Program of Study
HPS is a discipline-plus program of study with a distinct community and extra scholarly resources. Students in each track fulfil the requirements of the department in their track, as well as additional HPS requirements. The outlines below are intended as guides, with additional details and accommodations expressed in the HPS Handbook.
The core HPS courses are
H1 (History of Science, Technology, and Medicine to 1750)
H2 (History of Science, Technology, and Medicine since 1750) (these H courses are offered every other year)
P1 (Philosophy of Science)
P2 (History of the Philosophy of Science from the Scientific Revolution to 1900)
S (courses that count for Science and Technology Studies or Social Studies of Science)
History Track:
The History track requires 15 three-credit courses, of which two may be reading courses (often in preparation for comprehensive exams). All History track students must take H1, H2, and at least two of P1, P2, or S. A research paper should be completed each year (nearly always as a requirement in a course).
Students transferring significant credts from a prior M.A. degree are expected to keep to the History schedule.
First Year
History Department: Historian's Craft in the fall semester of the first year and Research, Writing, and Publishing in the spring of the first year. Presentation of a paper in the First-Year Graduate Student Conference at the end of the first year.
HPS: As available, H1 and H2. As available, P1 and P2 or S.
Second Year
History Department: The Historical Profession in the spring and fall of the second year.
HPS: HPS: As available and needed, H1 or H2. As available and needed, P1 or P2 or S. Formation of qualiying examinations committee. Often, students will prepare for qualifying examinations with directed readings courses in the spring semester.
In the second half of the fourth semester, each student will complete a second-year exam based on a submitted research paper. The committee holding the exam will consider a student's scholarly performance in the exam and the student's coursework for the first two years. Their evaluation will result in the student moving on to PhD candidacy, departing with and MA, or departing without an MA.
Third Year
Students will complete qualifying examinations by the end of the fall semester. (One or more exams may be taken earlier, in the previous spring semester.)
The dissertation proposal will be defended by Spring Break of the third year (unless students have transferred prior M.A. credits).
Fourth Year
Dissertation research and writing. History and HPS require students to submit one completed chapter by the end of the fourth year.
Fifth Year
Dissertation writing and research as needed. Students should aim to complete a dissertation in five years as much as possible. Sixth year funding is not guaranteed and depends on substantial progress in the dissertation and approval by the DGS and the College.
Philosophy Track
The Philosophy track requires 15 three-credit courses (one beyond the basic Philosophy Department PhD requirements)
First Year
Philosophy requires students to take Proseminar in the first semester. There are additional Philosophy Department course requirements students satisfy over their first two years (logic, four field seminars, and three history seminars; P1 satisfies the requirement for one field seminar; P2 satisfies the requirement for a Modern period course).
HPS Philosophy students must take P1, P2, and any two of H1, H2, or S.
Second Year
By the end of the fourth semester, HPS Philosophy students should have taken 3 Philosophy of Science courses and 3 History of Science courses.
In the second half of the fourth semester, each HPS student will complete a second-year exam based on a submitted research paper. The committee holding the exam will consider a student's scholarly performance in the exam and the student's coursework for the first two years. Their evaluation will result in the student moving on to PhD candidacy, departing with and MA, or departing without an MA.
By the end of the fourth semester, the Philosophy graduate committee will also review each student's file.
Third Year
By the beginning of the fifth semester, each student and advisor should have formed an examination board for an oral examination. The reading list should be approved by the end of the first week of classes after the mid-semester break of the fifth semester, and the exam should be held either by the end of the first week of classes after the break of the sixth semester or, with the agreement of the committee, early in the summer after the sixth semester.
Students usually take the year-long Pedagogy Workshop before teaching their own course. Students must also take a year-long dissertation writing course. Neither the Pedagogy Workshop nor the dissertation writing course count toward the required 15 seminars.
By the end of the sixth semester, the student must choose and advisor for the dissertation.
Fourth Year
The dissertation proposal should be distributed to the dissertation committee immediately after the mid-semester break of the seventh semester. The dissertation proposal must be approved via a formal defense with the dissertation committee, and at least two members of the committee should be HPS teaching and research faculty.
Dissertation research and writing.
Fifth Year
Dissertation research and writing. Students should aim to complete a dissertation in five years as much as possible. Sixth year funding is not guaranteed and depends on substantial progress in the dissertation and approval by the DGS and the College.
Theology Track
Theology track students should refer to the Theology Department's PhD Student Manual for all regulations, with the following changes:
First and Second Years
HPS require 14 three-credit courses, as does Theology, but with
Two History of Science courses (H1, H2 or S may count)
Two Philosophy of Science courses (P1, P2, or S may count)
Three other HPS courses
Any four of H1, H2, P1, P2, or S
Third Year
HPS requires 10 topics for examination, as does Theology, with 3 from HPS. Exams should be taken in the sixth semester.
Fourth Year
Dissertation research and writing.
Fifth Year
Dissertation research and writing.