University of Illinois at University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUrbana-ChampaignHistory DepartmentHistory Department

Clare CrowstonClare Crowston

Peter FritzschePeter Fritzsche

Kerry WynnKerry Wynn

First year: Introduction to First year: Introduction to discipline and departmentdiscipline and department

Habits and practicesHabits and practices: student initiative, : student initiative, thinking ‘historiographically’, building thinking ‘historiographically’, building networks, agenda within frame of networks, agenda within frame of programprogram

CoursesCourses: reading, writing and speaking; : reading, writing and speaking; synthesis, analysis and critiquesynthesis, analysis and critique

Intro. to field and deptIntro. to field and dept: Pro-Seminar, : Pro-Seminar, advisers, programming series, HGSA advisers, programming series, HGSA mentors, TA’ing, reading groupsmentors, TA’ing, reading groups

Introduction to the research Introduction to the research enterpriseenterprise

Intro to researchIntro to research: historiography : historiography courses, research seminars, pre-courses, research seminars, pre-dissertation researchdissertation research

Finding questions and answersFinding questions and answers: : dissertation proposal workshop, oral dissertation proposal workshop, oral defense of proposal, discussions defense of proposal, discussions with mentors, diss writing workshop, with mentors, diss writing workshop, reading groups for work-in-progressreading groups for work-in-progress

Significant TransitionSignificant Transition

Preliminary ExaminationsPreliminary Examinations

3 written exams: 1 in major field, 2 minors3 written exams: 1 in major field, 2 minors

Oral defense (written exams and proposal)Oral defense (written exams and proposal)

Tests knowledge of fields; ability to Tests knowledge of fields; ability to synthesize material and critique it; synthesize material and critique it; comparative work; broad span of historycomparative work; broad span of history

Certifies proficiency to teach; ability to Certifies proficiency to teach; ability to master historiography independentlymaster historiography independently

Dissertation and defenseDissertation and defense

Acquiring a topicAcquiring a topic: consultation : consultation with adviser, research and reading with adviser, research and reading courses, pre-dissertation researchcourses, pre-dissertation researchCommittee:Committee: diss comm formed diss comm formed after prelims; can have outside after prelims; can have outside members members Defense:Defense: pre-defense required 6 pre-defense required 6 months prior to defense; 2-hour months prior to defense; 2-hour oral defenseoral defense

Optional other CommonalitiesOptional other Commonalities

TeachingTeaching

Approximately 40 TAs (inc. 7 graders)Approximately 40 TAs (inc. 7 graders)

Pros: financial aid, experience, Pros: financial aid, experience, moralemorale

Cons: balancing teaching vs. research Cons: balancing teaching vs. research for dept. and studentsfor dept. and students

New TA coordinator positions (2000)New TA coordinator positions (2000)

Do we need more on teaching? (AHA)Do we need more on teaching? (AHA)

InnovationInnovation

Funding for pre-dissertation Funding for pre-dissertation researchresearch

$800-1,200 to support summer $800-1,200 to support summer research ( basically for all comers)research ( basically for all comers)

Helps for grant applications, better Helps for grant applications, better conceptualization of dissertation conceptualization of dissertation and research resultsand research results

Better dissertations=better jobs!Better dissertations=better jobs!

Novel IdeaNovel Idea

Reduce time to ABDReduce time to ABDMAs now complete 10 courses and BAs MAs now complete 10 courses and BAs 13, plus up to a year on prelims13, plus up to a year on prelimsDiss research delayed until 5Diss research delayed until 5thth year yearIdea:Idea: Reduce course load, streamline Reduce course load, streamline prelims, thereby increase focus on prelims, thereby increase focus on research and writingresearch and writingAlternativeAlternative: Make research more : Make research more central to coursework before prelimscentral to coursework before prelims