Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania: History Programs and Academics

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, formed in 2022 through the merger of Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, and Mansfield University, provides a diverse range of history programs. Each campus maintains its unique identity while contributing to the university's overall academic mission. This article explores the history programs offered at Commonwealth University, with a particular focus on the Ph.D. program and other academic opportunities available to students.

A Brief Overview of Commonwealth University

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is a public university created in 2022 through the consolidation of Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, and Mansfield University. This merger was initiated by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to address declining enrollment and rising tuition costs. Each of the original universities now serves as a campus within the Commonwealth University system, retaining its mascot and contributing to the institution's diverse academic offerings. The inaugural president of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania was Dr. Bashar W. Hanna. The university offers over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs across its campuses in Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Clearfield.

History Programs at Commonwealth University

Commonwealth University's history programs are designed to provide students with a broad and balanced education in the discipline. The curriculum emphasizes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills through research and practical application. Faculty members are committed to fostering lifelong learning and active citizenship.

Bachelor of Arts in History

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History program at Commonwealth University aims to teach students the methods of historical investigation and introduce them to various schools of historical interpretation. The program includes introductory and advanced courses in American, European, and non-Western history. Students develop research and writing skills that open career opportunities in various fields.

To provide diversity and a better understanding of the student's world, the History program requires two surveys in United States history and two surveys in world or regional history. To facilitate understanding of the historian's craft, students must take Historical Methods and Capstone: Research and Writing Skills.

Career Opportunities with a History Degree

A history degree from Commonwealth University prepares students for diverse career paths. According to American Community Survey data, one in five history majors pursues a career in education, 11% work in the legal field, and 15% work in management. Education, the legal field, and business constitute about half of all careers for history graduates. They also find employment in government, administration, and public services, where strong communication and writing skills are essential.

The study of history provides ideal preparation for careers or graduate study in law, public policy, business, theology, and education.

Graduate Programs

A degree in History will have you prepared for success in one of our Commonwealth University graduate programs!

MBA Business Administration
M.Ed. College Student Affairs
M.Ed. Secondary Education
M.S. Information Technology
M.S. Instructional Design and Technology
M.S. Sport Management
MSW Master of Social Work

Other institutions our students have continued their education at include:

Appalachian State University, M.A. Public History
Baylor University, M.A. Museum Studies
Binghamton University, M.A. Anthropology
Boston University, Pardee School of Global Studies, M.A. International Affairs
Columbia University Teacher’s College, M.A. Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Duquesne University, M.A. Public and Applied History
Florida Atlantic University, M.Ed. Educational Leadership
Fordham University, J.D. School of Law
Johns Hopkins University, M.A. Museum Studies
Millersville University, M.A. History
Mississippi State University, M.A. History
Penn State University, J.D. Dickinson School of Law
Penn State University, M.Ed. Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
Penn State University, M.S. Homeland Security
Shippensburg University, M.A. Public Administration
Slippery Rock University, M.A. History
Tulane University, School of Architecture, M.A. Preservation Studies
University of Akron, M.Ed. Student Affairs
University of California, San Diego, Ph.D. History
University of Delaware, Ph.D. History
University of Kentucky, M.LS. Library Science
University of Maryland, M.Ed. Student Affairs
University of Maryland, Ph.D. History
University of Pittsburgh, M.A. Public and International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh, M.LS. Library Science
University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D. Middle Eastern Studies
University of Wisconsin, M.A. History
University of Wyoming, M.A. Anthropology
Villanova University, M.A. History
West Chester University, M.A. History
Widener University, J.D.

Ph.D. Program in History

The Ph.D. program in History at Commonwealth University is designed to train professional historians as scholars and teachers. The program equips students with the tools necessary for an academic career, including:

Systematic knowledge of at least three broad historical fields
Rigorous training in historical research and writing
Familiarity with influential approaches to historical explanation
Awareness of interdisciplinary approaches to the past

Students also receive multiple semesters of teaching experience.

Program Requirements and Structure

The Ph.D. program requires students to develop competence in three fields: a general field, a primary specialty field, and a secondary field. The precise scope of these fields and the program of study for their completion are determined in consultation with the student's conference committee.

A primary specialty field carved from the general field, defined more specifically either geographically, chronologically, or topically (e.g.
A secondary field that has a theoretical, methodological, or cross-cultural emphasis (e.g.

The Department recognizes that the language, quantitative, and other methodological training needed by particular Ph.D.

Language Requirements

Competence in foreign languages is assessed through written translation exams administered by the Department each semester. Evaluators provide three texts, and students choose two to translate into English. Dictionaries are permitted, but translation software is not. The Department prioritizes fidelity to meaning over elegance. Candidacy examinations cannot be scheduled until the language requirement has been satisfied, and it should be fulfilled during the first or second year of graduate study.

