Only a small minority expect more than 70 hours of course work. The largest requirement reported-90 semester hours-was cited by one of the least well-known departments. Two-fifths of the departments report that they "require" or "recommend" that doctoral candidates take 60 or more semester hours of graduate study, and almost two-thirds (62%) report 48 semester hours or more. Just how much study is expected in terms of credit hours the history faculties are reluctant to state explicitly, for in doctoral studies evidence of qualitative scholarship is considered the goal and quantitative efforts only means toward the desired end. The usual "full course load" for first- and second-year graduate students in Ph.D.-training departments varies from 12 hours-i.e., four courses (reported by 58% of the departments)-up to 15 hours (one-third of the departments) and down to 9 hours (one-tenth of the departments). In actuality, however, it is a rare student who completes Ph.D.
candidates are usually expected to enroll in at least three academic years of graduate study ("residence") and it is common to specify that one academic year "in residence" must be spent at the institution awarding the doctorate. study through a review of "field" requirements, surveys the forms of study, shows how student performance is tested in various examinations, and points to changes that are being contemplated.
This chapter shows how history faculties are currently training Ph.D. These variations in the aims of doctoral education are manifested in the detailed provisions of Ph.D. "Interest in teaching" and "general intellectual curiosity" are tied as the second most desired qualities, and these are closely followed by "skill in teaching."
A majority of history departments training Ph.D.s agree that the aim of doctoral training should be the education of "scholar-teachers." But, while 7% "put more emphasis upon teaching," one-fifth avowedly "put more emphasis upon research." Thus the quality most demanded in doctoral candidates is "research skill and zeal." This is mentioned as a top quality twice as often as any other.
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