Howard University Department of History: A Legacy of Scholarship and Leadership

Howard University’s legacy is intrinsically linked to the Department of History. Since its founding in 1913, Howard University’s Department of History has been a cornerstone of the institution, playing a vital role in collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of the University and the broader African American experience. Throughout its 152 years, the institution has relied on us to collect, preserve, and write the University’s history, including for the sesquicentennial commemoration. The department has been home to many significant scholars of History, either as students or faculty. These include Carter G. Woodson (founder of Black History Month), Charles H. Wesley, Rayford W. Logan, Merze Tate, John Hope Franklin, Lorraine A. Williams, and Mary Frances Berry, to name just a few.

A Storied Past: Preserving and Interpreting History

The Department of History at Howard University has played a crucial role in documenting and interpreting the University's history. Rayford W. Logan and Michael R. Winston have written books on the history of the University and the department. Moreover, historians trained in the department serve as gatekeepers of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, the most significant archive of African American history on earth.

Mission and Objectives

In keeping with the character of Howard as a major historically Black university, the mission of the Department of History derives from the determination of people of African descent to advance and affirm the cause of human freedom, equality, and dignity. Intrinsic to this mission is a perspective on the world that conveys full respect for the integrity and dignity of all people, particularly emphasizing the history and culture of peoples of African origin. In regard to the discipline of history, creating the opportunity for students to acquire both breadth and depth of knowledge as well as understanding are seminal concerns of this department's faculty.

The History Department's mission is to provide the student at the undergraduate level with:

An appreciation of the discipline of history as a tool for critical thinking and learning.
Understanding of the process of historical research and reconstruction.
Substantive knowledge as well as the accurate reconstruction and interpretation of the collective experience of the world's people.
A special emphasis on the history of people of African descent.

Strengths and Specializations

Howard University’s Department of History boasts several areas of particular strength, making it a unique and valuable center for historical study.

Read also: Tuition and Fees at Howard

Expertise in the History of Slavery

No other Department in the country is as strong in the history of Slavery as Howard University, with 6 historians who specialize in the field, who have published more than twenty books collectively. This concentration of expertise allows for in-depth exploration of this critical period in history.

African Diaspora Studies

Howard’s Department of History was not only a pioneer in establishing the field of African history, but one of our own-- Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) Joseph E. Harris-- created the African Diaspora field. Time has only made us much stronger in this area, with current scholars who specialize in the history of Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, Latin America, and the black Pacific. The department was a pioneer in establishing the field of African history. Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) Joseph E. Harris created the African Diaspora field. Current scholars specialize in the history of Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Black Pacific.

Public History Leadership

Our Public History program has produced more black public historians than any other institution in the world. Employers understand that if they are seeking to employ a black public historian, Howard University’s Department of History is the place to find them. Others direct smaller African American history museums throughout the nation, including the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Evansville African American History Museum. The Public History program at Howard University has a long-standing reputation for excellence. Since 1990, the Public History program at Howard University has offered an MA major and PhD minor. The program's emphasis is on preparing students to move beyond the academic world and toward careers in community-based institutions, museums, archives, and government agencies.

Program alumnae appointments include: Dean, Columbia U.; Curator, Schlesinger Library, Harvard U.; Directors at Brown U., National Archives, Association of African American Museums, Banneker-Douglass Museum, National Civil Rights Museum; State Archivist, DC; Univ. Archivist, Morgan State U; NPS Superintendents at Tuskegee/ Selma, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers and Fort Monroe Parks; Cultural Resources Manager, ML King, Jr.

As we are located in Washington DC, where there is a great demand for museum, archives, and heritage professionals, students may receive practical experience as historians by serving as interns in history in the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives, the National Park Service, the State Department, and other public agencies as well as in private institutions and projects in the Washington area.

Academic Programs

The Department of History offers a range of programs designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of history and its applications.

Degrees Offered

B.A. in History
M.A. in Public History
M.A. in History
M.A. in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History
Ph.D. in History

The undergraduate curriculum is comprehensive in scope. It allows the student to choose from a wide variety of courses in completing the requirements for the History major and the minor in history. The History major provides students with the ability to assimilate and analyze evidence, to conduct research, and to formulate and critique arguments. Colloquia courses introduce students to a major topic in history such as Slavery and the Law, Mass Incarceration, African Americans and the Civil War, Slavery and Emancipation in the Caribbean, History of Brazil, Women in the African Diaspora, and Black Power. Seminar courses build on existing knowledge students acquired in colloquia and lectures. To help students in selecting appropriate courses each semester for fulfilling Departmental requirements, all faculty members are designated as undergraduate academic advisors. These advisors are available during their posted office hours for consultation.

