Prospective Students

About the Program

• Who Should Apply?

  We welcome applicants with either a B.A. or M.A. in history or related humanities fields such as African American Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Public History, or Cultural Studies. While a background in history is encouraged, our curriculum is designed to support students from a range of disciplinary experiences. This program is a strong fit for those eager to build digital fluency alongside their historical expertise. Students interested in areas like gender and sexuality, the U.S. South, or empire and colonialism will find strong faculty support—but we also welcome a wide array of research interests. Prospective students are encouraged to reach out to the Ph.D. directors or individual faculty to explore how their goals align with the program.

• Why Clemson? Why Digital History?

  Clemson offers the resources of a top-tier research university within a close-knit academic community. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area combines stunning natural beauty with affordable living and a vibrant cultural scene. Students benefit from a warm and welcoming campus community and easy access to nearby Greenville, one of the fastest-growing and most livable small cities in the country. Learn more about Living in Upstate South Carolina.

  Clemson’s Digital History Ph.D. is designed with the future of the profession in mind. In a challenging academic job market, candidates with digital expertise stand out—not only because they bring new methodological tools, but because they can help departments adapt to a rapidly changing research and teaching landscape. As artificial intelligence reshapes the ways we search, write, and interpret information, digital fluency is becoming essential to the historian’s craft. Clemson students graduate with the skills needed to lead that transformation.

• Curriculum and Fields

  Students complete three comprehensive fields:

  • A Primary Field in U.S., World, or European History

  • A Concentration Field in a thematic area such as Women, Gender, and Sexuality; the U.S. South; Environmental history; or Colonialism and Empire

  • A Digital Field focused on computational methods and digital historical practice

  The curriculum includes coursework, a required digital practicum, and regular participation in the Digital History Salon—a collaborative space for presenting works-in-progress, engaging with peers, and preparing for milestones like the dissertation prospectus. For more information view our Course of Study Worksheet.

• Application Requirements

  Applications for full or part-time study must be submitted no later than January 15, 2026 for full consideration for admissions and funding. Applications submitted after the program's deadline may be evaluated for admission without funding at the discretion of the department’s graduate admission committee.

  Students are admitted to the graduate program by the dean of the graduate school upon the recommendation of the program director or department chair. All persons applying to the Ph.D. program in digital history must submit the following to the Graduate School:

  1. Unofficial Transcripts (final-official required once admitted)
  2. TOEFL, IELTS or PTE, and Duolingo (for international applicants)
  3. Three Letters of Recommendation
  4. Resume/CV
  5. Statement of Purpose (1-2-pages) - The statement of purpose should articulate your motivation and aspirations for pursuing a Ph.D. in digital history as well as a demonstrable track record of accomplishment and perseverance. Applicants should explain why a Ph.D. in digital history is appealing to them. Additionally, students should outline their research interests and identify a network of Clemson History faculty who they would like to collaborate with. Interests can be general or specific and multiple interests can be listed. Details about the fields and thematic clusters that Clemson faculty work in can be found on our Faculty by Field page.
  6. Writing Sample (15-30-pages)
  7. Optional: Example of digital engagement uploaded to the Supporting Materials page of the application form (submitted as a .pdf, url, or other file format).
  8. A completed Graduate School application form
• Funding

  The department will offer funded assistantships to a limited number of full-time students each application cycle. Decisions on the awarding of assistantships are made by the department’s Graduate Committee. This funding will include a tuition waiver and a stipend for the academic year. Assistantships for the 2023-24 year were $22,500 over 9-months. We expect future stipends will match or exceed that sum. These assistantships are eligible for renewal for up to five years. Students do not need to complete a separate application to be considered for funding.

   

   

   

• Tuition and Fees

  Funded students receive a tuition waiver and are responsible only for a few university fees. To calculate those fees, see the the Tuition and Fee Calculator on the Student Financial Services webpage. When using the calculator, be sure to select the Digital History PhD program on the Graduate tab.