The Department of History offers the degree Doctorate of Philosophy in History. Within the limits imposed by the availability of qualified staff, students may pursue their studies in English or in French.
The department participates in the collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the PhD level.
The programs are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.
For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.
Students must have an MA in history (or the equivalent) with a minimum average of 75 per cent (B+) before they can be considered for admission. The department may require a written or oral entrance examination.
Advisers
On admission, students are assigned an adviser to assist in the choice of courses and fields.
Language Requirements
All applicants must be able to understand speak and write either English or French proficiently . Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.
In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have a right to produce their work, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English.
Doctorate
Students must meet the following requirements:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Courses: | ||
| 9 course units from three fields of study in history (HIS) at the graduate level 1 | 9 Units | |
| HIS 8900 | Doctoral Research Seminar | 3 Units |
| Language Requirement: | ||
| HIS 5599 | Exigence de langue française en histoire | |
| Oral Examination: | ||
| HIS 9998 | Doctoral Oral Examination 2 | |
| Thesis: | ||
| THD 9999 | Doctoral Thesis 3 | |
Note(s)
- 1
Each doctoral field entails independent reading and written work under the guidance of a director. An outline of the work to be undertaken in each field must be approved by the relevant field director and submitted for approval to the graduate studies committee before the end of the student's first term of enrollment in the program. The field director is responsible for monitoring the student's progress and for grading the student's written work and overall performance. Students may not enroll in any doctoral field for more than four terms.
- 2
The oral examination, combining all three doctoral fields, is held before a jury presided over by the chairperson of the departmental graduate studies committee, or his representative. Students are required to take the oral examination by the end of their fourth term.
- 3
The research, writing and defence of the thesis generally require two full years after the oral examination. The thesis must be an original contribution to historical knowledge. It should be 250-350 pages in length excluding notes and bibliography and appendices. It must be defended before a jury normally composed of four examiners.
Transfer from Master's to PhD
However, applicants with an 80 per cent (A-) average in the honours BA may also be accepted after completion of the course work of the non-thesis master's program, provided they have performed at the same level in their master's courses. Please note that the minimal admission average requirements for the doctoral program must also be met. The department may require a written or oral entrance examination.
Language Requirements
Students in both the master's and doctoral programs must understand, speak and write either English or French fluently. In addition, students in both programs must demonstrate their reading competence in Canada's other official language, French or English, at the earliest opportunity, by passing a language examination administered by the department in the fall or winter term. To this end, enrollment in HIS 5599 is compulsory.
Students who take a graduate course in history in the other language may be exempted from this examination, given a favourable report from the professor concerned.
Students working in a field of history where a language other than English or French is necessary may also be required to demonstrate their grasp of that language.
Duration of Program
Students are expected to fulfill all requirements within four years. The maximum time permitted is six years from the date of initial enrollment in the program, or seven years in the case of the students transferring from the master’s to the doctorate.
Minimum Standards
The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 units), the thesis proposal, or the comprehensive exam or whose research progress is deemed unsatisfactory are required to withdraw.
Research at the University of Ottawa
Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:
- Creating a sustainable environment
- Advancing just societies
- Shaping the digital world
- Enabling lifelong health and wellness
From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.
Research at the Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state of the art research conducted by its professors. In the spirit of showcasing its research to the university community as well as to the general public, the Faculty has created three activities: Dean's Lecture Series, Treasures of the Library, and Excellence Lectures.
Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Arts
- Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française,
- Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies,
- Institute for Science, Society and Policy,
- Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI)
- Morisset Library.
For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.
IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.
- All the 9000-level courses are reserved for Ph.D. students.
- All of the 5000-, 6000- and 7000-level courses listed below are for three units each (except for HIS 5199, HIS 5599, HIS 6999 and THM 7999). They are not necessarily offered every year.
- All the 9900-level doctoral fields listed below are for three units (except HIS 9998 and THD 9999). Subject to availability of professors, students are responsible for determining their fields and field directors. The language of instruction is decided on mutually between the student and the professor.
- Students should check with the Department or the departmental Web site for annual course offerings.
