Princeton University History Department: A Comprehensive Overview
The History Department at Princeton University offers a comprehensive program for both undergraduate and graduate students, encouraging a deep engagement with historical study and research. This article provides an overview of the department, its programs, requirements, and resources.
Graduate Program in History
The Department of History's graduate program is designed to guide students through a rigorous course of study culminating in a Ph.D. The program is structured into two main phases: pre-generals and post-generals.
Pre-Generals: The First and Second Years
During the first two years, students focus on coursework, research papers, language requirements, and defining their fields of study.
Advising
The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) serves as the primary academic advisor, offering guidance on academic matters and interpreting departmental and university regulations. The DGS also acts as a liaison between students, faculty, and the Graduate School Office. The Financial Officer provides assistance with funding opportunities, such as departmental research, language study, and conference funding, and also aids students in job placement after graduation.
Courses
First-year students typically enroll in three courses each semester, including HIS 500 in the fall, which introduces them to the professional study of history. Second-year students usually take two courses in the first semester and one in the second, or alternatively, three courses in the first semester and dedicate the second semester to preparing for the general examination. Successful completion of nine graded graduate seminars is required before a student can take the general examination. These courses can include graduate seminars offered by the History Department, seminars in other departments, student-initiated Reading Courses, and graduate seminars at other institutions, subject to Graduate School approval. Students are encouraged to take courses outside their specific fields of study to broaden their knowledge.
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History 500 - Introduction to the Professional Study of History
This required seminar for first-year graduate students introduces them to the main traditions of historical inquiry and the major problems confronting contemporary historians.
Research Seminars
Research seminars focus on writing a research paper based on primary materials, with the instructor providing guidance on research methods and bibliographic tools. The selection of a manageable paper topic is crucial, and while the goal is not necessarily to produce a publishable paper, some research papers may evolve into publishable works with further research and revision. These seminars generally require a working knowledge of the field, including the relevant language skills for materials not in English.
Reading Seminars
Reading seminars introduce students to the major historical problems of a broad field, including the principal literature, interpretations, bibliographies, and current issues. These courses require written work, such as short reports, bibliographic essays, interpretive essays, or critical reviews. With the instructor's approval, a student may also produce a research paper.
Reading and Research Seminars
These seminars combine elements of both reading and research seminars, beginning with general background reading before proceeding to the preparation of a substantial research paper. Faculty may offer writing options, such as a bibliographic essay, for students who prefer not to write a long research paper.
Student-Initiated Reading Courses
Students may request permission to take a specially arranged graduate reading course with a faculty member if they wish to explore a field or topic not covered in the formal program. These courses require at least twelve regularly scheduled meetings, a grade and written evaluation from the faculty member, and a writing component.
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Supervised General Reading
With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, students may arrange individual tutorial work or "supervised general reading" with faculty members if other alternatives are unavailable. This option is suitable for students preparing for the general examination or needing to pursue a specific topic. Some written work is typically required.
Other Course Options
Graduate students may enroll in undergraduate lecture courses in history or other fields, with additional readings to supplement the undergraduate materials. This can be done individually or through a graduate precept. Enrollment in undergraduate courses may be advisable to prepare for a research seminar or to review a field before the general examination. Students are also encouraged to take courses in other departments relevant to their specialization, subject to the permission of the instructor and the graduate representative in the other department. The Graduate School also allows cross-registration with other institutions.
Research Papers
The department requires each student to write at least two research papers during their first two years to develop research skills. These papers can also be used to explore potential dissertation topics, and early research in the relevant language(s) is highly encouraged. Each paper must be certified as acceptable by the instructor. One of the two research papers must be written during the first year, either in a research seminar or in consultation with faculty independent of a formal course. The second research paper must be submitted and certified as acceptable by April 1 of the second year before the student can take the general examination. Students with an M.A. degree may request that their thesis or a research paper from their M.A. program be accepted as one of the required research papers, subject to faculty approval.
Definition of the Research Paper
The research paper emphasizes original work and the use of primary sources, demonstrating a student's capacity for dissertation-level research. It closely resembles a journal article in genre.
Language Requirement
The department requires a reading knowledge of either French or German (or Spanish in the case of American History). Additional language requirements are determined by the faculty within each field of study. In rare cases, another language may be substituted with the agreement of the student, advisor, and Director of Graduate Studies.
