U NI V ERS I T Y O F S OUTH C AROLI NA D EPARTMENT OF H IST O R Y G RADUATE S TUD EN T H ANDBOOK

Transcription

1 U NI V ERS I T Y O F S OUTH C AROLI NA D EPARTMENT OF H IST O R Y G RADUATE S TUD EN T H ANDBOOK

2 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS GRADUATE STUDY IN HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA I. CURRICULUM AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS...1 FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION...1 TIMETABLES...1 II. M.A. COURSE REQUIREMENTS.. 2 M.A. (TRADITIONAL) COURSE REQUIREMENTS... 2 M.A. (PUBLIC HISTORY) COURSE REQUIREMENTS PUBLIC HISTORY INTERNSHIPS...3 PUBLIC HISTORY PORTFOLIO PRESENTATION...3 CHOOSING AN ADVISOR 3 FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT...4 MASTERS PROGRAM OF STUDY FORM...4 M.A. THESIS...4 FORMAT CHECK 4 DEADLINES 5 GRADUATION APPLYING FROM THE M.A. TO THE PHD PROGRAM... 5 TRANSFERRING COURSEWORK FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSITY..5 III. PHD REQUIREMENTS...5 FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION...5 PHD COURSE REQUIREMENTS...5 FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT...6 M.A. THESIS...6 ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FOR THE PHD DEGREE/QUALIFYING EXAMS...6 CHOOSING AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR....7 SCHEMA OF COMMITTEES.7 PHD COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS...7 WRITTEN EXAMS...8 COMPS ORAL DEFENSE...8 SCHEMATIC OF THE PROCESS PRIOR TO THE DISSERTATION.8 IV. DISSERTATION...9

3 iii PROSPECTUS DEFENSE...9 DISSERTATION COMMITTEE DISSERTATION DEFENSE...10 FORMAT CHECK AND FINAL SUBMISSION OF DISSERTATION DEADLINES V. ASSISTANTSHIPS, FEES, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE...10 ASSISTANTSHIPS...11 UNIVERSITY FEES AND TUITION...11 STIPENDS AND TUITION ABATEMENT...12 HEALTH INSURANCE...12 ESTABLISHING Z-STATUS...13 FINANCIAL AID...13 VI. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FELLOWSHIPS, AND AWARDS...13 PUBLICATIONS...13 CONFERENCES...14 HISTORY DEPARTMENT TRAVEL GRANTS...14 CERTIFICATE IN MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRAVEL GRANTS...14 GRADUATE SCHOOL TRAVEL GRANTS...15 HISTORY DEPARTMENT FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS...15 DARRICK HART AWARD...15 UNIVERSITY FELLOWSHIPS...16 NATIONAL GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS...16 GRADUATE STUDENT DAY...16 VII. PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT..16 VIII. GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS...17 HISTORY CENTER...17 READING AND WRITING GROUPS...17 GRADUATE HISTORY ASSOCIATION (GHA)...18 GRADUATE HISTORY ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (GSA)...18 SC HISTORY ADVOCATES...18 EXHIBITING LOCAL ENTERPRISE (ELE)...18 COLLECTIONS VOLUNTEER GROUP...19

4 iv IX. CAMPUS SERVICES...19 GRADUATE COMPUTER LAB...19 GRADUATE LOUNGE...19 GAMBRELL LOWER LEVEL COMPUTER LAB...19 DEPARTMENT MAILING LISTS...19 THOMAS COOPER LIBRARY...20 LIBRARY CARRELS...20 LIBRARY ANNEX...20 COUNSELING SERVICES...21 THOMPSON STUDENT HEALTH CENTER...21 CENTER FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE (CTE)...21 PARKING...21 WRITING CENTER...22 GAMECOCK ATHLETICS...22 X. LIVING IN COLUMBIA...22 (Please contact Lauren Sklaroff, Director of Graduate Studies, at with any questions, suggestions, or corrections)

