Why Earn Your Graduate Degree in History at Lehigh?
History doesn’t stop at national borders. At Lehigh, our graduate programs are united under a broader theme: Transnational History. Instruction and research advising related to this theme are offered by growing and dynamic faculty over a wide range of geographical regions and chronological periods. We break away from traditional, isolated national frameworks to investigate how ideas, people, commodities, and power circulate globally.
On this page:
Ph.D. in History
This is an immersive doctoral track designed to build your teaching portfolio and support independent research that contributes to global historical scholarship.
Prospective Ph.D. students are encouraged to identify specific fields of interest and faculty members with whom they would like to work. Our faculty offer expertise in the following areas:
- British, French and Spanish Atlantic World Empires
- Modern China
- European Intellectual History
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- West Africa and the Atlantic African Diaspora
- Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights, and Immigration Histories
- 20th century US and the World
- African-American History
- Ottoman Empire and the Islamic World
- Colonial America and the Early American Republic
- Native American History
- Gender History
M.A. in History
The master’s program is designed to be a generalist degree that provides you with a foundation in global methodologies, culminating in a customized, professional capstone project that aligns with your career goals.
Curriculum
Featured courses in the department include:
- American Environmental History
- Land Use, Growth Management, and the Politics of Sprawl
- Global Africa: Aid, Volunteerism, NGOs and International Studies
- History of Sexuality and Family
- American Imaginations of the Middle East
Careers
Armed with elite research, writing, and analytical skills, our graduates launch impactful careers across multiple sectors:
- Higher education
- Advanced secondary education
- Public history & leadership
Where our recent graduates work:
- College of Staten Island
- Harvard University
- Lived Places Publishing
- Oberlin College
- Sacred Heart University
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Army
Financial Support
We are committed to helping you finance your graduate education. Our funding includes:
- Teaching Assistantships
- Research Assistantships
- Fellowships
- Merit Scholarships
How to Apply
Applicants to the history program must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Submit an online application
- Provide official transcripts
- Submit a statement of purpose
- Include a historiographical research paper that demonstrates your interest in transnational history
- Submit a current resume
- Provide 2 letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency, if applicable
- GRE scores are required for the Ph.D. program
Application Deadlines
- Applications and supporting materials must be submitted by January 1 for fall enrollment.
Ready for the Next Step?
Apply to the History graduate programs via the online graduate application.
Request Information
Tell us a bit about yourself so our team can help you navigate deadlines, explore program highlights, and guide your next step.
FAQs about the History Graduate Programs
An advanced degree in history prepares students for a number of careers including university education, secondary education, public history, library services, business, and government. The master’s program provides training for those seeking to teach global, transnational US, Atlantic World, European, African, Middle Eastern or Latin American histories at the secondary or community college level, as well as for those who will continue on to doctoral studies.
Graduates of the doctoral program secure tenure track positions at universities, leadership roles at elite independent secondary schools, or obtain research and archival positions within government agencies, cultural institutions, and the private sector.
The master’s degree is a 30-credit program that is typically completed in 4 semesters/2 years.
The Ph.D. is an immersive, research-based program that is typically completed in 5-7 years.
Over 90% of Lehigh graduate students receive robust financial funding, allowing you to focus on your research, training, and professional growth. Master’s students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. Ph.D. students typically receive full funding (tuition and stipend) in these forms:
- Teaching Assistantships
- Research Assistantships
- Fellowships
Applications and all supporting materials are due by January 1 for fall enrollment.
