Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] (History)

at National University of Singapore

The maximum period of candidature for students is 60 months for PhD and students must spend a minimum of eighteen (18) months in Singapore.

 

Students are required to complete the following with a minimum CAP of 3.5:

• HY6101 Historiography: Theory & Archive;
• HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar;
• 4 other modules;
• Pass all components of Qualifying Exam (QE);
• A thesis of not more than 80,000 words; and
• Oral examination on the subject matter of the thesis after submission of thesis.

 

At least 75% of the total modular credits (MCs) requirements must be at level 5000 or 6000. Students are to read no more than 1 level 4000 module, subject to the approval of the department. The coursework requirements includes HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar that will be graded on a “satisfactory”/”unsatisfactory” basis.

 

Level-5000

 

HY5207 Approaches to American History

This graduate module examines the major themes in American History and historiography in recent years.  The study of history has been influenced by new fields such as gender studies and environmental history, other disciplines, particularly anthropology, and cross disciplinary approaches such as American Studies. This module will critically evaluate selected approaches to American history.  As an initial step students will undertake a bibliographical project to shape the module syllabus.

 

HY5208 Approaches to Modern European History

This module will examine the major approaches to the study of modern European (19th-20th centuries) history in order to equip graduate students at the MA level with the major historiographic trends which have shaped research into the subject. To that end, the module will introduce students to the most significant approaches in political, economic, diplomatic, cultural, gender, social, religious and intellectual history which have shaped the existing scholarship.

 

HY5210 Approaches to Modern SE Asian History

This module is designed to introduce graduate students to the major themes and issues that make up the chronological field of “modern Southeast Asian history”. A comprehensive study of secondary literature for the period as well as seminal works in Anthropology and Political Science will prepare students with the necessary training before embarking on their own research projects. Topics covered will include: modernity/ traditionalism, constructing chronologies, colonialism, nationalism, rebellion/resistance, nation-building, the Japanese in WWII, the role of the Army/Communists, post-colonial critiques, border tensions, migration, and religion.

 

HY5211 Approaches to Modern East Asian History

This course examines the political, economic, social, cultural, racial, and military histories of China, Japan and Korea over the course of the twentieth and outset of the twenty first centuries. Special attention will be paid to the interaction among these different national histories, as well as the influence of other regional actors, such as the United States and Soviet Union.

 

HY5301 Internship in History

It aims to provide students with practical professional experience involving at least ten weeks in an archive, museum, historical library, or the heritage business. The hosting institution in collaboration with the Department will define the work scope of students on internship. Students are required to submit a project, the topic of which must beapproved in advance, together with a 3000-word report on the internship experience at the end of the work period. The student is required to spend three hours three days per week for a total of ten weeks at the hosting institution.

 

HY5302 Approaches to Military History

Military history is one of the most dynamic fields in the subject, focal point for controversies ranging from what historians should be studying to how they should see history per se. The traditional focus on operations, command and strategy now co-exists with the no longer “new” military history that is more interested in the impact of warfare on society and culture, militarism
and its effect on politics, the relationship between military institutions and economies, and issues of race and nationality in the military experience. This module will introduce graduate students to the methodologies and controversies of a field that crosses all regional and national boundaries in history. An important component will be the bibliographical project, training students to develop their own grasp of the literature that must be mastered.

 

HY5303 Problems in Cultural History

This module aims to introduce graduate students to cultural history as a distinct sub- discipline within historical studies. In each session, the module will structured around a theme (e.g., ‘Culture and imperialism’, ‘Power, Status and Charisma’) to allow the student to both learn about the methodology of cultural historians and how this field fits into the broader study of history.

 

HY5304 Imperialism& Empires: Historical Approaches

Imperialism and Empires are two historical developments that no scholars of modern world, political, international, cultural, social, economic and military history ever ignore. Imperialism remains one of the most hotly debated historical forces in the discipline and has been approached by nearly every different methodology and perspective that academic historians have explored in the last century. This module will introduce graduate students to the approaches to a field that crosses all boundaries in the study of history. An important component will be the bibliography project, training students to develop their own grasp of the literature they must master.