5 Graduate Study in History at the University of South Carolina Graduate study in history at USC provides training for a variety of rewarding careers. We have concentrated our efforts in the areas of specialization in which we have significant advantages in preparing students for a challenging profession. Through this strategy we have become a leader in some of the most important current developments in the field of history, including the rise of new intellectual approaches to the discipline and the increased commitment of historians to reach broader public audiences. We offer three different graduate degrees: the PhD, the MA, and the MA in Public History. These are discrete degree programs, though students can take the same courses. I. Curriculum and Degree Requirements Fields of Specialization and Entrance Requirements Most graduate students in history at USC concentrate in US history. US History is divided into two different periods of specialization US to 1877 (which includes colonial America), and US since Other possible fields for the PhD include Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Latin America, and two thematically focused fields: Culture, Identity, and Economic Development (CIED) which offers students the option of designing their own thematic field; and Science, Technology, and the Environment (STE). In addition to US to 1877, US since 1789, Latin America, CIED, and STE, the MA is also offered in Ancient, Medieval, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and African history. The MA in public history offers two concentrations: Historic Preservation and Museums. No prior graduate degrees are required for any of these programs. Students can enter any USC history graduate program, including the PhD, directly with a Bachelor s degree. It is no longer required that PhD students first earn an MA en route to the PhD. Still, a number of our PhD students do come with a Masters in history (between 20-40% of each class). Furthermore, MA students, from USC or elsewhere, are not automatically accepted into the PhD program and must complete the USC graduate school application including GRE scores. PhD students do have the option of simultaneously enrolling in the MA in Public History and earning both degrees, and this option is encouraged for students considering public history positions upon graduation. Timetables The PhD takes between 4-7 years to complete, depending on whether the student entered with an MA and their field of research. Starting in the fall of 2012, students are no longer required to earn an MA en route to the PhD, though they may choose to do so if they want. PhD coursework expires after 8 years and has to be re- validated in order

6 2 to count towards a USC degree. Students who need to re- validate coursework should do so when they are ready to graduate, not when the courses first expire. The traditional MA is a two year degree, though some students use an extra semester to complete the thesis. The public history MA is also a two- year degree, though adding a certificate (e.g., museum management, cultural resource management) will extend the time to degree by a semester. Many public history students complete their degree in August, though any student considering this timetable should ensure that his or her thesis adviser will be available in the summer. MA coursework expires after 6 years and must be revalidated or retaken. For details about current year deadlines, please consult the USC Graduate School s website. A general (non- department specific) chart of the steps to the MA and PhD degrees is available at II. MA Course Requirements The MA in history requires 30 hours of coursework. Required courses are: HIST 720 (Introduction to the Study of History) Four reading seminars in a primary field. For students concentrating in US History this means two of the following: HIST 701/752 (Colonial US), 702 (US from ), and 703 (US from present), plus two additional 700 level courses in history. For students in other areas this means four relevant reading courses approved by the advisor and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). Three reading courses in a second field (should not be a subset of the primary field) History 800 (Topics in Research) or a research seminar in which a primary source based, article- length paper is written History 799 (Thesis Preparation) MA (Public History) Requirements Courses The MA in Public History requires 30 hours of coursework, plus a pre- approved internship of at least 145 hours, typically performed during the summer between the

7 3 first and second years. The internship cannot be performed in the summer prior to official enrollment. HIST 720 (Introduction to the Study of History) Four courses in public history. At least 2 in your concentration (e.g., museums or historic preservation). Three reading courses in a minor field. The minor field can be US history, Latin America, Europe, STE, or CIED. For students in US History this generally means two of the following: HIST 701/752 (Colonial US), 702 (US from ), or 703 (US from present), plus a third. History 800 (Topics in Research) or a research seminar in which a primary source based, article- length paper is written History 799 (Thesis Preparation) Internship - - You must work at least 145 hours in a professional capacity. You may work more than this, particularly if your internship is part of a formal internship program with a set schedule. In addition, you must complete an advance contract, do the work agreed upon, and submit a final report. Your institutional supervisor must send a written report evaluating you at the conclusion of the internship. For more information see the link to Internship Requirements: uate%20study/internship%20guidelines.html Portfolio Presentation - - The Portfolio brings together all of your work over your graduate career at USC. You should begin thinking about the Portfolio during your first semester and systematically collect copies of everything you create: both public history products and seminar papers from traditional history courses. The presentation is a formal public event that is scheduled for one day at the end of the Fall, Spring, and Summer II semesters. Each student will be asked to discuss the contents of the Portfolio and its relation to what he/she has learned within the course of study in the Public History Program. The presentation is intended to give you experience in public speaking and describing your work in an interview situation. Only one Portfolio Presentation will be scheduled each semester. For more information see the link to Portfolio Guidelines: uate%20study/portfolio%20guidlines.html General MA Requirements (for both MA and MA in Public History) Choosing an Advisor - - Every entering student will have an advising committee with three members two people in the students expected field (for public historians one will be a public historian and the second, a historian in the student s projected primary