Undergraduate Program: Bachelor of Arts in History

The History major covers the following fields:

Pre-Law
Africa
African Diaspora
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Public History
United States

Students are required to successfully complete 31 semester hours of history courses. The department offers three kinds of courses at three different levels:

Lecture: Lecture courses can be taken any time during the program. Lecture courses are taught to large groups. Classes usually consist of a lecture given by the professor, supported by readings, written assignments, and oral discussion. Lecture courses can survey a particular region, continent, or country and can cover a long period of time. To take a lecture course the student no previous knowledge on the topic, region, or period examined is required.
Colloquium: Taken after the freshman year, colloquia are small discussion classes in which students read secondary works to learn the nature of historiography and explore the methodologies employed in a particular field to address historical questions. Students who plan to apply for graduate school are strongly encouraged to take colloquia.
Seminar: Taken after the freshman year, seminars require students to conduct primary research and analysis and to write original historical essays. Students who plan to apply for graduate school are strongly encouraged to take seminars.

The major is designed to prepare students to conduct research, to assimilate and analyze data, and to think critically and creatively about the past.

All majors are required to take:

HIST 003- Introduction to History (3 credit hours): This course will introduce students to historiography, research methods, and interpretive trends. Introduction to History is recommended to students considering history as a major and must be taken upon declaration of the major.
HIST 082 - Senior Colloquium (1 credit hour): This course prepares students for the comprehensive examination in history.
One Colloquium in any field of study (Pre-Law, Africa, African Diaspora, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Public History or United States).
One Seminar in any field of study (Pre-Law, Africa, African Diaspora, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Public History or United States).
At least one course (lecture, colloquia or seminar) in Africa or African Diaspora.
At least one course (lecture, colloquia or seminar) in Europe, Latin America or Public History. The remaining five courses (corresponding to 15 credits) can be taken in any field of study and at any level (lecture, colloquia, or seminar).

Effective as of the academic year 1983-84, and mandatory for graduation, all history majors are required to pass the Senior Comprehensive Examination administered by the Department of History. The examination is given in November of each academic year. It is a three-hour essay examination consisting of two parts. Part I examines the student's understanding of historiography; and Part II examines broad topics reflecting the core curriculum. Students will be duly notified of the time and place of the examination. The required course, The Senior Colloquium, will help to guide and aid students in their preparation for the Senior Comprehensive Examination. Further information relative to the examination may be obtained from the Director of the Undergraduate Program, the Department of History.

Pre-Law Concentration

The Department of History offers a Pre-Law concentration. Students who want to follow legal careers and apply for the Law School after finishing the history major or minor are encouraged to choose this concentration. In this concentration, students have to choose FIVE courses (equivalent of 15 credits) among the following courses:

HIST 017: Slavery and Law
HIST 017 Slavery and Law
HIST 109 United States Constitutional History to 1865
HIST 110 United States Constitutional History Since 1865
HIST 178 Colloquium: African Americans and the State
HIST 179 Colloquium: The Rights of Citizenship in American History
HIST 180 Seminar: Reparations and the Law
HIST 182 From Slavery to Mass Incarceration
HIST 183 Constitutional Law and Public Policy

These courses teach students to analyze primary sources, read and interpret legal and historical texts, and develop solid arguments, crucial skills for all those applying to the Law School.

Minor in History

Students who minor in History are required to complete successfully fifteen (15) hours of history courses, including the mandatory course HIST 003: Introduction to History. Geography courses do not count for your history minor.

Minor in Geography

The minor in Geography consists of fifteen (15) credit hours. Since students will be expected to become familiar with the basic language, fundamentals and terminology, World Geography (101) has to be taken as the first course. Then the students can be exposed to regional, topical and systematic geography.

Graduate Programs: Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy

The Department of History offers a graduate program leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, with specialization at the doctoral level in the history of the United States, Africa, the African Diaspora, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Several combinations of course clusters within the designated fields of specialization may be used to concentrate on certain areas of interest, such as Afro-American, Comparative or Public history.

The History Department's graduate program reflects the department's concurrent commitment to an accurate reconstruction and interpretation of the collective experiences of the world's people and a special emphasis on African America, Africa, and the African Diaspora. These concordant concerns are in keeping with Howard University's unique character and role as a major American university with a predominantly Black constituency.

The program is designed to allow for both diversity and specialization and is sufficiently flexible to permit the student to have a significant role in fashioning his/her specific degree requirements. While students may major or minor in African, Latin American/Caribbean, and United States history, they may minor in European, and they may choose one of their minors from another discipline. They may also create a program, which is a combination of courses and research projects that will enable them to specialize in African American, African Diaspora, Public, comparative, and women's history.

