With an innovative, accomplished, and diverse faculty in a wide range of fields of study, an active and supportive intellectual community, significant student diversity, and the resources of one of the world’s great research libraries, the History Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers an exceptional environment for graduate study.
Among our core educational priorities in preparing graduate students is strong engagement with methods and approaches in history and other disciplines, early and regular primary-source research and writing before the dissertation, inclusion of both geographic and comparative/thematic fields, sustained and broad mentoring, and flexible career development. History at Illinois is a pioneer member of the American Historical Association's Career Diversity project. In 2019, it became one of only five history departments chosen to participate in the American Association of University's PhD Education Initiative, with the goal of fostering student-centered doctoral education and preparing students for a full range of career pathways.
Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds--in countries of birth and education, work experience, age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and physical ability--and we value the rich diversity of experience they bring to the community and their studies. See the Senate Resolution on Diversity Values Statement – Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
In coursework and in research and writing, Illinois history graduate students have been exploring an extraordinary range and variety of topics, themes, and time periods.
Extracurricular colloquia, reading groups, lectures by visiting scholars, workshops, and other events keep faculty and students engaged with cutting-edge research and interpretation.
In sum, our goal is for every student in our doctoral program to build a research record, gain teaching experience, and engage in other professional experiences necessary to succeed in the academic job market and beyond. We now offer an MA/MS Degree in History and Information Science. We do not have an independent MA degree in History.
A great deal of useful information about our program--including for prospective and current students--can be found in this website. Prospective students should especially look at https://history.illinois.edu/academics/graduate-studies/prospective-students-welcome-and-overview
Land Acknowledgment: As a land-grant institution, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a responsibility to acknowledge the historical context in which it exists. We are currently on the lands of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Peankashaw, Wea, Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Chickasaw Nations. It is necessary for us to acknowledge these Native Nations and for us to work with them as we move forward as an institution.
For more information contact Prof. Marc Hertzman, Director of Graduate Studies, hertzman@illinois.edu