8 4 field) and the Director of Graduate Studies. The student is encouraged to consult any or all of these advisors in planning coursework, fields, research papers, and other professional matters. Foreign Language All MA students must demonstrate competence in a foreign languages or a relevant methodology (such as statistics or GIS). This competency can be demonstrated by taking an exam offered by the department of Languages, Literatures, and Culture or by taking a course in the methodology. See and contact the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for information on specific language exams. Please note that methods options must be approved by the advisor AND DGS. Program of Study Form As soon as possible, each student should complete a Masters Program of Study Form, have it signed by their advisor and the DGS and work with the Graduate Student Service Coordinator to file it with the Graduate School. Courses can be put prospectively (i.e., prior to taking them) on the MPoS and amended if necessary. The form is available at MA Thesis An MA degree is awarded upon successful completion of coursework including three hours of HIST 799, the submission of an approved thesis, and an oral comprehensive exam on the thesis. The MA thesis must meet the Graduate School s formatting requirements. These can be accessed at The thesis is usually (but need not be) an extension and revision of a research paper written in HIST 800. For this reason, it is recommended that HIST 800 be taken in the spring of the first year (to allow for further research over the summer) and certainly NO later that the fall of the second year. Each student will have a thesis advisor (who MUST be regular faculty in the USC history department) and a second reader (who need not be in the history department or even at USC, but who must be approved by the DGS). A thesis advisor should be selected by the beginning of the second year. The second reader of the thesis should be determined by the end of the third semester. The DGS will request the CV of any reader outside the USC regular faculty and will ask the student for a written justification of the reader s suitability and credentials. These two faculty members will provide the oral examination of the thesis. Students must have a thesis advisor in order to sign up for HIST 799. The Graduate Student Services Coordinator provides the course code for 799, which is specific to the particular advisor. Students sign up to take 799 with that advisor. Format Check and Final Submission The student must submit the thesis electronically to the graduate school for a format check. Students in history typically use the Chicago Manual of Style citation and bibliographical formats. The student should endeavor to get it right the first time. After the defense the student must submit the final version to

9 5 the graduate school along with several forms. See Deadlines see for relevant, current filing deadlines. Graduation Students must apply for graduation within fifteen days of the start of the semester in which they plan to graduate. They must be enrolled during that semester. Each term s deadlines for thesis submission are available at Applying from the MA to the PhD Program Students who earn an MA through the traditional or the public history programs must re- apply to USC to be considered as a PhD student. This student will be evaluated as all other applicants to the PhD program. If the student is admitted and enrolls, the MA coursework at USC can be applied to the PhD, assuming it has not expired (there is a 6 year expiration date on MA courses). Transferring Graduate Coursework from Other Universities Students Students with an MA from another institution must have their coursework vetted by USC faculty (a process coordinated by the DGS) in order to count toward the PhD on the official program of study. Typically, no more than 9 hours is approved. III. PhD Requirements, prior to dissertation Fields - - PhD students choose three fields of specialization. The primary field is chosen from US to 1877, US since 1789, Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Latin America, Culture Identity and Economic Development (CIED), or Science Technology and the Environment (STE). These can also be minor (secondary or tertiary) fields, though trans- national, thematic areas (such as comparative slavery or Atlantic World) can also be designated minor fields. The student can also choose to do one field outside of history as either the secondary or tertiary field with an examiner from outside the department. Courses - - The PhD degree requires 60 hours total. It is no longer required to earn an MA en route to the PhD, though a student can do so at his or her discretion. Of the 60 hours, there are 42 hours (14 courses) of classes required. These are broken down as follows. History 720 (Intro to the Study of History) taken in the first semester (3 credits) 4 seminars in the primary field (12 credits) 3 seminars in the secondary field (9 credits) 2 seminars in the tertiary field (6 credits) 2 research seminars (can be taken as either HIST 800, Topics in Historical Research, or as a reading seminar in which a primary source based, article- length paper is produced) (6 credits) History 783 (History and Theory) (3 credits)

10 6 History 815 (Dissertation Prospectus) typically taken after the comprehensive exams are done. (3 credits) Students must take enough HIST 899 (Dissertation Prep) to equal 60 total hours. Typically this is 18 hours, taken 6 hours per semester for three semesters. After that students are encouraged to move to special enrollment status (see Z- status, below). Foreign Language Requirement - - In order to take comprehensive exams, students must pass an exam offered by the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department showing reading competency in a foreign language. These are usually ~500 word passages which must be translated in a 2 hour period, usually using a dictionary (but not an online translation aid). See Students may substitute an appropriate methodology such as Statistics or GIS with permission of their advisor and the DGS. Such a competency is usually demonstrated by passing a class at USC on the method. MA Thesis HIST 799 may be taken if the student desires an MA degree. An MA degree is awarded upon successful completion of: three hours of HIST 799, the production of an approved thesis and an oral comprehensive exam on the thesis. The MA thesis is NOT a requirement of the PhD degree. Admission to Candidacy for the PhD Degree Students are admitted to candidacy upon completion of the qualifying exam. This isn t really an exam, per se. It requires: hours of graduate coursework at USC with an average of B or better. 2. The (electronic) submission and approval (by the student s primary advisor and the DGS) of an original research paper (usually completed in HIST 800 or another research seminar). Papers are submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator. 3. The filing of a Doctoral Program of Study (DPoS). As soon as possible, each student should complete a DPoS, have it signed by their advisor and the DGS and work with the Graduate Student Service Coordinator to file it with the Graduate School. Courses can be put prospectively (i.e., prior to taking them) on the DPoS and amended if necessary. The form is available at Oddly, admission to candidacy precedes the comprehensive exams at USC (it follows the completion of the qualifying exam which isn t an exam at all in the history department). This is different from many other institutions, where admission to candidacy occurs upon completion of the comprehensive exams.