 

HY5305 Approaches to World History

This module examines major themes, methodologies and scholarship in the rapidly developing field of world history. Depending on the instructor, the content of the module might focus on specific topics such as immigration, trans-imperial trade, or frontier studies. As special emphasis is placed on the integration of particular regions into global systems and networks, this course will be especially useful for helping students to locate the significance of their own research in a larger context

 

HY5401 Historiography on China

This graduate module examines the history of history writings on China, turning the pool of extant secondary publications into a primary source of analysis. Certain major authors and their works will be highlighted, with attention paid to inter-disciplinary approaches. Their selection is aimed at achieving a broad coverage of the various streams of traditional Chinese historiography, Chinese Marxist writings and Western historical analyses. The reading and writing of book reviews and literature surveys are integral parts of this module.

 

HY5402 Reconsidering the Cold War 

In recent decades, the Cold War has developed into an area of study not only in the fields of diplomatic history and international relations, but in social and cultural history, literature and film, design and art, and rhetoric and communications studies. This seminar introduces students to new developments, themes, and approaches in the study of the Cold War through exploring such diverse topics as colonialism and anti-colonialism, cultural diplomacy, Cold War culture, domestic purges, social protest, decolonization, developmentalism, and "neo-colonialism." It aims to expose students to new arenas of research, helping them to prepare for their own research.

 

HY5403 Interpreters of Southeast Asian Pasts

The notion of Southeast Asia continues to be a site of contestation. In this module, students will be encouraged to imaginatively wade into an ongoing conversation as the latest in a long line of interpreters – mythic, historical and contemporary – of Southeast Asian pasts. Students will encounter a wide range of texts and discover how differing contexts, worldviews, theories, methods and source materials have been creatively and imaginatively used to both question and enrich understandings of Southeast Asian pasts. Each iteration of this module will focus on a specific region in Southeast Asia, depending on the expertise of the instructor.

 

HY5405 Applied and Public History: Theory, Method and Practice (For MA Coursework only)
 

This module introduces students to the theories and practices of applied and public history. It examines the development and evolution of the field; the major theoretical debates; and exemplary examples of how history has been applied to educate, entertain, offer perspective to current problems, and resolve realworld issues.

 

HY5406 Archives and Knowledge of the Past (For MA Coursework only)
 

This module critically examines “the archive.” It explores the various ways in which the archive has been defined. It investigates why and how some knowledges about the past are collected, preserved, and recovered, and why and how some are not collected, preserved, and recovered. The class will also study the extent of the authority that the archive holds and wields over interpretations of the past.

 

HY5407 Theory and Practice of Oral History (For MA Coursework only)
 

This module examines the craft and tools of the oral historian. It explores the key theoretical ideas developed in oral history scholarship; the methods used to collect oral histories; the variety of approaches to interpret oral sources; and the ethics of oral history collection. Students reading this module will be equipped with the tools to develop, undertake, transcribe, and critically analyze an oral history interview.

 

HY5408 History and Memory (For MA Coursework only) 
 

This module examines the major themes in the study of history and memory. It addresses questions about the importance of investigating memory, its construction, its production, and its impact on personal and group identities, popular understandings of the past, and national identity. Topics explored include the relationship and tension between historical research and memory; individual and collective memories; the politics of memory; and memorial practices. The class will also examine the memory industry and the business of memorialization.

 

HY5409 Museums and Museology: Critical Perspectives (For MA Coursework only)
 

This module explores the key theoretical debates and methodological approaches to the study of museums.  It equips students with the capacities to understand what a museum is and does. It also offers critical perspectives on what a museum can be. The range of topics to be covered include the history and development of museums in diverse cultural and sociopolitical contexts; the purpose and functions of museums; the strategies of collection; and the ordering of collections and knowledge.

