History vs. Hist of Architecture (in schools of design/architecture)?

[ziggysunshine]

Hey everyone,

I'm compiling my list of PhD programs to apply to this coming fall, and I've found myself a bit split as to what kind of program to apply to. A little background about my interests: I work in LME, with a particular interest in urban destruction and reconstruction as sociopolitical processes. I completed my thesis last semester on the topic of architectural reconstruction in the Belgian town of Ypres following WWI, which followed much along this vein. The thesis dedicated equal airtime to both examination of structures ( for instance: this building features x style, this street was rebuilt with y additions) and agents (for example: the British hoped to maintain the town as a permanent memorial). As such, I wouldn't say I was clearly more interested in one aspect over the other.

I'll be continuing my research on this same topic throughout the master's program that I have secured, in the hope of refining my interests. But in the meanwhile, what do you guys think? Is it better to apply to a traditional history department and work with an emphasis in urban history, or is it alright to apply to a PhD program like Cornell's HAUD (History of Architecture and Urban Development) or MIT'S HCT (History, Theory, and Criticism...of architecture)? Though I've heard great things about the latter two programs, I've also been cautioned by many of my professors against applying to them. This is mostly for fear that they are "too interdisciplinary", rather than the programs not being a good fit for me.

 

 

[Sigaba]

12 hours ago, ziggysunshine said:

,I've also been cautioned by many of my professors against applying to them. This is mostly for fear that they are "too interdisciplinary", rather than the programs not being a good fit for me.

My reading of your OP is that your professors are telling you that you're going to have a hard time finding work as a professional academic historian if you go the HAUD/HCT route. So in addition to determining which path is better for your intellectual interests, you might also develop further  your understanding of what kinds of trades off you may have to make to pursue them.

My recommendation is that if you want to be a professional academic historian, look for history programs that will allow you to do your outside field in architecture or urban development--perhaps even at a nearby school.

[ziggysunshine]

2 hours ago, Sigaba said:

My reading of your OP is that your professors are telling you that you're going to have a hard time finding work as a professional academic historian if you go the HAUD/HCT route. So in addition to determining which path is better for your intellectual interests, you might also develop further  your understanding of what kinds of trades off you may have to make to pursue them.

My recommendation is that if you want to be a professional academic historian, look for history programs that will allow you to do your outside field in architecture or urban development--perhaps even at a nearby school.

Hey, thanks for the reply! Yeah, I think you're right to emphasize the potential tradeoffs I would have to make if I pursued the HAUD/HCT programs. And yes, I'm going to apply back to my undergrad institution and its rival school across the bay, but I can't bank on sticking around! They're pretty difficult to get accepted to at any degree level. If I were able to return to my undergraduate institution for a history PhD, however, I found out that they do allow one committee member to be from outside the department! This would be super helpful, since I could pull someone in from architecture or urban planning to guide me along.

Looking under more traditional departments, I found some people at UCLA and at Yale that seem to line up well with my interests, so maybe I will apply to those programs as well. I'll also look into individual requirements for dissertation committees and apply to programs that allow advisors from outside departments.

Thanks again!

[TMP]

If you want to be a historian, indeed, applying to History PhD programs.  Most programs do allow at least one committee member for the dissertation (and sometimes exams like my program) from outside of the department.  Sometimes programs do allow for an "outside" minor field, which you can have through coursework (and an exam, perhaps).  You will have to be willing to sit through a lot of classes emphasizing methodologies of social, political, and cultural historians.  Those methodologies would be pretty helpful to you in thinking more deeper about the area you hope to study for your dissertation.

It would be best to look for urban historians and go from there.  There is an academic journal-- Journal of Urban History,  which you can browse through for potential POIs.

[ziggysunshine]

On 3/12/2016 at 6:19 PM, TMP said:

If you want to be a historian, indeed, applying to History PhD programs.  Most programs do allow at least one committee member for the dissertation (and sometimes exams like my program) from outside of the department.  Sometimes programs do allow for an "outside" minor field, which you can have through coursework (and an exam, perhaps).  You will have to be willing to sit through a lot of classes emphasizing methodologies of social, political, and cultural historians.  Those methodologies would be pretty helpful to you in thinking more deeper about the area you hope to study for your dissertation.

It would be best to look for urban historians and go from there.  There is an academic journal-- Journal of Urban History,  which you can browse through for potential POIs.

Thank you for the input! Having a minor field or some outside emphasis in a traditional history program sounds like the way to go. And I'll definitely look through the Journal of Urban history.