Graduate Program

Program: Coursework

Overview

History gradaute students usually take four courses each semester of their first two years in the program. Eight of these courses must be taken for a letter grade. In taking these letter-graded courses, along with History 3900, students meet the coursework requirements for the AM degree, which are listed below. A grade of B or higher must be received in these courses for it to count toward the degree requirements.

1 History 3900: Writing History
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2 History Seminars
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4 Additional History Courses
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2 Electives
9 Half-Courses

In addition to these nine courses in the first two years, students prepare for the general exam by registering for a series of History 3010s. This is a directed study that students take with each member of the general exam committee. 3010 is by default graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and does not count toward the required nine courses. However, by completing a petition to take 3010 as a graded course, students may simultaneously satisfy the letter-graded course requirements outlined above and prepare for the general exam. A graded 3010 may count as a research seminar, as a history department course, or as an elective, but it may not be used in place of History 3900. The letter grades for History 3010 are held internally by the department, and a supplemental transcript letter may be requested from the gradaute coordinator.

History 3920hf: Colloquium on Teaching

Usually taken in the third year, the Teaching Colloquium is a required course for the PhD degree. The course meets several times in both the fall and spring semesters, and is led by a senior faculty member and a teaching fellow. The course is an introduction to teaching both at Harvard and beyond, and helps students gain familiarity with a range of techniques and styles of teaching.

Incompletes

The department strongly discourages students from taking incompletes. If you are considering taking an incomplete, you must first speak with your instructor. Incomplete coursework must be submitted to the instructor by the end of the subsequent term, or the incomplete grade will become permanent.

Petitions

Petitions to have lecture or conference courses count as seminars, or to have courses or seminars offered by faculty outside the department count toward History requirements, may be considered by the Director of Graduate Studies. Petitions may be found on the graduate resources site. If you have questions about a specific petition please contact the graduate coordinator.

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