 

HY5410 Historical Reasoning: The Past and Decision-making (For MA Coursework only) 

This module is about the use of history for decision making. It examines the ways decision-makers employ historical analogies and narratives about the past to make sense of contemporary affairs or solve problems. It explores how history can be abused or misused. The module also presents ways on how history can be better employed to reason and make decisions.

 

HY5411 Special Topics in Applied and Public History (For MA Coursework only)
 

This module explores topics of special interest in applied and public history. It is offered by regular or visiting faculty members. The specific topics to be covered will depend on the instructional and research interests of the faculty member.

 

HY5412 Studying Singaporean History (For MA Coursework only)
 

This module acquaints graduate students with the field of Singaporean history. Seminar students will read, critique and discuss the analytical and methodological approaches, historiographical debates, key questions, research agendas, and major trends contained in key articles and books on Singaporean history in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the past, and writing about it, has shaped our understanding of our history.

 

HY5413 Special Topics in Asian and Global History (For MA Coursework only)

 

This module explores topics of special interest in Asian and global history. It is offered by regular or visiting faculty members. The specific topics to be covered will depend on the instructional and research interests of the faculty member.

 

HY5414 Master’s Thesis (Coursework Program) 

 

Students select research topics with the guidance and approval of the Department of History. They are assigned supervisors who will guide them in conducting research and writing a 10,000-word thesis.

 

HY5415 Theatres of Memory: Performing Public History (For MA Coursework)
 

This module surveys how societies gain new understandings of the past through performances in the public sphere. A broad spectrum of performances across various cultural contexts will be explored, including theatre and dance, historical re-enactments, public rituals, immersive exhibitions, films, and digital sites such as video games and social media. This module equips students with a toolkit with which to interpret, analyse, and reflect on the dramaturgical strategies and techniques that shape the stories told in these performances, examining how they enhance historical consciousness and negotiate the distance between past and present for the communities involved.

 

HY5416 The United States and Asia (for MA Coursework) 

 

This module explores topics of special interest in the study of the history of U.S. foreign relations with Asia. It addresses the origins, nature, and outcomes of the American interventions and involvement in the region. It also discusses the multiple approaches scholars employ to investigate and explain the history of U.S.-Asia relations. Candidates will be trained and equipped with the analytical tools to critique the approaches and undertake independent research of the subject.

 

HY5417 Contested Sites: Built Heritage and Historical Memory (for MA Coursework)

 

This module will focus on the ways certain monuments have become sites of contestation. From conflicts over religious monuments, to the statue-toppling protests of recent years, to the attacks on ancient historical structures by groups like the Taliban and Islamic State, built heritage embodies ideas and beliefs about social norms, belonging ideals and divine presence, for some, whilst signalling oppression, absence, exclusion and loss for others. Through a series of case studies, students will learn the complex histories of certain sites and the range of actions that various interest groups have taken to ‘resolve’ the conflicts.

 

HY5660 Independent Study 

Independent research plays an important role in graduate education. The Independent Study Module is designed to enable the student to explore an approved topic in History in depth. The student should approach a lecturer to work out an agreed topic, readings, and assignments for the module. A formal, written agreement is to be drawn up, giving a clear account of the topic, number of contact hours, assignments, evaluation, and other pertinent details. Head’s and/or Graduate Coordinator’s approval is required. Regular meetings and reports are expected. Evaluation is based on 100% Continuous Assessment and must be worked out between the student and the lecturer prior to seeking departmental approval.

 

Level-6000

 

HY6101 Historiography: Theory & Archive

This module will enable graduate students to make use of a wide range of contemporary historical methods. The focus will be on major historians, current debate about historical practice, theoretical history and historical interpretation. Students will be strongly encouraged to explore the challenges inherent in connecting archival study with theoretical methodologies.

 

HY6206 Community Formation in SE Asia  

The module will focus on different types of identity or community – different modes of belonging – which have operated, or are likely to operate, in Southeast Asia. Discussion will cover the nation state, diasporic, ethnic, family, religious, gender, security, trading and other ‘communities’ in the region. We will also give attention to regionalism – particularly the sentiment that underpins the ASEAN and East Asian regional project.

