They concentrate on the variety of settings in which social life takes place-the family, the neighborhood, and the work place as well as the larger community. Social and cultural history has grown over the last thirty years to include a rich variety of approaches to historical analysis, including the study of politics, emotions, popular mentalities and culture. Students in social and cultural history are broadly trained in comparative and interdisciplinary techniques while also specializing in a particular geographic area and time period. The Department has avoided replication of standard history programs offered by other universities and has deliberately kept the number of students low in order to permit maximum attention and guidance from the faculty. On average, six new students are admitted to the doctoral programs each year, usually divided evenly between the History and Policy and Social and Cultural History programs.
Most students receive full tuition and a substantial, four-year stipend.