Transforming Historical Research
Tackle the questions of the past with the tools of the future
Today’s historians must make sense of ever-growing volumes of data using digital tools. From text mining and GIS to network analysis and AI, digital history opens new pathways for exploring the past. As born-digital sources become more common, technological fluency is essential—not just for using these tools, but for understanding their biases and limitations.
Clemson’s Digital History Ph.D.—the first of its kind in the U.S.—offers rigorous training in both historical thinking and computational methods. Our curriculum is grounded in the belief that history drives the digital; the digital doesn’t drive the history. That means we begin with meaningful historical questions and apply digital tools in service of answering them—not the other way around. Students gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies while developing dissertations rooted in rich historical research. While a background in history is ideal, we welcome applicants from a range of humanities fields and offer flexibility for those without an M.A. in history.
Applications for Fall 2026 are due January 15, 2026. For more information about the Ph.D. in Digital History please contact the Interim Program Director, Dr. Joshua Catalano at dhphd@clemson.edu.
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