Department of History

Graduate

The Department of History at Brown trains graduate students in a wide range of fields, methodologies, and regions of the globe.

As a medium-sized program, we offer an intimate setting that fosters tightly-knit cohorts and that offers the opportunity to work closely with world-class scholars in research and teaching. Our department consists of a community of scholars – graduate students, undergraduates, and faculty – who share the values of the pursuit of history: exacting research in first-hand materials, critical context building, and the analysis of problems in the long term. We aim for an inclusive and equitable intellectual atmosphere, and prize comparative, connective, and collaborative thinking across chronological and geographical borders.

 

Ph.D. Program

Our Ph.D. program is designed to help students develop flexible skill sets that will enable them to meet their professional and intellectual goals.

Hallmarks of the Brown History doctoral program include an intimate setting, close collaboration with faculty, Brown's unique undergraduate population and open curriculum, world-class scholars working in every region of the globe, and the department's commitment to professionalization and teaching.
We welcome applications for potential Ph.D. students in the fields listed, where links to individual faculty pages will describe our department's expertise and scholarly projects in detail.
For a detailed outline of the graduate programs, including a year-by-year description, courses offered, and funding, please consult the handbook.

MA Program

We also offer an MA to currently-enrolled Brown students through the 5th year MA program (for undergraduates) and the Open Graduate Education program (for Ph.D. students in other departments.)

Please note that applications for the terminal MA program in History are no longer being accepted as of November 2018.

Contact

Ph.D. Admissions Inquiries

All Other Inquiries

Additional Graduate Information

Learn about financing and support for graduate students, research and travel funding, emergency loans and sixth year funding.
Brown degree holders have gone on to edit and write for major publications; participate in public policy and lead nonprofits; perform historical consulting and work in public history; and direct educational programs at every level.