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The General Exam
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Post-Generals: The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Years
In the third, fourth, and fifth years, students focus on researching and writing their dissertation.
Duration and Enrollment
The normal duration of the Ph.D. program is five years, which includes coursework, exams, and dissertation research and writing. Formal enrollment ceases after the fifth year, but students in their sixth year are eligible for Degree Completion Enrollment (DCE) status.
Financial Support
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Departmental Funding Opportunities
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Governance
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Job Placement
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Alumni
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Undergraduate Program in History
The undergraduate history program at Princeton is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of history while allowing them to focus on their specific interests. History majors must take twelve courses in the Department: one 200- or 300-level prerequisite, the Junior Seminar (History 400), the History Senior Thesis courses (HIS 498 and HIS 499), and eight other departmental courses.
Curriculum Structure
The undergraduate history program is structured to encourage both depth and breadth of knowledge. Students are encouraged to immerse themselves in a particular time or place and gain a broad sense of history.
Course Requirements
Majors must take one course in each of four thematic areas: Knowledge & Belief, Power & Conflict, Pre-Modern (pre-1700), Race & Difference. In addition, students are required to take at least two courses that are principally focused on Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East. Courses taken to fulfill the thematic and geographical requirements may overlap. History courses taken in the first and sophomore years are counted among the twelve required for graduation.
Independent Work
Central to the undergraduate History major are two junior papers and the senior thesis. In their junior year, History majors write two junior papers, one in each semester. In their senior year, students complete year-long independent research that culminates in the senior thesis (HIS 498 and HIS 499). The History Department offers financial support, on a competitive basis, to seniors who travel to conduct archival research.
Year-by-Year Breakdown of Requirements
First and Sophomore Year
The history department requires all students to enter the major having taken one 200- or 300-level course. This course can count as a distribution requirement. Students are welcome and encouraged to take more courses before declaring.
Junior Year
All students are required to take HIS 400 and, for the Class of 2028 and beyond, HIS 398.
Senior Year
All students are required to take HIS 498 and HIS 499 as part of their senior thesis work.
Distribution Courses and Electives
Besides HIS 400, HIS 398, HIS 498, and HIS 499, history majors take nine departmentals: 4 thematic and 5 electives. These courses should also fulfill the 2 geographic requirements, which can double-count with either the thematic or electives. History courses taken in the freshman and sophomore years are counted among those required for graduation. Students may not designate any departmental courses âPass-Failâ even if the minimum twelve courses have been completed.
Prerequisites
For the class of 2025 and beyond, students are required to take and pass one course at the 200 or 300 level; a second course is recommended but not required.
Distribution Requirements
Students must satisfy both thematic and geographical distribution requirements.
Thematic Distribution Requirement
Students must take at least one course in each of the following four thematic areas:
- Knowledge & Belief (KB)
- Power & Conflict (PC)
- Pre-Modern, pre-1700 (PM)
- Race & Difference (RD)
Geographical Distribution Requirement
Students are required to take at least two (2) courses that are principally focused on Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East. These courses may double-count with the thematic requirements OR History electives, but not both.
Special Track for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine (HSTM)
History majors wishing to pursue the HSTM track are required to meet the thematic requirements (4 courses) and geographic requirement (2 courses, which can overlap with the thematic) among their courses (that include one 200- or 300-level prerequisite, the Junior Seminar (HIS 400), and the senior thesis (HIS 498 and 499)). They must also take courses that satisfy the following requirements:
- Two courses in science, engineering, or mathematics in addition to those used to fill the University's science distribution requirement.
- Four HSTM courses.
- Four additional history courses.
Cognate Approval
The Department allows students to take courses in other departments that will add depth and variety to their study of history. When taken during the junior and senior year, up to two such courses may be counted as departmental courses i.e., cognates, provided they contribute significantly to the student's major and/or independent work, and are substantially historical in their content. The designation of a course as a cognate must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).
Study Abroad
Students in the Department are encouraged to participate in programs for foreign study approved by the University. Courses approved for Study Abroad do not fulfill any thematic or geographic distribution requirements. These courses will satisfy elective course requirements but will not count toward the determination of honors.
