• Academic Requirements for Admission
• Admission Types
• Application Procedures for International Students
• Application Deadlines
• Application Forms
• Graduate Admissions Information
• Graduate Application Checklist

Master of Arts programs:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• Undergraduate major in history or a closely allied discipline in the social sciences of humanities. Substantial course work in history (24-30 hours minimum), together with preparation in allied social sciences and humanities, also may be presented.
• An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale; GPA in history and course work in allied disciplines preferably will be higher.
• Students with outstanding academic records but lacking in requisite course work may be admitted subject to completion of additional undergraduate course work.

Doctor of Philosophy program:

• Master’s degree in history or a closely related discipline.
• GPA in undergraduate and previous graduate course work of at least 3.25; GPA in history and course work in closely allied disciplines preferably will be higher.
• Applicants with outstanding undergraduate records may be admitted directly to the doctoral program with a continuation review coming at the time of Master of Arts comprehensive examinations. In some cases, the department may request an interview prior to deciding on admission. In all cases, a commitment from a faculty member willing to serve as a major professor is needed for acceptance.

Master’s candidates admitted to the doctoral program without a completed degree must finish their master’s degree by the end of the first semester of doctoral course work or they will be placed on a conditional admission status.

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Admission Types

Regular Admission:

Applicants who meet academic requirements for admission.

Conditional Admission:

Applicants to the M.A. program who meet general academic requirements but not specific program requirements may be admitted, but only with conditions. These are stipulated at the time of admission and must be addressed satisfactorily within the first calendar year of study.

Applicants to the PhD program admitted conditionally who fulfill the conditions of admission may continue in the program only after a formal review by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Probationary Admission:

Applicants to the M.A. program who do not meet academic requirements may receive probationary admission, subject to available space in the programs. Specific requirements for probationary admission, subject to available space in the programs. Specific requirements for probationary students are stipulated at the time of admission. A maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit taken under probationary admission may be applied to a degree program.

Permission to Take Classes (PTG):

A student with a bachelor’s degree who wishes to enroll in courses, but does not plan to pursue a program leading to a graduate degree, or is not presently eligible for admission, may enroll in the Graduate College under PTG status. PTG student may enroll in graduate History courses—subject to any listed prerequisites on a space-available basis. The department reserves the right to drop PTG students from courses in order to accommodate degree students in History as well as other disciplines.

Up to nine credit hours of PTG classes can be counted toward a master’s degree if the student is admitted to the program.

Maintaining Active Admission Status:

Graduate students retain active admission status for one calendar year from the date of admission, or one calendar year from the date of most recent enrollment in courses. If your active admission status lapses, you must apply to the Graduate College for readmission subject to departmental approval and current program requirements; you may also need to complete the history department application again.

Annual Review of All Graduate Students:

The Graduate Studies Committee reviews all student files once a year with the DGS and the major professors of the students in order to advise students regarding the development of their programs of study, and to address problems of incomplete work, failing grades, or difficulties completing coursework, theses or dissertations. The GSC can shift students from one master’s option to another, will warn students that they are in jeopardy of being dismissed, and can set conditions for students to meet to avoid dismissal, or can dismiss students form the program. A committee recommendation of dismissal may be appealed to the Department Chair, but no student may continue in the program without a faculty member willing to serve as the major professor.

Change of Master of Arts Options:

Students who wish to change the option election in the Master of Arts program under which they were admitted must apply in writing for the new designation to the DGS. Students who do poorly in one option may be shifted to another after review and recommendation by the GSC. Students wishing to shift into the Thesis Option must have the support of their major professor.

Waivers:

Any waiver of any requirements for admission, program of study, etc., must be made in writing to the DGS, who will rule on waivers after consultation with the GSC and the student's major professor.

Students who are not citizens of the United States must obtain an admission form from the Office of International Student Services (A-414 Ellsworth Hall: 387-5865) and apply to that office. The office’s application deadline for MA students is March 15 for the fall semester and September 15 for the Winter Semester. For doctoral students, the History Department application deadline is January 15 for fall semester admission. You must also complete the History Department application forms. Forms may be requested by email from the department.

In addition to credential required of all students, international students whose native language is other than English are required to submit TOEFL scores. The department prefers scores of 600 or above. Applicants requesting financial aid may be requested to exhibit further evidence of fluency in English.

For students seeking admission and funding for the fall semester the deadline is January 15.

For students seeking only admission for fall semester all applications should be submitted as early in the spring as possible. To be guaranteed full consideration for admission, applications are due no later than April 15.

For students seeking only admision for the spring semester all applications should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than November 1 to be guaranteed full consideration.

Occasionally late applications may be granted admission, but only if faculty are available to serve as supervising professors and if there is adequate space in the program.

Application Forms

Applicants must submit their applications in two parts: 1) the History Department application form and 2) the Graduate College application form.