11 7 Choosing an Academic Advisor Every entering student will have an advising committee with three members two in the student s projected primary field (who will be possible comp examiners and also possible dissertation directors) and the Director of Graduate Studies. The student is encouraged to consult any or all of these advisors in planning coursework, fields, research papers, and other professional matters. At the end of the second year this committee will be replaced with a comprehensive exam committee consisting of the four examiners, though any members from the advisory committee can be carried forward to the comps committee. After comps, there is a dissertation committee, consisting of the dissertation director, at least two readers who are members of the USC regular graduate faculty (history or another department), and an outside reader. The committee must have at least 4 members. The outside reader can be from another department at USC or can be from another university. A member of the regular graduate faculty at USC in another department can serve as either an inside or outside member of the dissertation committee. Any committee member from outside the USC regular graduate faculty must provide a CV and be approved by the DGS. Students are strongly encouraged to seek a committee member from outside USC, in consultation with their dissertation director. There is a Graduate School form for the comps and dissertation committees that is filed by the Graduate Student Services Coordinator. Schema of Committees: Years 1-2: Advisory Committee assigned by DGS (3 members) Years 2-3: Comprehensive Exam Committee chosen by student (4 examiners. Committee can have 5 members, including 4 examiners and a neutral chair. if comp committee members are all from history department.) Years 3-6+: Dissertation Committee chosen by student (4+ members, including one outside the USC Department of History) PhD Comprehensive Exams Before the end of the third year, and ideally by January of the third year (following the fifth semester of graduate study at USC), students will complete four written exams in three fields. These are the three fields in which courses have been taken, though the exams cover more than a mere conglomeration of coursework. There are four exams and four examiners two in the primary field and one for each of the minor fields. Following the last of the written exams, no later than 30 days after the last one is written, an oral defense of the exams is required. If examiners are unable to agree on a time and date within the 30 day deadline, the student should inform the Director of Graduate Studies or the Department Chair. Advisors are typically chosen for each field during the first four semesters- - the earlier, the better. There is also a comprehensive exam committee chair who does not offer an exam but who oversees the oral exam; this need not be someone in the history department, and, in fact, is often a faculty member in another department. By May of the second year, all the advisors should be chosen and should have agreed to offer the

12 8 exams in the timeframe proposed. Students should work with their advisors to construct a reading list of books and articles that the exam will cover. Advisors have great discretion about the size of the list and the format of the questions. Readings and exam formats should be tailored to serve the needs of the individual student. With approval of the graduate director, one of the examiners can come from outside the history department, typically for a cognate field. Written Exams Exams can be taken three times per year: January before the start of spring classes, May after end of the spring semester, or August before the start of the fall semester. The exam period will be set by the DGS and coordinated by the Graduate Student Services Coordinator. The four written exams can be taken together in the same exam period or can be taken over different periods, though they all should be completed by January of the student s third year (before the start of the sixth semester). Students who fail to complete their exams in the third year will not be considered to be making adequate progress and risk a loss of funding. Students with MAs in hand should endeavor to complete them by the end of the second year, though satisfactory progress still requires only that they be completed in the third year. Exams are proctored by the Graduate Student Services coordinator, and students take them on campus in the department computer room or the library. Each written exam is scheduled for four hours. Each examiner stipulates what materials can be used during their exam. The written exams are graded on an A, B+, B, or F scale by the examiner and the grades recorded in the student s departmental file. Comps Oral Defense An oral exam will be taken as quickly after the final written exam as can be scheduled. The oral exam will gather all of the examiners who will ask questions about the exam and in some cases about the reading lists. Each examiner will be provided an opportunity to ask questions of the student. The exam will take between 1-1/2 and 2 hours. There will be a chair who allots time to each examiner and may also ask questions. At the end of the oral exam, after the examiners confer privately, the student will be informed as to whether s/he passed, passed with distinction, or failed. A graduate school comprehensive exam verification form ( is required to be submitted immediately after the exam. The student s official DPOS (program of study) form is typically submitted at this time. Schematic of Process to the Dissertation: Our process is as follows: 1. Complete at least 15 hours of coursework, then 2. Hand- in an original research paper to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator for DGS approval (who will contact the professor for whom the paper was produced). With these two requirements complete, the DGS files a qualifying exam memo/form with the Graduate School.