 

HY6401 Southeast Asian Historiography 

This module surveys the various approaches that were developed to study and conceptualise Southeast Asian history. It seeks to equip students with an awareness of the analytical frameworks within which history research on the region had been written up. In the process, the module will evaluate the validity of the different approaches. For illustration, samples from secondary literature and, where applicable, primary texts will be used.

 

HY6402 The Historian’s Craft 

This course will provide intensive training in research and writing of history. It will begin with methodological discussions on the writing of history and examples and critiques of different techniques and formats. During this time, each student will be composing a research paper of article length and publishable quality on a topic related to his or her own research. The final weeks of class will be dedicated to intense reading and critique of the student papers by their peers.

 

HY6660 Independent Study

Independent research plays an important role in graduate education. The Independent Study Module is designed to enable the student to explore an approved topic in History in depth. The student should approach a lecturer to work out an agreed topic, readings, and assignments for the module. A formal, written agreement is to be drawn up, giving a clear account of the topic, number of contact hours, assignments, evaluation, and other pertinent details. Head’s and/or Graduate Coordinator’s approval is required. Regular meetings and reports are expected. Evaluation is based on 100% Continuous Assessment and must be worked out between the student and the lecturer prior to seeking departmental approval.

 

HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar

This is a required module for all research Masters and Ph.D. students admitted from AY2004/05. The module provides a forum for students and faculty to share their research and to engage one another critically in discussion of their current research projects. The module will include presentations by faculty on research ethics and dissertation writing. Each student is required to present a formal research paper. Active participation in all research presentations is expected. The module may be spread over two semesters and will be graded “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory” on the basis of student presentation and participation.

 

HY6881 Topics in Southeast Asian History 

This module will evaluate specific topics in Southeast Asian history depending on the specialty of the instructor. One of the main goals is to help the students develop a bibliography, from which they will develop research papers that will be related to dissertation topics. Thus, the goal is to provide doctoral candidates with the tools to conduct research in the region, while also introducing them to the current state of historical research in Southeast Asia.

 

HY6882 Topics in Chinese History 

This module is both a historiographic and research module to study specific themes and issues on Chinese history. The topics will depend on the specialty of the instructor and may vary from one semester to the other. Its goal is to familiarise the students with the current scholarship and primary sources on the selected topic so that they are able to discuss it critically. The students will write a short essay based on secondary literature, develop a bibliography and work on a research paper based on primary sources.

Qualifying Examination

A PhD student will, as part of our PhD programme, have to take and pass a PhD Qualifying Examination (QE) which comprises the following:

• a comprehensive examination (CE)
• the submission of a 30- to 50-page thesis proposal
• an oral defence of the student's thesis proposal before an Examination Panel / Thesis Committee

 

The comprehensive examination (CE) tests the general competence of the student in his discipline(s) or field(s), whereas the oral defense of the PhD thesis proposal ensures that the student is prepared to embark on his thesis research.

 

Before being allowed to take the QE, a student must have:

• passed a minimum of five modules with at least two at level 6000
• a minimum Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of 3.50 and
• where applicable, obtain satisfactory grades (at least grade C) in the Centre for English Language Communication graduate English modules at intermediate level.

 

TOEFL or IELTS Score Report

 

Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not English should submit TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English language.

 

The min TOEFL score required is as follows:

• Internet-based test (iBT): Minimum score of 85 (with minimum of 22 for the writing section)
• Computer-based test (CBT): Minimum score of 237

 

A min IELTS score of 6.0 is required.

 

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

 

With effect from the August 2023 intake, all applicants (except graduates from NUS, NTU & SMU) must submit GRE.

 

The min score is as follows:

• aggregate minimum score of 320 for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections
• minimum score of 3.5 for the Analytical section

 

The GRE Board policy states that scores are reportable for five years and score reports are valid only if our University receives them directly from Educational Testing Service.

For International Students:

• S$24,272