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History Ph.D.’s: In and Out

It’s not easy to get into history Ph.D. programs and it’s not speedy to finish up.

Those conclusions are evident from new data from the American Historical Association, which started its annual meeting Thursday, in Atlanta.

History departments in the United States with doctoral programs received an average of 74.1 applications for the fall 2007 term and anticipate enrolling an average of 9.1 students. Those departments report currently having an average of 54.7 students, 62 percent of whom are receiving financial aid and 33 percent of whom are working as teaching assistants.

Of course for many observers of graduate education, the crucial question is whether students finish up. A majority in history do so, but for most it takes more than five years, and significant numbers also drop out — many after at least five years in the program.

[Click on the SOURCE link above to see a chart.]
Read entire article at Inside Higher Ed