Graduate students at the University of Kentucky are asked to develop both depth and breadth of historical knowledge. For the Ph.D., fields of study are important for shaping a student’s curriculum and the structure of his/her comprehensive examinations. We ask all prospective applicants to discuss their academic interests in their application to our program.  We offer a combination of geographical, chronological, and thematic fields of concentration.

We welcome applications from students with strong interests in particular fields who are eager to immerse themselves in the records of particular cultures and are prepared to acquire the techniques necessary for such work (languages and, for certain subjects, such specialized skills as paleography or oral history). But we also encourage applications from students who want as well to think about their work in terms of longer histories and broader theoretical questions. Students and their advisors may, however, agree on adjustments to those requirements in response to a student's particular interests. Students should also keep in mind that they can formally change their major field, with faculty permission, and consequently adjust their programs to reflect their particular needs.