written reports on selected supplementary reasings.

7883-8883. Studies in African American History. (3).

7980-8980. Thematic Studies in American History. (3).

7991-8991. Independent Readings. (1-12). Arranged on an individual basis for history students only. May be repeated.

†7996. Thesis. (1-6). The student must write and defend satisfactorily a thesis on a subject approved by the major professor.

†8990. Reading for Comprehensives. (1-12). Arranged on an individual basis for history students only. May be taken only at the end of coursework to fulfill the requirements for the PhD.

†9000. Doctoral Dissertation. (1-12). No more than 12 hours may count toward the degree. PREREQUISITE: Admission to candidacy.

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.
‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.