Kent State University’s Graduate Program in History offers two degrees: the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy. Research and teaching have been the traditional goals of graduate education, but individuals are applying increasingly their training in History to archival and museum work, government and diplomacy, publishing, business, and law. Recent graduates of the program have secured employment at universities, colleges, museums and libraries, as well as in public and government service and business. General inquiries regarding graduate study in history should be directed to the department's Graduate Coordinator, Professor Kim M. Gruenwald, at kgruenwa@kent.edu.

The Fall of 2006 marks the inauguration of a new slate of doctoral fields at Kent State University. We have a new thematic field that is designed to focus on topics and issues that cross geographic and temporal boundaries. This will help our students consider their specific research interests beyond the narrow confines of national histories and will prepare them to teach in the growing field of world history. For the thematic field, students will choose one advisor from two of the following areas of specialization: Asia, Africa, modern Europe, Latin America, the United States, and medieval Europe. Thematic fields include: Political/Intellectual, Social/Cultural, Empire/Foreign Relations, Race/Ethnicity/National Identity, Consumption/Commodities/Culture, Human Conflict/War/Revolution/Genocide, and Religion and Society. Students will have the option of defining their own thematic field with the permission of the major advisor.