Ph.D. candidates who require language skills beyond these defined minima to carry on research in their main area of specialization must satisfy their advisory committees that they have acquired such competency no later than the date of their Ph.D. candidacy examinations. Students in European and other non-US fields can be expected to read texts in the language(s) of their major fields in their coursework from the first semester.

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Teaching Experience

The Department expects that all Ph.D. students gain experience in teaching in preparation for their future careers. History Ph.D. students must serve as teaching assistants or graders for a minimum of two years during their time at Penn. Most Ph.D. students will meet the requirement by TAing or grading once per semester in their second and third years of graduate study. Teaching assistants will be closely supervised by their faculty supervisors, who meet with them regularly to discuss course materials and assignments and provide them with instruction and advice on pedagogical matters. TAs and graders will be assigned by the Graduate Chair, bearing in mind course needs and faculty and graduate student preferences.

Course Requirements and Curriculum

Recognizing the need for maximum flexibility in the ways that graduate students meet course requirements, the Graduate Group in History encourages each student to work closely with their advisor and advising committee to tailor the curriculum to meet their needs. A student arriving with an M.A. in history (or closely related field) from another institution can, if they wish, petition to transfer up to 4 units of graduate-level course work, pending approval by the Graduate Chair in consultation with the student’s advisor. Such a petition should be submitted after the student completes one full academic year in the program, and after being evaluated by their committee as being in good academic standing, with all grades for first-year coursework submitted. Students arriving with J.D. can, if they wish, petition to transfer up to 2 units of graduate-level course work, pending approval by the Graduate Chair in consultation with the student’s advisor.

The Department requires one two-unit course of all students: HIST 7000. This course focuses on historical method, practice, and research. It combines theoretical, methodological, and substantive materials. It is designed to span the geographical and chronological fields represented in the Graduate Group and may be taught by more than one faculty member. In fall term, the seminar concentrates on historiographical and theoretical literature. In spring term, each student undertakes specialized individual research on a particular aspect of the general topic that falls within their major field of interest, and at the end of the term each submits a substantial article-length paper presenting their findings. Such papers are jointly supervised by the seminar instructor(s) and the academic advisor of each student. Grades are determined by the seminar instructor(s) in consultation with advisors. In the second year, graduate students are required to write another original, primary-source based research paper. This paper may be completed as part of the requirements of a graduate course or a graded independent study. Graduate students' advising committees will certify that the second-year research requirement has been met by reviewing the paper.

The Department prefers that Ph.D. students take the prospectus workshop in the summer after their second year of study. If a student comes to the program with a M.A. in History, they may ask to take the workshop after their first year. In certain cases, a student may postpone the workshop to the following summer with the written permission of their advisor. Every student must secure advisor approval of a topic before entering the workshop, and the final proposal must be approved by the advisor in the following fall, and by the advisory committee at its first meeting after the workshop.

Each year the department will offer 5000-level and 6000-level colloquia and 7000-level research seminars. Colloquia are reading and discussion courses on special topics or covering broad chronological periods or geographical areas; they are designed to give students command of relevant historiographical literature.

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Commonwealth University encourages graduate students to take courses in other departments at Penn, when pedagogically appropriate. Many of our faculty are involved in interdisciplinary research, belong to cross-departmental centers, and appreciate the value that study in the methods, theory, and practice of other disciplines can bring to history. In addition, there are many extra-departmental historians and historically-oriented scholars in departments as diverse as English, Sociology, Comparative Literature, Political Science, Anthropology, Law, Social Work, Education, Art History, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, East Asian Studies, South Asian Studies, Religious Studies, Architecture and Planning, and others. Many graduate students participate in the Urban Studies and Women’s Studies graduate certificate programs. After completing one year at Penn, Ph.D. students may enroll in courses at partner universities through the Exchange Scholar Program.

Many graduate students meet their course requirements by enrolling in graded independent study courses. These courses provide the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a topic not covered by regularly offered courses, to conduct research outside of the setting of a formal seminar, or to prepare for candidacy exams. All independent study courses require the instructor's written permission. A maximum of four independent study courses may be counted toward the total of fourteen needed for the Ph.D. degree. In certain fields, it makes pedagogical sense for a student to attend an appropriate undergraduate course taught by a supervising faculty member. The student will also meet separately on a regular basis with the faculty member and submit graduate-level written work, including a substantial paper. Enrollment in a preceptorial requires the permission of the supervising faculty member.