13 9 IV. The Dissertation 3. Ask Student Services Coordinator to file Comprehensive Exam Committee Form with Grad School. 4. Student may begin written comprehensive exams as soon as they have selected an examiner and they and their examiner agree upon the scope of literature that the exam will cover. Typically, once the relevant courses have been completed, the written comp should be scheduled. 5. Student completes 39 hours of required coursework and passes language exam. Once these requirements are met, students are eligible to complete their comprehensive exams. 6. Students should plan to take 815 right after completing comps in either August or January. 815 is typically offered in the spring term. Students completing comps in May should consult with their advisors and the DGS to determine whether 815 should be taken before the completion of comps. 7. Completion of comps means a student is officially ABD (all but dissertation). 815 is typically the last course required, although students are still able to enroll in courses after comps. The dissertation is usually the single most important exercise of a graduate education in history. There are good resources on the American Historical Association s website about conceptualizing and writing a dissertation. See Preparing to write a dissertation requires significant reading in addition to the reading lists for the comprehensive exams, knowledge of where possible sources are, and the experience of writing research and historiographical articles, which are essentially dissertation chapters. Ideally one or both of the research papers produced in the research seminars can be re- shaped into dissertation chapters, but in some cases the dissertation research takes an interesting turn rendering the prior work irrelevant. The course HIST 815 (dissertation prospectus workshop) helps students prepare to write a dissertation and should be taken during the spring following (or simultaneous with) the completion of the comprehensive exams. Prospectus Defense The AHA provides a useful guide for producing a dissertation proposal at Students should have a defense of their prospectus including all USC- based members of their committee. The purpose of the defense is to get feedback on the prospectus and to allow the committee to exchange their views about the dissertation project. Upon completion of a successful defense, the student is considered to be ABD (all but dissertation).

14 10 Dissertation Committee - - In the semester prior to the completion of the dissertation, the committee should be formalized and a dissertation committee form filed (or modified) with the Graduate School. Every committee must have an outside reader whose institutional home is outside the USC history department. However, committees can be interdisciplinary; that is, non- history faculty at USC can count as either inside or outside members of the committee. A committee member from outside the university (or outside the regular graduate faculty of the university) needs to provide a CV and be approved by the DGS. Students are encouraged to seek one reader outside USC in consultation with their dissertation advisor. Dissertation Defense The student has to be enrolled during the semester the dissertation is defended. Fifteen days after the start of the term in which the student plans to finish, the student should apply for graduation. There is no penalty if one applies then is unable to finish. Upon approval of the dissertation director, an oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled. A form must be filed announcing the dissertation defense at least 14 days prior to the defense. This includes the dissertation director, two readers, outside committee member and a neutral chair who runs the actual defense. All committee members should sign the form if the student passes the defense (which is contingent upon having an approvable dissertation). At the end of the defense the student should have a list of the minor changes that need to be made in order to the final submission to be approved. The final submission is also governed by the deadlines on the Graduate School s website. The dissertation defense has to occur by the dissertation defense deadline listed on the Graduate School s homepage ( in order to qualify for and walk in graduation. There is a special doctoral hooding ceremony in conjunction with graduation. Format Check and Final Submission The student must submit the dissertation electronically to the graduate school for a format check. Students in history typically use the Chicago Manual of Style citation and bibliographical formats. The student should endeavor to get it right the first time. After the defense the student must submit the final version to the graduate school along with several forms. See Deadlines For current, relevant filing dates, see V. Assistantships, Fees, and Financial Assistance Assistantships

