PhD in History - Latin American and Caribbean History in Nashville United States | Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University boasts one of the nation's longest-standing Latin American studies programs. Our PhD program cultivates scholars and educators with comprehensive understanding of Latin American and Caribbean history, combined with specialized research and writing training. Typically, doctoral candidates complete four semesters of coursework before undertaking qualifying exams in their fourth or fifth semester. During the fifth semester, students collaborate closely with our Latin American and Caribbean history faculty to refine their dissertation topics and proposals.

From day one, we urge our PhD candidates to immerse themselves professionally through fieldwork, networking, publications, collaborative initiatives, and grant pursuits. Our students have showcased their work at major conferences worldwide, including gatherings hosted by the American Historical Association, Conference on Latin American History, and Latin American Studies Association. In recent years, they've earned numerous distinguished awards from organizations like ACLS, Mellon, and Fulbright.