History

M.A, Ph.D

The Department of History offers challenging and innovative M.A. and Ph.D. programs in established and new fields of historical inquiry. We have a stellar record of placing our doctoral students in academic appointments, prestigious post-doctoral fellowships and senior government positions in Canada and abroad. M.A. and Ph.D. graduates have also excelled in careers in government, media and private business. Many of our Ph.D. students publish their theses as highly-regarded books.

Our students are taught primarily in small all-graduate seminars, in which they engage in a lively, critical examination of historical writing, and delve into research in primary sources.

M.A. and Ph.D. students join an energetic young academic community. They participate in the departmental seminar series and biannually host the McGill-Queen’s Graduate History conference that draws students from across Canada and the US. As we are a mid-sized university and department, we are able to create for our students a rich, supportive learning community. Our Graduate History Students’ Association provides students with a voice within the department and plans social events throughout the year.

Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M.A.: 1 year
• Ph.D.: 4 years

Method of Completion

• M.A. Pattern I: Three full-year seminar courses and a short thesis or cognate essay
  
• M.A. Pattern II: Two full-year seminar courses and a longer thesis
  
• Ph.D.: Two full-year seminar courses, one singleterm course on historical theories and methods, two field requirements, one language requirement, thesis proposal, thesis and defence

Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes  M.A - view this information as a pdf (108KB)

PhD - view this information as a pdf (111KB)

Travel Opportunities

The department is committed to facilitating study-abroad opportunities for our students whenever possible. M.A. students have the opportunity to study for one term at Fudan University in Shanghai. Ph.D. students may take part in international graduate programs at the University of London, and Fudan University.

Supervisors and Fields of Study

Our students are equipped with a strong foundation for careers in government, law, journalism, education, public service, business, public history, and international commerce. Some of our graduates are currently employed as: tenure-track or tenured professors; post-doctoral fellows; researchers; policy advisors; archivist, City of Winnipeg; social policy researcher, Johannesburg; and fellow, National Gallery in Ottawa.

• Africa: Marc Epprecht , Robert Shenton
• Asia: Amitava Chowdhury, Emily Hill, Sandra den Otter,Ishita Pande
• Atlantic World: Caroline-Isabelle Caron, Jeffrey Collins, Andrew Jainchill, Jeffrey McNairn, Nancy van Deusen, Amitava Chowdhury
• British Isles: Donald Akenson, Jeffrey Collins, Sandra den Otter,
• Canada: Caroline-Isabelle Caron, Karen Dubinsky, E. Jane Errington, Ian McKay, Jeffrey McNairn, Marguerite Van Die, Barrington Walker
• Caribbean: Amitava Chowdhury
• Environmental: Colin Duncan
• Europe: Donald Akenson, Jeffery Collins, Anthony D'Elia, Sandra den Otter, Richard Greenfield, Adnan Husain, Andrew Jainchill, Harold Mah, Rebecca Manley, Ana Siljak, Timothy Smith
• Gender & Race: Karen Dubinsky, Marc Epprecht, Barrington Walker
• Intellectual: Caroline-Isabelle Caron, Jeffrey Collins, Rosanne Currarino, Antony D'Elia, Sandra den Otter, Andrew Jainchill, Harold Mah, Jeffrey McNairn
• Latin America: David Parker , Nancy van Deusen
• Medieval: Richard Greenfield , Adnan Husain
• Medicine: Jacalyn Duffin, Ishita Pande
• Middle Eastern & Islamic: Adnan Husain, Ariel Salzmann, Richard Greenfield
• Military: Allan English
• Russia: Rebecca Manley, Ana Siljak
• USA: James Carson, Rosanne Currarino
• World History: Ariel Salzmann, Amitava Chowdhury

Employment Opportunities

Our students are equipped with a strong foundation for careers in government, law, journalism, education, public service, business, public history, and international commerce. Some of our graduates are currently employed as: tenure-track or tenured professors; post-doctoral fellows; researchers; policy advisors; archivist, City of Winnipeg; social policy researcher, Johannesburg; and fellow, National Gallery in Ottawa.

Funding Information

Minimum funding guarantee for Ph.D. Students: $18,000. We also have a variety of internal awards available, including fellowships and travel scholarships.

We encourage all students to apply for external funding from OGS and SSHRC and other sources. Queen’s will automatically issue a $5,000 top-up to winners of federal government tri-council awards. Other external awards include the Department of National Defence Scholarship and Fellowship Programme, the CIDA Awards Program for Canadians, the Mackenzie King Scholarships and the Sir John A. Macdonald Graduate Fellowship in Canadian History.

Academic Prerequisites

M.A.:

• Minimum second-class standing in final two years of an Honours B.A. program in History from a recognized university (76-79%, 3.3 GPA)
• Students without sufficient background in history will need to take additional undergraduate course before applying.

Ph.D.:

• M.A. in History or equivalent from a recognized university
• First-class standing (minimum A- average, 3.7 GPA)

Other Requirements

• Writing sample
• Extended Statement of Interest

Test Requirements

For international students, if required, a TOEFL score of 627 (paper based), or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.

Program Profiles

• Ana Siljak (faculty) - loves a good story...
• Zozan Pehlivan - opportunity to do research overseas...