The excellent research and educational facilities in the Washington, D. C. area - including the Library of Congress, the National Archives and the Smithsonian Institution - provide an added dimension to the program's value and make its high objectives more readily attainable.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must complete application forms and submit to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions copies of their transcripts with three letters of recommendation, Graduate Record Examinations scores, a statement of purpose indicating their reasons for desiring to pursue graduate study at Howard University, and a writing sample. The graduate faculty of the Department is charged with reviewing applications and deciding on admissions.

Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent will be considered for admission to the Master of Arts program if they have completed their major with a grade of B or better and have a cumulative average of 3.0 or better.

The Board of Trustees of Howard University on September 24, 1983, adopted the following policy statement regarding applications for admission: "Applicants seeking admission to Howard University are required to submit accurate and complete credentials and accurate and complete information requested by the University. Applicants who fail to do so shall be denied admission. Enrolled students who as applicants failed to submit accurate and complete credentials or accurate and complete information on their application for admission shall be subject to dismissal when the same is made known, regardless of classification."

All credentials must be sent to:

Howard University Graduate SchoolOffice of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions2400 Sixth Street NWWashington, D.C. 20059

Academic Requirements

General requirements: Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.00 for graduate (Consult graduate department for exception to this requirement).
Minimum number of credits: 30
Submission of a thesis in partial fulfilment of requirement for many departments
Statement of Academic Interest & Professional Goals
Autobiographical Sketch
Resume
Three letters of recommendation (minimum)
Official transcripts from each university or college attended

International Applicants Special Admission Requirements

Official transcripts, final certificates and/or mark/grade sheets must be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
If the documents are not in English, they must be accompanied by an official translated copy.
An academic evaluation by a NACES member is required from all international students who have studied outside of the United States
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Student insurance

Degree Requirements

As prescribed by the Graduate School, 30 hours of graduate credit are required for the Master's degree. Additional credit hours for a total of 72 are required for the doctorate. Various factors may make it necessary for the candidate to go beyond the minimum credit requirements. All courses numbered above 200 yield graduate credit. Courses numbered 170 to 199 also yield graduate credit, but only a maximum of 9 hours earned in courses below 200 will be counted toward the degree. Credit hours earned more than five years prior to the term in which the student presents himself for the final oral examination will not be accepted in fulfillment of degree requirements. This time limit may be waived upon the written recommendation of the Chairman of the Department, based upon special examination of the candidate.

Students are expected to complete the requirements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Graduate School and the Department of History (i.e., for the Master's degree within two years and the Ph.D. degree within seven years from the date of initial registration in the respective program). Those who have not graduated within the time frame established will be discontinued and no longer eligible for degrees in the Department of History at Howard University.

In order to become degree candidates, students must first demonstrate proficiency in the English language by passing an Expository Writing Examination course. The importance of this requirement cannot be over-emphasized. It is recommended that the course or the examination be taken as soon as possible after the student enters the graduate program. A student should file for admission to candidacy after completion of the following: GSAS writing proficiency requirement, the Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop, the written and oral comprehensive examination in the major field, evidence of proficiency in two foreign languages, an approved prospectus, and completion of at least 66 credits. Students in the Ph.D.

Public History Program Details

Program Introduction

Since 1990, the Public History program at Howard University has offered an MA major and PhD minor. The program's emphasis is on preparing students to move beyond the academic world and toward careers in community-based institutions, museums, archives, and government agencies.

Financial Aid Available

Financial aid available to Public History students: Frederick Douglass Fellowships; Department of History Assistantships (research, administrative, etc.); Paid Internships; and, Department Scholarships. The Graduate School also offers student tuition waivers.

Internship Requirements

Internships are arranged with each student. The undergraduate and graduate students' courses are three (3) credits each over two semesters. The internship classes are offered every semester and internships are paid by the sponsoring organizations.

National Park Service Locations: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site; Carter G.

Job Placement Assistance

Each student receives individualized career counseling and employment support. All Public History students are given: assistance with job applications; job market updates; and, referrals to potential positions. Howard University alumni provide job leads to Public History job seekers.

Community & Institutional Connections

District of Columbia Emancipation Commemoration Commission; Paul Phillips Cooke Scholarship Fund (UDC), Alexandria African American Hall of Fame, Alexandria, VA; Black History Resource Center, Alexandria, VA; Alexandria Black History Museum, Alexandria, VA; Departments of Youth Services for Atlantic City, New Jersey and New York City; NY; Chickasaw Heritage Center/Chickasaw Inkana Foundation, Tupelo, MS; Calvert County, Afro-American Society (MD); The Ballard House Project, Birmingham, AL; Center for Policy Alternatives (DC); North Brentwood Historical Society (MD); August Wilson Society; Forty Acres and a Mule/Spike Lee Enterprises; Howard University- School of Law/Moorland Spingarn Research Center/University Archives/Ralph Bunche International Center/WHUT (Howard University Television); Beulah M.