15 11 The department helps students support themselves during graduate school through a variety of assistantships. Almost all PhD candidates and many students pursuing an MA in History work as teaching assistants or as research assistants for department faculty. Students in the Public History program are eligible for these assistantships, but they can also work in assistantships designed to provide experience and professional contacts in museums, archives, and other non- academic settings. There are several different kinds of assignments for teaching assistantships. Some students work as graders in lecture courses without discussion sections. Other students lead discussion sections of lecture courses and grade undergraduates work in those courses. A few advanced PhD students are the instructors of record in courses that they design and teach independently. To be eligible, students must have passed all of their comprehensive exams. Students on the job market who have not taught their own class yet will be given priority. Students who have taught two or more times before will be given a lower priority, which means that some will be assigned to TAing again (if they have funding remaining). This is not a demotion, but rather a decision to offer this opportunity to as many of PhD candidates as possible. Students with 3 or more semesters of funding (i.e., most 4 th year students) remaining will also be a lower priority. Students are most likely to get evening school teaching in their 5 th or 6 th year, constituting 1 year and only 1 year beyond their guaranteed funding. Students should be planning to finish their dissertation in that academic year or during the summer following it. Students commitment to teaching and qualities as teachers will be also considered, through teaching evaluations and written evaluations of their work as TAs. Students can show their interest and commitment to teaching through attending teaching workshops, Center for Teaching Excellence sessions, and other programs. The type of assistantship to which a student will be assigned depends on the student s preferences and the needs and resources of the department. Funding for all students is dependent upon making satisfactory progress in their program of study. University Fees and Tuition The Office of the Bursar manages financial fees and services for graduate students. Tuition payments are generally due each semester on the first day of classes. Students can view their tuition bill and make payments through the Self-Service Carolina website at The Bursar s Fee Schedule lists tuition and fees for all University campuses. Please note that tuition abatements provided by the History Department cover tuition of up to nine hours of graduate- level coursework. Additional costs such as the University fee, technology fee, or health insurance are not covered by the abatement and must be paid at the beginning of each semester. For the Spring 2013 semester, the technology fee was $200 and health insurance for the Spring/Summer semesters totaled $681 (students who already have health insurance can waive out of the health insurance plan). For more information, visit the Office of the Bursar website at

16 12 Stipends and Tuition Abatement PhD candidates with teaching or research assistantships receive stipends of $15,250 per year and abatement of all tuition for the normal full- time course load of nine hours of graduate- level classes each semester. The tuition abatement does not cover University or technology fees, parking, summer tuition, or health insurance. Abatments also do not cover courses that do not contribute to the program of study, such as undergraduate courses or recreational courses. Students who enter the PhD program with an MA can ordinarily expect to receive four years of renewable departmental funding, assuming good progress to degree. Students who enter the PhD program with a B.A. can ordinarily expect to receive five years of renewable departmental funding with good progress. Traditional MA candidates with teaching assistantships receive $14,250 per year and abatement of all tuition for the normal full- time course load. They are eligible for two years of renewable departmental funding with good progress. Public History MA candidates receive $12,000 stipends for full- time teaching assistantships. Most first year public history students are offered teaching assistantships, while we seek to place second years with public and university agencies in relevant public history- oriented positions. Assistantships with external agencies in the Public History program are set by the sponsoring organizations (such as the South Carolina State Museum or the Historic Columbia Foundation), though the department pressures the agencies to match the $6000 university stipend for 20 hour/week positions. Some public history positions are guaranteed 50% abatements of tuition. Any student with an assistantship of at least $1,200/semester- - whether teaching, research, or public history is eligible for the in- state- resident rates for tuition. Please check your initial offer letter for details of the financial package you were guaranteed. Health Insurance The University requires that all full- time graduate students (enrolled in 9 credit hours or more), all Graduate Assistants, and all international students either purchase the University s health insurance plan or provide evidence of coverage on another comparable health insurance plan to waive the USC fee. If no waiver is submitted, the cost of the University s health insurance plan will be automatically added to their semester tuition and fees bill. The University will provide a contribution toward the premium for all graduate assistants to help offset the cost of the USC mandated policy through Pearce & Pearce, Inc. In , the subsidy totaled $275, bringing down the annual cost for health insurance to $1,125. For more information on Student Health Insurance, benefits, cost, and the waiver process, see the Student Health Services Health Insurance webpage at Establishing Z- Status ( special enrollment status )

17 13 Z- status allows advanced PhD students to enroll for only one credit hour but still be classified as full- time for the purposes of receiving their stipend. This status is for senior PhD students who have already taken enough HIST 899 credits to graduate. To qualify for Z- status, students must have completed all coursework on their program of study; be working on the dissertation at least half- time and thus be employed no more than half- time otherwise; and may not be employed outside of their Graduate Assistantship. Students who request this exemption from full- time enrollment for financial aid purposes must submit the Special Academic Enrollment Release form available in the forms library on the Graduate School webpage: gradschool.sc.edu/doclibrary/documents/zstatus.pdf. Financial Aid For students requiring additional financial assistance, the Financial Aid Office provides resources regarding loans, summer aid, and other programs and services. For more information, visit the Financial Aid Office website at VI. Professional Development, Fellowships and Awards Success in the historical profession requires significant effort outside the classroom for both traditional and public historians. To this end the department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate School all allocate resources for the professional development of its graduate students. Funds are available for travel to conferences, archives and other source materials, to support summer research, and to support a final year of dissertation work unfettered by teaching responsibilities. In addition, awards recognize excellent work in research and teaching by graduate students. The competitiveness of these various opportunities vary. Students are also encouraged to seek extramural funding, and HIST 720 and 815 both offer information about the seeking external grants. Publications Journal articles and other peer- reviewed publications allow students to showcase their research and have increasingly become a necessity to be competitive on the job market. For public history students, producing exhibitions, National Register nominations, or field reports are equally important for professional development. The American Historical Association offers resources for students interested in publishing their research: Conferences

