Information for Prospective Graduate Students
Do you currently accept graduate students at OSU?
(If you're interested in working with me but can't make it to OSU, see my page on distance education.)
PhD and master's - Check back again sometime in the middle of Summer 2017 for information about this Master's
PhD and master's - Check back again sometime in the middle of Summer 2017 for information about this Master's
Can you serve on my graduate committee?
At the Ohio State University
- Department of Educational Studies or somewhere else in the COEHE - Now: I think so? Check back if you're interested in this starting in the 2018 academic year.
- Department of History - I currently have no affiliation with this department. If you tell them about me and they say it's ok, you're always welcome to run the idea by me (probably easier to check with them first before asking me).
- The first question I'm going to ask is, "have you checked with your adviser?" If the answer is "no," then I'll send you off to do that. If check and if he/she says "yes," then send me a message and we'll go from there.
What are your academic qualifications?
Please see my CV for this information.
Have you published any books or articles?
Please see my books, articles, etc. page for this information.
Who are your mentors? With whom did you study?
My downloadable CV has some pedigree information, but a more detailed version exists if you wish to see that information.
Can you serve as an external reader?
See my "Common Questions" page for this information.
Do you have an overarching ideology that you follow (e.g. are you a neo-Marxist, post-modernist, etc.)?
See my research philosophy for this information.
Are you comfortable dealing with non-traditional or older students?
Yes, most certainly. The second go-around, I was non-traditional student, myself. I have first-hand experience with professors who didn't understand that I wasn't a 22 year-old straight out of college with different needs, experiences, and viewpoints; it was horribly frustrating on many levels (I was going through a divorce at the time, and my adviser's sage advice was to "look in the back of the local newspaper, there are singles' ads there" [yes, there are people like this out in the world]). Also, I have formal training and many years of experience in dealing with older and non-traditional students. Please note that you will still be held to an absolute standard of excellence as an adult student, however.
What is your political position? Will your political position impact me?
Mine are mine alone and will not impact you in any way. You're fully empowered to hold any political views you wish. I will never punish you for your political views (it's happened to me, and it's not fun) nor will you ever have to worry about being drawn in to any political event such as a rally, protest, speech, or anything of the ilk. Conversely, you won't be reprimanded in any way for attending such an event or expressing your political position.
You're a cultural historian, so can you supervise a program in popular culture?
In many areas, most certainly. In some others, maybe not. I specialize more in "private culture" for the lack of a better way to put it, but I'm fully capable of supervising a graduate student in popular culture in most areas. I wouldn't be the best choice to supervise a popular culture thesis or dissertation in very specialized areas, particularly in musical genres such as Hip-Hop, rap, or something of the ken. It's best to contact me if you're interested in this. It's best to look through my publications to see some examples of the type of history I do.
I notice that you have a computer/technology background. Can you supervise a program in the history of science?
Generally speaking: it depends. I'm a cultural historian; as such, I could supervise a program if you were interested in the way technology has affected society or culture. I'm actually not terribly familiar with the degrees given out by history of science departments and their methodologies might differ somewhat, but my background in science and technology puts me in a position where I can well-understand the particular vocabulary and mathematical/scientific lexicon that's attached to projects dealing with the history of science.
I notice that you have training in military history. Can you supervise a program in military history?
Since I'm a cultural historian, I'm more interested in how wars, the military, etc., affected society and culture (I think the latest buzzphrase for this type of history is War and Society <shrug>). If you're interested in tactics and strategy, I wouldn't be a particularly good choice to supervise a master's program or dissertation since my focus is not on the technical minutiae of the battlefield. If you're interested in the politics that drive wars there are probably better choices out there.
I notice that you have a background in philosophy. Could you supervise a program in philosophy or in the philosophy of history?
Strictly speaking..."no" to the former, "perhaps" to the latter (it would have to be through a self-guided program). I don't have the requisite training I need to supervise a full-fledged graduate degree in philosophy. However, if you needed to take an independent or guided-study class in the area of the philosophy of history, I should be able to supervise you. As far as an entire master's program in the philosophy of history, we might be able to work something out, particularly if you have a fairly good idea of the direction in which you want to proceed. Contact me and we'll start a dialog.
I notice that you have taught courses in men's history/masculinity studies. Could you supervise a program in gender studies or masculinity studies?
Probably. In general, if you're interested in women's history or gender history from a feminist or womanist frame of reference I would not be the best choice for this. If you're interested in looking at the history of masculinity or gender from the perspective of a cultural historian, we should be ok. Please know that I am not a huge foundationalist in this area, so if you want a supervisor who's heavily into the jargon and critical theory of someone trained specifically in gender studies, I won't be the best choice for you (this might make a big difference if you want to teach in a [all] gender[s but straight males] studies department).
I notice that you research and write on African American topics. Can you supervise a program in African American history?
In certain areas, yes. I study African American spirituality, the social and cultural effects of racism and Jim Crow, and education, so I would feel comfortable supervising a program in those areas (and perhaps more). However, you might want to consider others who fully specialize in African American history if you're really interested in networking in this area.
Can you supervise a program in the history of children?
That should work. Again, there are some limitations, but it's one of my areas of concentration.
Can you supervise a program in educational history?
I would think so, but there are some areas I specialize in more than others. You should probably look at my CV and/or publications list to see the kind of work I do. I would also consider what you want to do with your degree since you might want to earn a degree like this from a college of education if you want to be a member of a likewise department's faculty. Then again, it might not matter, but you should check to see if it does before committing to a program.
Could you supervise a program in some other minority history?
Certainly "absolutely, yes" to Asian-American history and "probably so" if we're talking about other minorities, particularly those that are concentrated in the West, Southwest, and Southeastern United States. But, again, it really depends on what you want to do and from which framework you want to approach this topic.
I notice that you're interested in the history of photography? Can you supervise a program in the history of photography or art history?
The former, yes, the latter, no. I can supervise a program that deals with the history of photography from the perspective of a cultural historian. Also, I believe that photographs are valid primary sources and I believe there are specific methods that allow historians to use photographs as valid sources of evidence.
Art history, as far as I can tell, is a specific discipline outside of history as I've come to know it. As such, my guess is that they use some methodologies and frameworks of which I'm wholly unaware; as such, I'm not qualified to supervise a program in the specific discipline of art history.
Art history, as far as I can tell, is a specific discipline outside of history as I've come to know it. As such, my guess is that they use some methodologies and frameworks of which I'm wholly unaware; as such, I'm not qualified to supervise a program in the specific discipline of art history.
Can you supervise a program in religious history?
In some narrow areas, particularly those encompassing cultural history, yes. A general, widespread program in religious history, probably not. But, you know, run your idea by me and we'll see how it goes.
I've noticed you've written some papers/books on Micronesia. Can you supervise a program in Pacific Rim Studies?
In some very, very limited areas, yes, particularly if you want to do some sort of overall program in Pacific Rim studies that included many of the countries in the region (it seems most departments have programs in Atlantic World Studies or something similar, so what I offer could be the Pacific mirror of one of those programs). I'm particularly strong in military involvement in the area and the effects of colonialism/imperialism in that region (including New Zealand and Australia). However, I don't speak or read in any Pacific Rim language (save English) well enough to help you in this area (except for English, of course), so you'll want to take this into account.