The PhD program in the History of Medicine is part of the broader Program on the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology jointly run by the Department of the History of Medicine (SOM) and the Department of the History of Science and Technology (KSAS).
The work of the PhD program extends over all phases and dimensions of the development of medicine and related sciences, the history of disease, and the historical analysis of related conceptual, cultural, and social problems. Students acquire facility in the methods of historical research and gain a wide acquaintance with the available literature in the history of medicine, science, and related fields of history. Departmental offerings are particularly strong in the history of medicine and science in early modern Europe and the Islamic world; medicine, science, and technology in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries, including genetics; history of disease and public health; and studies of health and society in Latin America and Africa. The program offers coverage of racism and gender in the history of medicine, how medical and scientific knowledge is created, and medical practices of the body.
Students enter the PhD program with diverse backgrounds including medicine, science, and history. The PhD program prepares students for scholarly careers in teaching, research, and in non-academic fields. For further information, see our website. Students interested in the history of medicine should apply to the Program through the School of Medicine. Those interested in the history of science and technology should apply through the History of Science and Technology Department of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
Students who wish to combine medical training with academic training in the history of medicine may also inquire about the M.D.-PhD program by visiting the MD/PhD admissions website: https://mdphd.johnshopkins.edu/admissions/
Financial Aid
The regular department fellowships include tuition, stipend, research allowance and medical insurance.
Admission Requirements
Candidates must be at the post-baccalaureate level. Preference will be given to applicants with training in some aspect of the health sciences or history. For further information on general open houses, faculty specific open houses, application requirements, deadlines, and more, please visit our Application Page.
Program Requirements
The student must satisfy the requirements of the University, the School of Medicine, and the Program.
The principal requirement for the PhD degree in the history of medicine is the writing of a dissertation based upon original research and of publishable quality. Prior to embarking on full-time dissertation research, candidates will prepare themselves by a variety of courses, seminars, and guided reading. During the first year of study, students receive a general introduction to historical research and complete a year-long survey in the history of medicine. In their second and third years, candidates prepare three fields of study: one in the Department of the History of Medicine; one in the History Department; and a third field to be determined by the student and the advisor. The specific requirements for such fields are set by the faculty member directing the field, in consultation with the student. These fields entail both broad and intensive reading, and the passing of a comprehensive examination and/or preparation of several historiographic essays. Towards the end of the third year, students must prepare and defend a dissertation prospectus. Candidates must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of two foreign languages before being admitted to formal candidacy for the degree. The final requirement for the PhD degree is completion of a dissertation that is an original contribution to historical knowledge and of a standard suitable for publication. More detailed information can be found on the department website.
Research/Scholarship
Develop, plan and complete an independent research project that makes a significant, original contribution to existing literature in the history of medicine
Demonstrate breadth of knowledge of key scholarship in the history of medicine from antiquity to the present, with special proficiency in a chosen field of study
Successfully implement key research methods used in the discipline
Identify and critically assess primary and secondary sources and deploy evidence from those sources to build an historical argument
Successfully employ multiple tools, methods, and perspectives to investigate and interpret materials from the past
Critically read and evaluate literature in the history of medicine and allied fields
Demonstrate creative and innovative thinking
Independently design rigorous research projects
Exhibit the capacity to distinguish between ethical and unethical behavior as it relates to responsible conduct of research in history and allied fields
Demonstrate persistence and ability to problem solve
Take initiative to complete tasks without guidance
Writing
Demonstrate the ability to write for scholarly publication
Demonstrate the ability to write for a lay audience (e.g., outreach or advocacy)
Demonstrate the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
Communication
Apply historical knowledge and perspectives to contribute to public dialogue and professional life
Demonstrate the ability to present research findings to an audience of experts in history and allied disciplines at conferences, workshops, and seminars
Demonstrate the ability to present research findings to a lay audience (e.g. outreach or advocacy)
Professionalism
Practice the ethics and standards of historical scholarship that require peer critique, citation, and attribution
Demonstrate the ability to distinguish between ethical and unethical behavior in the workplace
Engage in professional and respectful interactions
Work effectively in collaboration with others
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ME.150.700 | Ethics for Medical Historians | 1 |
| ME.150.701 | Outline of History of Medicine I: Antiquity to Scientific Revolution | 4 |
| ME.150.702 | The History of Modern Medicine | 4 |
| ME.150.738 | The Work of Healing: Medicine and Materiality | 2 |
| ME.150.739 | Medicine, Race, and Colonialism: A Critical History | 3 |
| ME.150.801 | Research in the History of Medicine: Dissertation | 1 - 18 |
| ME.150.814 | Directed Readings | 4 |
| PH.550.605 | History of Public Health | 3 |
| PH.221.605 | History of International Health and Development | 2 |
| PH.550.609 | Life and Death in Charm City: Histories of Public Health in Baltimore, 1750 to the Present | 3 |
| AS.140.347 | History Of Genetics | 3 |
| AS.140.601 | Methods in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology | 3 |
| AS.140.641 | Departmental Colloquium | 2 |