18 14 Conferences are a great opportunity to integrate into the historical community by getting feedback on your work, learning about current scholarship, and networking with other professionals. Traditionally, graduate students at USC have made strong showings at conferences such as the Southern Historical Association Annual Meeting and the National Council on Public History Conference. History Department Travel Grants The department assists students financially by providing support for travel to scholarly conferences at which the students present their research. Many students take advantage of this funding to travel to one or more conferences per year. In order to be considered for departmental funds, students must fill out a History Department Travel request, which includes an estimate of the cost of travel, lodging, and conference registration. Upon receiving departmental approval, students then must go online and complete a University Travel Authorization (TA) outlining estimated expenses. After returning from the conference, students must submit a University Travel Reimbursement Voucher (TRV), original receipts, and an official conference program for reimbursement. The Public History Conference Fellowship Travel Fund provides additional funding for public history students attending conferences. This support pays up to $100 towards conference expenses. To apply for funding, send Professor Robert Weyeneth a letter (hard copy only) describing the conference you are attending, the dates and locations of the conference, how attendance will facilitate your professional development, and a budget outlining your anticipated expenses. If approved, he will reply with a letter asking that upon your return you submit original receipts for the expenses you wish reimbursed, and a brief report on the specifics of your attendance, your social security number, and the address to which the check should be mailed. Please note that in recent years these funds have been allocated to pay for group travel to the National Council on Public History Annual Conference in lieu of awarding individual students. Students are also encouraged to seek out external funds to subsidize travel costs. Many conferences offer travel grants targeted specifically at graduate students or participants presenting for the first time. Certificate in Museum Management Travel Grants Students in the museums track, as well as those in the preservation and archives tracks who are completing the Certificate in Museum Management, can apply directly to McKissick Museum for an additional $100 of reimbursement towards conference expenses. For additional information, contact Faculty Curator Lana Burgess at lburgess@mailbox.sc.edu. Graduate School Travel Grants

19 15 The Graduate School provides additional support for PhD students to travel to conferences to make presentations on behalf of the University. The grants encourage and support student presentations of research at professional meetings nationally and internationally. Qualified students normally may receive one travel grant each fiscal year. In 2012, awards ranged up to $500 for domestic travel and $1,000 for international travel. Eligibility: Students must be currently enrolled and degree- seeking in a Doctoral or MFA program when they apply and when they travel. Students must present a paper/poster/creative work at a conference/meeting of national or international stature. Students must be first or sole author of work and provide a PDF copy of their invitation to present or acceptance notification. For information, visit the Graduate School website at app.gradschool.sc.edu/travelgrants/. History Department Fellowships and Awards Every year the History Department offers summer fellowships and prizes. These awards recognize excellence in writing and teaching while also providing funds for summer research. In 2013, the History Department made the following awards: Robert H. Wienefeld Essay Prize (Evan Kutzler) William H. Nolte Graduate Assistant Teaching Award Smith Richardson Fellowship (for summer research and travel) (Evan Kutzler) Wilfrid and Rebecca Callcott Award (for summer research and travel) (Rachel Monroy) John G. Jack Sproat Summer Research and Dissertation Fellowship (Nathan Saunders) The awards offered are subject to change each year. Applications are typically due immediately after Spring Break and winners are announced at Graduate Student Day in late March or early April. Darrick Hart Award The award, given in memory of Darrick Hart, recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of public history by a public history student over the course of his/her graduate career at the University of South Carolina in the areas of historic preservation, museums and material culture, or archival administration and library and information science. Nominees must be currently- enrolled MA students in the Public History Program at the University of South Carolina or recent graduates who received an MA in Public History

