How does one become a doctor of history?

Question

This is very far down the road for me, you see, I still have 15 years left in the Marine corps before I retire ( at 38). I would like to start school soon, but it is hard to find time with my work. I find history fascinating particularly warfare. My main concern is once I do start just being on the right track. Because I know nothing of higher education or how it works I haven't even the slightest idea about how to pursue such a goal and I was just looking for some guidance.

Answer 1

Step one:  get a BA in History.

Step two:  Go to graduate school for History.  If you went to a top undergraduate school and did well, you can go straight into a PhD program.  If you did well but didn't go to a good school, you might have to prove yourself first, by getting an MA in history at a decent school & then applying to PhD programs at a better school.

The PhD has several phases.  You usually take two to three years of classes.  At the end of the second year, you take a comprehensive exam on the material covered in the basic graduate courses.  Mine lasted two days -- and this is typical.

After you are done with your coursework, you usually have to take an oral exam.  This is usually done on material that you plan on using for your dissertation.  Passing this exam makes you an official "Candidate for a PhD."

The next step is to write a dissertation.  In history, this will be like writing a book that is several hundred pages long.  At most schools, you then have to "defend your presentation" -- which means you present your findings to the professors on your committee.  At the end, they sign off on your PhD, and you are a Doctor of History.

I got my PhD at Berkeley.  For some reason, they don't ask for a formal defense.  I just had to get the members of my committee to sign off on it.

Answer 2

Wow,. Ok man get ready for a "no sh*tter."

1.)  Its very competitive to a get a Phd in history and jobs are absolutely almost nil for history degrees.  My prof. told me that he barely landed a job as a history prof. and barely make 45k a year-tenued (fulltime).  He spent 8 yrs of his life in school and is hurting for funds.

2.)  Think you are going to teach warfare?  Think again.  Universities are extremely liberal.  Most wont teach a class on vietnam.  What you will be teaching is how evil the United States has been in the world and in particular: how oppressed women have been in the world.

You will also be taught that all men are evil and that Femenist Political Theory can somehow be applied to NATO security issues regarding Georgia and Ukraine.  Femenists will also teach you and your students that the deterioration of morals and norms is an absolute trend in society and that if the ratio of women to men were increased in olitical institutions their would be peace on the planet earth.

3.)  I have a history degree and it is useless except for applying for Organized Chicken Sh*t and teaching.

Answer 3

Hate to tell you, but finding a job with a PhD (doctorate) in history isn't going to be too easy either.  Hopefully you won't mind teaching college, and will be lucky enough to get a job teaching college when you're done.

To get a PhD in history, start by getting a 4-year college degree (bachelors) with a history major.  Then you can either go on for the masters degree (additional two years of coursework, may include a thesis) or go straight for the PhD (2-6 years of work, includes dissertation).