Designed to give our history students the flexibility to create a plan of study that
matches their interests, while simultaneously providing a breadth of training in
multiple fields.
Spotlight of WVU alumni and Ph.D Candidate Rachael Nicholas giving a presentation at the Gettysburg Visitors Center. Image credit to the National Park Service. Meet Rachael Nicholas
The graduate history program has a long and distinguished record, dating back nearly a century. Early on, the Department of History established a reputation for diplomatic history, and later, West Virginian and Appalachian history. Today, the West Virginia and Regional History Collection is one of the strongest of its kind, housing primary source materials for political, economic, social, cultural and technological history of the state and region.
There is such a supportive atmosphere here; when I talk to other people in the department, there is an air of contagious enthusiasm. Everyone seems so interested in what everyone else is doing. They love history! It's exciting to be a part of it.
My favorite part about our department is the grad school community, which has become like family to me. The conversations, debates, and laughs that I’ve shared with friends in the graduate instructors' office have kept me going on my toughest days.
Areas of strength have also been developed in African history, the history of the American Civil War and public history. The department offers graduate work in several other fields in United States, European, Latin American and world history. In addition, unique interdepartmental partnerships and resources help students develop comparative approaches and network with professionals in the field. The department encourages research that is comparative and transnational in perspective and scope.
Our graduate program is designed to give students flexibility to create a plan of study that matches their interests, while simultaneously providing a breadth of training in different fields that will prepare students in historiography, research methods and teaching approaches. In addition to these core areas of strength, faculty research and teaching interests are clustered thematically around four areas: gender and kinship, imperial and postcolonial s ocieties, labor and political economy and war and society.
The graduate history program has a long and distinguished record, dating back nearly a century. Early on, the Department of History established a reputation for diplomatic history, and later, West Virginian and Appalachian history. Today, the West Virginia and Regional History Collection is one of the strongest of its kind, housing primary source materials for political, economic, social, cultural and technological history of the state and region.
Areas of strength have also been developed in African history, the history of the American Civil War and public history. The department offers graduate work in several other fields in United States, European, Latin American and world history. In addition, unique interdepartmental partnerships and resources help students develop comparative approaches and network with professionals in the field. The department encourages research that is comparative and transnational in perspective and scope.
There is such a supportive atmosphere here; when I talk to other people in the department, there is an air of contagious enthusiasm. Everyone seems so interested in what everyone else is doing. They love history! It's exciting to be a part of it.
My favorite part about our department is the grad school community, which has become like family to me. The conversations, debates, and laughs that I’ve shared with friends in the graduate instructors' office have kept me going on my toughest days.
Our graduate programs are designed to give students flexibility to create a plan of study that matches their interests, while simultaneously providing a breadth of training in different fields that will prepare students in historiography, research methods and teaching approaches.
Ph.D. students in History at WVU create a curriculum in consultation with faculty advisors and the Director of Graduate Studies in four fields: one major field and three minor fields.
Learn More: Ph.D. in HistoryStudents specialize in a core area and a minor field. Interdepartmental partnerships and resources help students develop comparative approaches and network with professionals in the field
Learn More: M.A. in HistoryThe public history program trains historians in traditional research methodology and is designed to give students practical experience conducting client-based research.
Learn More: M.A. in Public HistoryDual-degree, two-year program consisting of 60 U.S. credit hours, or 120 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credits.
Learn More: Transatlantic M.A. in International History & Security StudiesFor individuals interested in historic preservation, museum management, art history, parks and recreation, design, and related fields.
Learn More: Cultural Resource Management CertificateScholarship in the Department of History is driven by a passion for understanding the present by studying historical context and historical literacy. We conduct impactful research across four primary focus areas:
Examine how women, men, children, and kin groups encountered labor, law, religion, property, and other phenomena.
: Gender and KinshipExamine ways colonial empires transformed, exchanged, hybridized, or were resisted by societies around the globe.
: Imperial and Post-Colonial SocietiesExplore the interaction of politics with consumption, technology, economic policy making and markets.
: Labor and Political EconomyResearch various chronological and geographical contexts to understand the reciprocal relationships between society and mass violence.
: War and SocietyHere you will find information on how to apply, our application requirements, and program contacts.
All current students enrolled in the graduate program are expected to fulfill several, common program requirements.
The department offers financial support to graduate students: Ph.D. Assistantships, M.A. Graduate Service Assistantships and student scholarships.
The graduate program provides training in historical methods that prepares students to work in a wide variety of public and private sector careers.
More than students in a class — we are
Mountaineers on a mission.
“I decided to stay at WVU for my Masters degrees because I loved my professors and the course options here... I also found it valuable to study here and continue building relationships in the state.”
“My history professors at WVU gave me two invaluable skills. The first is the ability to interrogate sources for information. But, just as importantly, my professors helped me develop as a writer and communicator. ”
“I know for certain I would not be where I am today without Drs. Luskey and Bingmann. Their mentorship was the deciding factor when I chose to stay at WVU for my PhD.”