20 16 during the previous calendar year. The award recipient is selected by a committee of faculty and alumni from the Public History Program. Nominations may be made by faculty, students, alumni, and members of the wider public history community. Self- nominations are also welcome. Nominations are due February 15. University Fellowships Graduate students in the department have an excellent record in competitions for University fellowships awarded on the basis of departmental nominations. These funds augment the stipends received through assistantships. For more information, consult the Graduate School website at app.gradschool.sc.edu/faaw/. In addition for the past few years the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Dr. Mary Anne Fitzpatrick) has been offering Dean s Dissertation Fellowships for students in their final year of dissertating. A call is circulated among the graduate students in the spring of each year seeking self- nominations for this award, those nominations are vetted by the graduate committee and the Chair and then ranked and sent to the Dean for selection. The graduate students of the history department have been successful in winning 1-2 of these highly competitive awards each year. National Grants and Fellowships History graduate students have also proven competitive in receiving national grants and fellowships. The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs can assist students in submitting applications to awards such as Fulbright, Javits, Boren, and DAAD. For more information, visit their website at Graduate Student Day Every spring the University of South Carolina honors outstanding graduate students at an awards ceremony. The day also features presentations of papers and posters on graduate research, for which cash prizes are awarded. Details about this competition are posted on the website of the Graduate School: VII. Professional Placement Students earning graduate degrees at USC have a proven track record in securing employment in both academic and non- academic positions. Students should recognize, however, that competition for these positions is very tight. Early in the program, students are advised to seek ways of improving their chances of obtaining a post after graduation. Besides writing a solidly respectable thesis or dissertation, this will include presenting aspects of your work at appropriate conferences; getting to know and becoming known to others working in your area; having a successful internship;

21 17 publishing your work in recognized journals; organizing exhibits, websites, historic register nominations, or working in other public venues; winning grants; and teaching and showing the efficacy and success of your teaching. Students seeking academic employment are strongly encouraged to have at least one refereed article published by the time they go on the job market, and it can easily take 2-3 years to get an article into print so start early. The American Historical Association ( provides helpful information for students entering the job market. There are also non- academic options for history PhDs. See for more (but by no means comprehensive) information. Graduates of the Public History Program compete in the national job market for employment in preservation agencies, historic sites, museums, and libraries and archives centers. The Public History webpage provides a list of agencies where alumni have worked as well as resources regarding employment: Additional information can be found on the National Council on Public History website: VIII. Groups and Organizations The History Center The History Center, with generous support from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Vice President for Research, offers a variety of variety of programming, including public lectures, seminars, colloquia, guest lecturers, and sessions on pedagogy. Through the works- in- progress series, graduate students can share drafts of conference presentations, articles, or dissertation chapters to get critical feedback on their work. The History Center has also worked with graduate students in coordinating conferences, workshops, and guest lecture series. For more information, visit the History Center s website: Reading and Writing Groups Students and faculty members have formed numerous reading and writing groups to exchange intellectual ideas and get feedback on their work. Examples include HOSTE (a weekly reading group for the history of science, technology, and environment), stemcell (an interdisciplinary work- in- progress colloquium for science studies), CCP (classics in contemporary perspective reading group), dissertation writing groups, and groups focused on pedagogy. Graduate History Association (GHA)

22 18 The Graduate History Association (GHA) represents the student body within the History Department. It works to support graduate student life both professionally and socially. Its roles include sponsoring departmental functions, facilitating social events, coordinating student travel to major conferences, and planning Brown Bag discussions. The GHA worked with the Graduate Director in creating this manual. All graduate students and faculty are encouraged to become dues- paying members of the GHA (students $15; faculty $20). GHA Leadership The leadership team of the GHA is elected each year. The President of the GHA in is Mark Vandriel, Jamie Wilson is the Vice President Robert Greene is the Secretary and Katie Crosby is the Treasurer Please feel free to speak to any one of them to make suggestions for activities of both a professional and social nature. Graduate Student Association (GSA) The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is dedicated to the advancement and development of Graduate and Professional Students at USC. It serves to advocate on behalf of the interests of over 6,000 graduate and professional students at the University of South Carolina. See student- association/ South Carolina History Advocates SC History Advocates is a group of students and faculty concerned with the effect public policy has on the field of history. They promote the history discipline while also educating others about the importance of advocacy. In addition to increasing the visibility of local institutions, SC History Advocates are engaged nationally by traveling annually to Washington, D.C. to advocate on Capitol Hill alongside other museum professionals. To learn more, follow or "like" SC History Advocates at twitter.com/hist_advocates and facebook.com/schistoryadvocates, or simply them at schistoryadvocates@gmail.com. Exhibiting Local Enterprise (ELE) ELE is a collaboration between the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and USC s Public History Program. Graduate students are developing a series of learning tools that help local museums develop online exhibits to showcase their local business history. These online exhibits serve as local counterparts to the Smithsonian s national exhibition American Enterprise, scheduled to open in To learn more you can reach ELE by phone at or by at columbiaele@gmail.com. Collections Volunteer Group