History Department
Graduate Studies
History, M.A.
History, Ph.D.
The History Department offers the Ph.D. degree to students interested in research and teaching.
Graduate Funding Opportunities
Graduate students in the History Department are eligible for a variety of funding packages to support their coursework, living expenses and research costs. Some funds are dispersed by the department’s graduate committee, while many other funding opportunities are available through the Maxwell School and its affiliated institutes.
Graduate Assistantships
This is the most common form of aid, and has a contractual obligation which requires the recipient to assist one of the department’s professors by teaching discussion sections of a large lecture course. M.A. funding packages ordinarily consist of two one-year teaching assistantships. Ph.D. funding packages usually contain five one-year teaching assistantships.
The Hotchkiss Graduate Scholarships
Awarded jointly by the History Department and the Maxwell dean’s office. One or two annual awards are made (approximately $4,000) for travel scholarships to graduate students in history who have completed all of their requirements, comprehensive exams, and are "all but dissertation" (ABD) and not receiving any other financial aid from the department.
Summer Research Grants
The department awards additional funding to students making good progress to support preparatory research at the pre-dissertation stage, ongoing dissertation research or unique learning opportunities (such as summer workshops and language training) that go beyond the standard program of study. These include grants for domestic and international projects.
Cissie Fairchilds Fund for Graduate Student Research Travel
Named in honor of the late Professor Cissie Fairchilds, a distinguished historian and beloved mentor of graduate students, this fund supports expenses incurred by graduate students who travel for archival and library research.
University Funding
Outside Funding
Students are encouraged to consult the American Historical Association (AHA) for more information about grants, fellowships, awards and prizes. This resource is available online for AHA members through their website. Students are urged to consult the webpages and contact archivists at any archives to which they are interested in traveling for research. Many archives offer travel grants to encourage scholars to use their materials.
The Scholar Exchange Program
Graduate students at Syracuse University are able to augment their coursework by taking classes at either Cornell University or the University of Rochester through this program, run by the graduate school.
Please visit the graduate school website for more information on applications, deadlines and required approvals needed.
Future Professoriate Program
The Future Professoriate Program (FPP) helps graduate students build the teaching, research, and professional skills they’ll need for an academic career. Through workshops, annual conferences and a mentored independent teaching experience, participants develop a professional identity alongside their scholarly training.
Students who complete FPP activities and submit a teaching portfolio earn the University’s Certificate in University Teaching, a credential that complements the research and teaching preparation already built into doctoral education.