Current Graduate Students: A Glimpse into Future Scholarship

The Department of History is currently home to a diverse group of graduate students pursuing a wide range of research interests. Here are some brief biographies:

Keshad Adeniyi: A doctoral student from Watts, California, Keshad's research focuses on Nineteenth Century discussions concerning citizenship and repatriation as it related to Displaced African people during the Civil War and Reconstruction, especially Blackness, radicalism, confinement, and incarceration. His doctoral research is focused on the Contraband Camps that served as the holding grounds for freedmen as a result of Union army troops securing Confederate land during the American Civil War. He asks: how do these carceral structures inform the present? Upon completion of his PhD, he hopes to continue to empower, teach and educate at the university level propagating intellectual findings among non-traditional interest groups via carceral spaces and traditional educational settings.
Kerri Lee Alexander: Kerri Lee Alexander, from Bloomfield, Connecticut, is a doctoral student in the History Department at Howard University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts Administration (Nonprofit Management) from Wagner College, and subsequently earned the Master of Arts in Theological Studies with Certificates in Black Church Studies and Theology, Women and Gender from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her intellectual interests include Women’s history and cultural praxis, Pan-Africanism and the African diaspora, contemplative spirituality, and issues of social justice. Her doctoral research will be focused on Caribbean enslaved women and Caribbean slave displacement via the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Upon completion of her PhD, she hopes to continue to reach broad audiences and interest groups, with her roots firmly planted in faith-driven leadership, historical competency, ethics, and service.
Victoria Colston-Brooks: A doctoral student with a concentration in African Diaspora Studies. She has a BA in History with a concentration in African American Studies from North Carolina Central University and an MA from Clark Atlanta University in Africana Women’s Studies. Her Africana Women’s Studies project is focused on Africana women and their participations and contributions to Hip Hop culture. Her other research interests include Africana Women’s intellectual history, The Black Arts Movement, Hip Hop throughout the African Diaspora, and Africana Feminisms/Womanisms. After completing her PhD, she would like to work as a tenured professor at a research institution that will allow her to teach, research, and publish on the African Diaspora.
Sharon (Jessé) Edwards: Jessé’s scholarly interests include the History of Education, Black Education, Southern History, African-American History, and Public History. Her advisor is Dr. Nikki Taylor.
Delan Ellington: Delan has always been motivated to protect, preserve, and empower voices underrepresented in already marginalized populations. They are getting a Master of Public History research focuses on collecting and preserving Black queer DC history and housing. They, serve on the board of directors of the Rainbow History Project the DMV focused LGBTQ historical society & No Justice No Pride, the largest provider of LGBTQ housing in D.C. Their focus is on Public History, having experiences working with the National Park Service, and International Spy Museum.
Majella Chube Hamilton: Majella serves as a Graduate Assistant in the HU Department of History and interns as a Cultural Resource Specialist with the US Department of Interior, National Park Service Museum & Archives Resource Center in Washington, DC.
Lora F. Hargrove: Her overall doctoral research is focused on the combined historical and theological connections between the African Diaspora and the motherland. Upon completion of her PhD, she hopes to continue to engage in public discourse an lectures and social engagement with audiences both within and outside of the Black church globally on the diasporic relevance in spiritually fluid and broad-based spaces.
Melanie R. Holmes: Her research interests include Black colonial resistance and Black Power movements. She hopes to use her doctoral work to inspire the youth to continue fighting for an equal society.
Alysha M. Page: After completing her Ph.D. she hopes to continue to bring to light the nuances of the Black experience in America and educate this generation as well as the next on this subject through continued community outreach and museum work.
Matthew Quainoo: His research interests explore the interdisciplinary intersections of nineteenth and twentieth century African-American intellectual, political, and religious history. Matthew holds a certificate in Black Church Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Margaret Reed: Her concentration at Howard University is in African American history with a particular interest in the US Colored Troops who served at the Union prisoner of war camp at Point Lookout, Maryland, during the American Civil War.

Tuition and Living Costs

Tuition Fee

International: 38100 USD/year
National: 38100 USD/year
In-State: 38100 USD/year

Tuition Fee Based on the tuition of 38100 USD per year during 12 months.

Living costs for Washington, D. C.

1705 - 2975 USD /month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

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