Graduate students prepare for Ph.D. candidacy examinations and for careers as professional scholars by more than just taking courses. They are encouraged to take an active role in their own training by deciding independently what kinds of topics interest them most and what they should do on their own to learn more about them. Small student-organized discussion groups are ideal for this purpose as well as for developing scholarly and professional outlooks in a professor-free environment.

Normative Timeline for Ph.D. Students

What follows is a year-by-year normative description of what the Graduate Group in History expects Ph.D. students to accomplish during their first three years at the University of Pennsylvania. The fourth and fifth years are devoted to dissertation research and writing, and application for post-doctoral fellowships and/or teaching and research positions.

All students will be required to take HIST 7000 (the first-year proseminar); at least one introductory colloquium or independent study in the region of specialization; and, during the second year, one course with a significant research component (such as a research seminar or a research-oriented independent study). All full-time students will take HIST 7000 and at least two other substantive courses during each semester of their first year of graduate study. By the end of the first academic year of study, all full-time first year Ph.D.

Full-time students will take two courses during each semester of their second year of graduate study. One course-either a seminar or a tutorial-must include a significant research component, resulting in an article-length research paper. In addition, students will gain valuable experience as teaching assistants. At the end of their second year, most students will participate in the Prospectus Workshop. Through a process of discussion and revision, each participant prepares a grant/fellowship proposal for a book-length history project (ideally but not necessarily their future dissertation). The first several sessions are spent in seminar. Thereafter, students conduct research for the remainder of the summer. A student may, with the permission of their advisory committee, postpone their participation in the workshop until after their third year of study. Ph.D. candidates with M.A. degrees from other institutions and who completed their course requirements in the second year will have taken their Ph.D. candidacy examinations at the end of that year, so that the summer following may be devoted to dissertation research.

Advisory Committees and Progress Reviews

Each student will be assigned a faculty supervisor during the summer prior to arriving at Penn. Pre-candidacy students are required to meet annually with their advisory committee, in March, at the very latest by the beginning of spring break. At least one week before the committee meets, the student will submit a Progress Report to each member. Committee members are expected to review this report, students' grades, previous committee evaluations as well as individual faculty evaluations of course and TA performance before the meeting. The second-year review also includes an assessment of the student's portfolio, which will include the HIST 7000 paper along with a transcript of the student's graduate work done at Penn.

At the advisory committee meeting, after preliminary discussion among the faculty members, the student will be admitted for a collective evaluation of academic progress to date and plans for future study. Topics will include remaining course requirements, precise fields of study, outstanding language and/or other technical competency requirements, and a tentative examination date. The advisory committees will also evaluate the academic performance of graduate students and make recommendations for financial aid. The advisor will prepare a signed report of the meeting for inclusion in the student's file. The report should offer clear and honest feedback about the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and status in the program, as well as satisfy the department’s and the graduate school’s need for regular and systematic evaluation of graduate students during their first two years in the program. Each spring, the Graduate Committee will review these reports and other relevant materials as part of its assessment of each student’s progress and continuation in the graduate program.

Post-candidacy students must continue to have an annual progress meeting-at this point their advisory committee becomes their dissertation committee.

Additional Academic Opportunities

Internships

History faculty will work with you to develop a collaborative internship experience. Recent internship placements include:

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Office of Homeland Security of PA
National Constitutional Center
Congressman Chris Carney’s Office
Law Offices
The National Museum of the United States Navy
Eisenhower National Historic Site
International Security Intern, New America
Local/County Historical Societies
The Smithsonian Institute
The National Park Service
The Piper Aviation Museum

Internships in Washington, D.C. are available through Commonwealth University’s affiliation with The Washington Center (TWC).

History Club

The History Club's purpose is to facilitate students' interest in history and to foster professional growth. It is open to all CU-Bloomsburg and CU-Mansfield students. The club meets frequently during each semester and plans activities that enhance history education on campus. They also explore local Pennsylvania history and its diverse cultures through day and weekend field trips. The organization's President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer are elected by History Club membership. Contact an advisor for dates and times. The History Club is a great way to meet new people who are interested in history.

Social Science Club

This club, open to any CU-Lock Haven student, holds many activities both on and off campus. From fundraisers and documentary viewing parties to political forums and field trips, event highlights include:

Fundraiser benefiting refugees in Sudan and Darfur
Forums concerning election and health care issues
Halloween Ghost Walk highlighting CU-Lock Haven’s paranormal history

Typically, the club organizes an annual weekend-long trip to a historically or culturally significant location. Past destinations include:

Gettysburg
Pittsburgh
Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia
Baltimore

Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society

All three Commonwealth University campuses host chapters of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society. To be eligible, a student must have completed twelve semester hours of History courses, achieved an overall QPA (Quality Point Average) of 3.0, and attained a QPA of 3.1 in all history courses.

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