The Department of History offers M.A. and Ph.D. programs in American history, European history, and the history of science and technology. In conjunction with these, it has special programs focusing on the history of industrialization and on American social and cultural history, and provides an opportunity for students to earn a certificate in Museum Studies. The Department offers more limited graduate study in Ancient, African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern history, as well as courses in history education. 

Graduates from its programs hold professional positions in government, schools, museums, and historical agencies, as well as academic positions in colleges and universities. 

Prospective students with interests in the history of technology, science, business, economy, society, or labor may apply for fellowships in the University of Delaware-Hagley Program. The program focuses on the history of industrialization especially in comparative perspectives. University of Delaware-Hagley fellows may specialize in American history, European history, or the history of science and technology. 

The Department of History in cooperation with the Winterthur Museum sponsors a Ph.D. program in the History of American Civilization. Based on the multidisciplinary study of American social and cultural history, the Program is distinguished by its emphasis on American material culture. 

An M.A. or Ph.D. candidate from any of the History graduate programs may qualify for a certificate in Museum Studies upon satisfactory completion of twelve credits in the Museum Studies Program. The University of Delaware is a recognized leader in education for museum careers; its graduates now staff scores of museums and historical/archival agencies across the country. 

Students who do not seek admission to the Hagley or American Civilization programs may still take the courses that these programs feature. All history programs are enriched by the University's affiliation with the Hagley and Winterthur museums and by the proximity of museums and archival collections nearby in the mid-Atlantic region. 

Courses in historical editing, archaeology, archival management, and visual approaches to history are offered on a regular basis. 

Programs at both the M.A. and Ph.D. levels are offered. Plan A (Terminal Master's Degree): Applicants should have a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of at least 1050, an overall undergraduate average of 3.0, an undergraduate history average of 3.0, and must submit a sample of their research writing. Plan B (M.A. leading to Ph.D. degree) and Ph.D.: Applicants should have a combined GRE score of 1250, an overall undergraduate/graduate average of 3.0, an undergraduate/graduate history average of 3.5, and must submit a sample of their research writing. These averages are only minima and do not guarantee admission. The History Department normally accepts applications for all History programs for the fall semester only. The deadline for application is January 30, but early application is strongly encouraged. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. Students considering graduate work in history at the University of Delaware should write to the department for its bulletin Guidelines to Graduate Programs in History. 

Candidates for the M.A. degree are required to complete 30 hours of course work, of which 21 hours must be in history. The history credits must include one of the department's five basic historiography courses, 4 reading seminars, and 2 research and writing seminars or one research seminar and a 6-credit M.A. thesis. Additionally, the Graduate Studies Committee will review the record of each M.A. student after he or she has completed three full semesters (or 21 credits) of graduate study; on the basis of this review the committee will inform the student whether he or she is making satisfactory progress toward the M.A. degree. 

The Ph.D. degree recognizes the candidate's command of specific fields of history as well as the ability to conceive and execute a Ph.D. dissertation. Doctoral students do most of their work independently, under the supervision of their dissertation directors and other faculty members. The following specific requirements must be met: 9 hours of formal course work other than independent study courses which must include two of the department's basic historiography courses; demonstration of reading competence in a foreign language (faculties in certain specialties require additional language or skill requirements); passage of major and minor field exams; a dissertation prospectus submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee no later than six months following the field exams; and an oral exam in a field related to the student's dissertation topic that will include a discussion of the dissertation prospectus. After the preceding requirements have been met, the candidate must finish a dissertation and defend it in an oral exam.