A. Program Description. The faculty is deep in the field of American southern history, including the experiences of African Americans in the region. At the same time, we are expanding efforts to achieve a comparative thematic perspective to keep students at the cutting edge of scholarship and introduces them to outstanding faculty members who work on geographic areas in which the department does not specialize for doctoral training. Thematic strengths extending beyond the South include the history of consumerism, tourism, science. technology, military, the environment, pop culture. magic, the occult and natural history.

B. Special Programs. The University of South Carolina offers one of the oldest & most successful public history programs in the country. Doctoral candidates may take an MA in public history, which is a valuable professional credential, on their way to earning the PhD. The university has an excellent library system, and research on southern history is facilitated by convenient access to the holdings at the university's South Caroliniana Library and the state's Department of Archives and History.

C. Financial Aid. Teaching or research assistantships, which include stipends and full abatement of tuition, are available to almost all Maters & PhD candidates. Some outstanding students receive additional fellowship support. The university provides travel grants for students delivering papers at professional conferences.

D. Degree Requirements. Candidates for the PhD complete three years of full-time course work (taking the MA after the second year), pass a series of written and oral comprehensive examinations, and write an approved dissertation.