In 2004, the American Historical Association published a study highlighting the usefullness of a master's degree for individuals ultimately interested in earning a PhD. According to the AHA research, between 78 and 85 percent of PhDs earned a master's degree first. Between 1981 and 2001, the San Francisco State History Department ranked fourth in the nation among schools whose master's students went on to PhD programs. What's more, San Francisco State ranked first in the country in sending its students to PhD programs among those schools that only offer a master's degree. In the years since the study the history department has continued its tradition of excellence as our former students are currently enrolled in some of the finest PhD programs in North America including Harvard, Columbia, the University of Illinois, Brown, the University of Michigan, the University of Toronto, UC-Berkeley, and UCLA among others.
