FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT
All entering students receive five-year funding packages. Graduate students will pay no tuition and we guarantee a minimum stipend of $31,950. In addition to this baseline of funding, graduate students will have access to several different grant funding programs, research and teaching positions, and be supported in applying for funding beyond the University. Incoming students are released from teaching obligations during their first year, and will be eligible for a year-long research assistantship following the successful completion of their comprehensive exams.
The Department supports Travel to Conferences for graduate students who are presenting a paper. Only one such grant will be allowed a student annually. The maximum award is $750. These awards can be, however, combined with funds available from the Graduate School. Applications must include an acceptance/invitation to the conference in question along with a budget. These should be submitted to the Chair of the Department and the DGS by email. There are no specific deadlines. You will be reimbursed for expenses based on the submission of acceptable receipts.
Summer Research and Travel Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications are due in spring of each year; the exact deadline and specifications are announced well in advance of the deadline. These require a proposal, budget, and a letter from your advisor. First-year graduate students participating in the research seminar receive priority for these grants, but all students who have legitimate research needs, especially involving travel to archives and libraries, are eligible. Decisions are made by the Graduate Committee. You will be reimbursed for expenses based on the submission of acceptable receipts documenting legitimate research costs as specified in your original application.
In years when it is financially able and at the discretion of the chair, the history department will offer up to $750 of support for current graduate students who are actively on the job market and attending the annual meeting of the AHA. These funds may be used for transportation, hotel accommodations, and other legitimate expenses associated with the conference. Students must write to the chair and DGS before the conference, requesting funding, and they must adhere to all university policies regarding expenditures and reimbursements.
The Department offers Research Assistantships to advanced graduate students (defined as students who have passed their comprehensive examinations by the time they begin the RA-ship), thus allowing them to spend one or two semesters conducting dissertation research. The RA-ships are awarded on a competative basis within the department. Applications for RA-ships are due during fall and spring semesters of each year.
Advanced Graduate Students have opportunities for independent teaching, which will be determined on a case by case basis.
Recent Ph.Ds (defined as those who are no more than five years from the award of their degree) who do not hold a permanent job (tenure-track or the equivalent) will be eligible for funds to support the evaluation of a book or grant proposal by our selected outside expert who has a working agreement with the University and Department. These grants are determined on an ad hoc, first-come, first-served basis by the Chair of the Department.
FUNDING SOURCES OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT
Graduate students in the Department of History have had a distinguished record of success in winning external grants and fellowships during their course of study.
A variety of research and travel grants are available to graduate students through the Center for the Humanities and the Institute for the Advanced Study of the Americas.
Writing fellowships are available for students who are focused primarily on writing their dissertations. Sources of support come from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School, the Institute for the Advanced Study of the Americas.
Professional Development Opportunities are available from UGrow, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Institute for the Advanced Study of the Americas, and the Center for the Humanities.
To support students who apply for these funding opportunities, the department offers a grant-writing workshop series, a professional development course, and programs to support students on the job market.