HIS 5103 Seminar in Canadian History (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 5111 Seminar in New Frances (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 5122 Research Seminar (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 5125 Seminar on History of Quebec (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 5129 Seminar on British North America (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 5199 English Language Requirement in History
Course Component: Research
HIS 5503 Séminaire en histoire du Canada (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 5511 Séminaire en histoire de la Nouvelle-France (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 5522 Séminaire de recherche (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 5525 Séminaire en histoire du Québec (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 5529 Séminaire sur le Canada sous le régime britannique (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 5599 Exigence de langue française en histoire
Volet : Recherche
HIS 6103 Seminar in American History (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 6332 Seminar on the History of Technology (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 6334 History of Francophones in North America, Outside of Quebec (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 6336 Seminar on Immigrants and Ethnic Groups in North America (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 6503 Séminaire en histoire américaine (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 6532 Séminaire en histoire de la technologie (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 6536 Séminaire en histoire des immigrants et des communautés ethnoculturelles en Amérique du Nord (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 6734 Histoire des francophones en Amérique du Nord, hors Québec (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 6999 Mémoire de maîtrise / Research Paper
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 7103 Seminar in European History (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7304 Seminar In Medieval History (3 units)
Study and analysis of historical issues relating to the medieval period.
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7330 Seminar on Comparative History (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7331 Seminar on the History of Women and Gender (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7333 Seminar on International Relations (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7335 Seminar on War and Society (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7336 Slovaks in Europe, Canada and the United States Since 1870 (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7337 Seminar on History of Medicine (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7338 Seminar on the History of Colonialism and Post Colonialism (3 units)
In-depth examination of issues relating to the history of colonialism and postcolonialism.
Course Component: Seminar
HIS 7399 Directed Studies in History (3 units)
Course Component: Research
HIS 7503 Séminaire en histoire européenne (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7530 Séminaire en histoire comparée (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7535 Séminaire sur la guerre et la société (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7704 Séminaire en histoire médiévale (3 crédits)
Étude et analyse de phénomènes historiques propres à la période médiévale.
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7705 Méthodes de recherche en histoire (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7731 Séminaire en histoire des femmes et du genre (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7733 Séminaire en relations internationales (3 crédits)
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7738 Séminaire en histoire du colonialisme et du postcolonialisme (3 crédits)
Études approfondies sur des questions liées à l'histoire du colonialisme et du postcolonialisme.
Volet : Séminaire
HIS 7799 Études dirigées en histoire (3 crédits)
Volet : Recherche
HIS 8900 Séminaire de recherche doctorale / Doctoral Research Seminar (3 crédits / 3 units)
Séminaire sur des sujets se rapportant aux débats historiographiques et aux méthodologies de recherche en histoire. / Seminar on topics relating to the historiographical debates and research methodologies in history.
Volet / Course Component: Séminaire / Seminar
HIS 9901 Le Canada français / French Canada (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9902 L'Amérique coloniale / Colonial America (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9903 L'Amérique britannique du nord jusqu'à 1873 / British North America to 1873 (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9904 Le Canada après la confédération / Post-Confederation Canada (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9905 La Nouvelle-France / New France (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9910 Québec / Quebec (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9920 L'Amérique latine / Latin America (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9930 Histoire de l'Asie / Asian History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9940 Histoire du Moyen-Orient et de l'Afrique du Nord / Middle Eastern and North African History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9950 Histoire de l'Afrique / History of Africa (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9954 Histoire des États-Unis / U.S. History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9980 Histoire économique / Economic History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9981 Histoire socioculturelle / Social-Cultural History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9982 Histoire intellectuelle / Intellectual History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9983 Histoire politique / Political History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9984 Relations internationales / International Relations (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9985 Histoire de la médecine, des techniques et des sciences / History of Medicine, Technology and Sciences (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9986 Histoire des Autochtones au Canada / History of Indigenous Peoples in Canada (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9987 Histoire des immigrants et des communautés ethnoculturelles en Amérique du Nord / History of Immigrants and Ethnic Groups in North America (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9988 Histoire des femmes / Women's History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9989 Histoire militaire et diplomatique / Military and Diplomatic History (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9990 L'Europe médiévale / Medieval Europe (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9991 L'Europe moderne / Early Modern Europe (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9992 La Grande-Bretagne / Great Britain (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9993 L'Europe des 19e et 20e siècles / 19th and 20th Century Europe (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9994 La France depuis la révolution / France Since the Revolution (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9995 La France de l'ancien régime / France of the Ancient Regime (3 crédits / 3 units)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
HIS 9998 Examen oral du doctorat / Doctoral Oral Examination
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research