The doctoral program study in 1) European History with specialization in a) Pre-Modern Europe, with particular strengths in Muslim-Christian relations, the Crusades, and religious culture in Mediterranean-facing Europe; b) Modern Europe, with an emphasis on German history; and 2) American history, with special emphasis on Atlantic and transnational history, 19th century history, religious history, southern history, and African-American history.

Concentrations (Required)

American History
European History

Campus Code

Knoxville campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Successful completion of the BA or MA degree from an accredited institution. 
• Competitive scores on the Graduate Record Examination (general).

Academic Standards

• Maintain a 3.00 overall grade-point average in graduate work attempted.

American History Concentration

Credit Hours Required

72 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• Complete HIST 510  at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, (may be waived for comparable experience elsewhere).
• Minimum course requirements outlined by the Graduate School (48 graduate credit hours beyond the BA, or 24 graduate credit hours beyond the MA)
  • For students who enter without an MA, a minimum of 39 of the 48 credit hours of course work must be graded A-F.
    • Students who enter without an MA must complete 18 credit hours in their major doctoral field.
    • Nine credit hours of course work may be taken outside the department.
    • Students who enter without an MA must complete two 600-level research seminars.
  • For students who enter with an MA from another institution, a minimum of 27 of 36 credit hours must be graded A-F.
    • Students with an MA from another institution should take not only the 24 post-MA credit hours required by the Graduate School, but also an additional 12 credit hours, for a total of 36 credit hours at UT; if approved by the adviser, these additional 12 credit hours may include non-graduate-level language instruction.
    • Students who enter with an MA must complete 9 credit hours in their major doctoral field.
    • Students who enter with a non-thesis MA must complete two 600-level research seminars.
    • Students who enter with a thesis MA need complete only one 600-level research seminar and HIST 621 .
    • Up to six credit hours may be taken outside the department.
• All students must complete 9 credit hours in a teaching field, which will either be World History or an approved alternate field.
  • Alternate teaching field: This entails three courses in a major field other than the student’s own and requires approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, the student’s adviser, and a faculty member in charge of supervising that alternate field, and culminates in a two-hour oral exam conducted by the adviser and two course instructors. No more than one of these courses can be an independent study.
• All 600-level course work must be completed at the University of Tennessee.
• Except by prior approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in History, a student’s course work must be at the 500-level or above.
• Complete 24 credit hours of dissertation credit, HIST 600  
  • Original research forms the basis for the dissertation.
  • After passing the Comprehensive Examinations, Doctoral candidates must register for a minimum of 3 credit hours per semester of HIST 600 . Candidates must be engaged in some phase of active research to receive credit for HIST 600 .
  • A final oral defense is given on the dissertation in its historical context.

Non-Course Requirements

See information below

European History Concentration

Credit Hours Required

72 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• Complete HIST 510  at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, (may be waived for comparable experience elsewhere).
• Minimum course requirements outlined by the Graduate School (48 credit hours beyond the BA, or 24 credit hours beyond the MA)
• For students who enter without an MA, a minimum of 39 of the 48 credit hours of course work must be graded A-F.
  • Students who enter without an MA must complete 18 credit hours in their major doctoral field.
  • Nine credit hours of course work may be taken outside the department.
  • Students who enter without an MA must complete two 600-level research seminars.
• For students who enter with an MA from another institution, a minimum of 27 of 36 credit hours must be graded A-F.
  • Students with an MA from another institution should take not only the 24 post-MA credit hours required by the Graduate School, but also an additional 12 credit hours, for a total of 36 credit hours at UT; if approved by the adviser, these additional 12 credit hours may include non-graduate-level language instruction.
  • Students who enter with an MA must complete 9 credit hours in their major doctoral field.
  • Students who enter with a non-thesis MA must complete two 600-level research seminars.
  • Students who enter with a thesis MA need complete only one 600-level research seminar and HIST 621 .
  • Up to six credit hours may be taken outside the department.
• All students must complete 9 credit hours in a teaching field, which will either be World History or an approved alternate field.
  • Alternate teaching field: This entails three courses in a major field other than the student’s own and requires approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, the student’s adviser, and a faculty member in charge of supervising that alternate field, and culminates in a two-hour oral exam conducted by the adviser and two course instructors. No more than one of these courses can be an independent study.
• All 600-level course work must be completed at the University of Tennessee.
• Except by prior approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in History, a student’s course work must be at the 500-level or above.
• Complete 24 credit hours of dissertation credit, HIST 600 
  • Original research forms the basis for the dissertation.
  • After passing the Comprehensive Examinations, Doctoral candidates must register for a minimum of 3 credit hours per semester of HIST 600 . Candidates must be engaged in some phase of active research to receive credit for HIST 600 .
  • A final oral defense is given on the dissertation in its historical context.

Non-Course Requirements

This information is for both concentrations listed above.

• Fulfill the foreign language requirement.
  • Students must demonstrate competency in a foreign language or languages through coursework or examination.
    • Students in pre-Modern Europe will be required to pass three language exams, including Latin. The other two languages will be determined in consultation with the adviser.
    • Students in Modern Europe will be required to pass two language exams, as determined by the adviser.
    • Students in US history will be required to pass one language exam.
  • The foreign language requirement must be fulfilled before taking the comprehensive examination.
• Comprehensive Examination
  • The comprehensive examination consists of an eight-hour written exam and a two-hour oral exam and must be taken no later than the semester following the semester in which the student completes the residence, course work, and language requirement (summer excluded).
  • Failure to take the comprehensive examination within the required time will be counted as a failure on the examination.
  • Only students with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 will be allowed to take the comprehensive examination.
  • A student who fails the exam must repeat it the following semester (summer excluded).
  • A second failure on either exam will cause the student to be dropped from the history graduate program.
  • A student who does not repeat a failed exam within the required time will likewise be dismissed from the program.