The remaining course work will be selected to prepare fields and develop analytical skills, both within History and in related disciplines, with the guidance of the mentor and advisory committee. There is no mandatory allocation of courses to fields. Comprehensive Examinations Fields are constituted by combinations of coursework and reading lists, as developed by the student with the mentor and advisory committee. Normally, the first two years of study are devoted to course work, the third year to independent preparation of fields for examination. While individual schedules will vary based on background and program, students should plan to complete comprehensive examinations by the end of the third year.
Comprehensive examinations combine written essays with an oral exam.
There will be either two or three written exams, followed by an integrated, comprehensive oral. The entire comprehensive examination sequence will be completed during one semester. Either the Minor or the Collateral Field may be fulfilled by the completion of three graduate courses. In such cases, there will be no written exam in that field. There will be essay exams in the Research Field, and in either or both the Minor and Collateral Fields.