Policies for Students Studying Abroad
Sophomores intending to major in History and intending to study abroad in the fall term of their junior year should enroll in the junior seminar (HIS 400) in the spring semester of the sophomore year. Juniors majoring in the Department may receive credit for up to four courses in history taken while abroad for either a full year or semester. These courses require the prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and are based on review of the course syllabi and requirements. Recognizing the difficulties of doing research without Princeton's many resources, the Department will be flexible regarding deadlines of submission of independent work conducted abroad.
Senior Departmental Examination
The senior departmental exam takes the form of a discussion of the studentâs thesis and the studentâs experience in the Department. Three people will be present at the exam: the student, the adviser, and the thesisâs second reader. The exam will last approximately 30 minutes and count for 5% of the studentâs Departmental GPA.
Graduation Requirements and Honors
In order to qualify for a bachelor's degree a student must (a) fulfill the History Department's course distribution requirements, (b) receive a passing grade on the senior thesis and (c) achieve C or better in a departmental average calculated by the departmental honors formula. Departmental honors are calculated according to the following formula:
- Departmental course grades equal 45%.
- Junior independent work equals 15%.
- The senior thesis equals 35%.
- The senior departmental examination equals 5%.
Grading Practices
The Department offers guidelines on graded work. Students are encouraged to fully engage with course material, both in their papers and their precept discussions.
Papers
An A or A- thesis, paper, or exam is one that is good enough to be read aloud in a class. It is clearly written and well-organized. It demonstrates that the writer has conducted a close and critical reading of texts, grappled with the issues raised in the course, synthesized the readings, discussions, and lectures, and formulated a perceptive, compelling, independent argument. A B+ or B thesis, paper, or exam demonstrates many aspects of A-level work but falls short of it in either the organization and clarity of its writing, the formulation and presentation of its argument, or the quality of research. A B- thesis, paper, or exam demonstrates a command of course or research material and understanding of historical context but provides a less than thorough defense of the writer's independent argument because of weaknesses in writing, argument, organization, or use of evidence. A C+, C, or C- thesis, paper, or exam offers little more than a mere a summary of ideas and information covered in the course, is insensitive to historical context, does not respond to the assignment adequately, suffers from frequent factual errors, unclear writing, poor organization, or inadequate primary research, or presents some combination of these problems. A D thesis, paper, or exam demonstrates serious deficiencies or severe flaws in the student's command of course or research material. An F thesis, paper, or exam demonstrates no competence in the course or research materials. It indicates a student's neglect or lack of effort in the course.
Precepts and Seminar
A student who receives an A for participation in discussion in precepts or seminars typically comes to every class with questions about the readings in mind. An 'A' discussant engages others about ideas, respects the opinions of others, and consistently elevates the level of discussion. A student who receives a B for participation in discussion in precepts or seminars typically does not always come to class with questions about the readings in mind. A 'B' discussant waits passively for others to raise interesting issues. A student who receives a C for discussion in precepts or seminars attends regularly but typically is an infrequent or unwilling participant in discussion. A student who fails to attend precepts or seminars regularly and adequately prepared for discussion risks the grade of D or F.
Senior Departmental Examination
In an A or A- comprehensive exam, the student conveys his or her main ideas with clarity and precision. The exercise demonstrates that the student has grappled with reader comments on the senior thesis and is able to respond concretely and persuasively to the questions of examiners. Finally, the exercise affirms that the student has thoughtfully considered the relationship between the senior thesis and other work in the Department, and is able to articulate a compelling account of her or his intellectual development while at Princeton. In a B+ or B comprehensive exam, the student demonstrates many aspects of A-level work but falls short of it either in the clarity or cogency of responses to reader comments, examiner questions, or the ability to make connections between independent research and coursework. In a B- comprehensive exam, the student struggles to respond cogently to reader comments, while responding to examiner questions in a less than thorough manner. The exam reveals significant weaknesses in presentation, argument, or use of evidence. In a C+, C, or C- comprehensive exam, the student does not respond to reader comments adequately, while failing to provide clear answers to questions from examiners. The exam is insensitive to historical context, suffers from frequent factual errors, or presents some combination of these problems.
Course Offerings
The History Department offers sixty different undergraduate courses each year. A combination of lecture classes and limited-enrollment seminars, History courses cover two thousand years of human experience in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The faculty approach these areas from a variety of disciplinary perspectives: Cultural, Economic, Environmental, Ethnic, Gender, Intellectual, Labor, Political, Social, and Urban history.
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