Graduate study is not merely about taking courses and writing papers, theses, or dissertations, it is also about becoming professional historians: researchers, teachers, and writers. The History Department provides many opportunities for professional development. Teaching assistantships provide an important form of financial aid, but they are also a means of training future college and university teachers. Teaching assistants are offered opportunities to present lectures as part of their professional training. The department has also provided training in working with at-risk students and provided interested TAs with the opportunity to develop and teach small classes of at-risk students as part of its retention program.
The department also offers a professional development seminar, required of all doctoral candidates, to help prepare them for the job market and for their early years in the academic profession. In addition, the History Department, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the University offer many speakers and conferences on a wide variety of topics relevant to student interests. We encourage and expect students to attend events and to join professional organizations, present papers within the department and without, and to take on responsibilities in academic and professional organizations when possible. These activities will help develop lifelong learning habits that are of great benefit.
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