Admissions FAQs

I am interested in your MA program.
We do not offer a terminal MA program. Students are admitted to obtain the PhD, perhaps choosing to earn the MA along the way.  For more information on our degree programs, see our Graduate Program Degrees page.
 
What GPA/GRE scores are required/competitive?
Students admitted to our program generally do have high GPAs and test scores, but we don't have minimum requirements for either measurement.  That said, an application with a GPA lower than a 3.4 or GRE score lower than 1200 from a native English speaker is not likely to impress.  The writing score is not seen by the admissions committee.

What should I focus on when preparing my application materials?
Your materials should make it apparent that you are prepared for our program.  Faculty evaluators consider letters of recommendation very seriously as statements from their peers regarding your readiness for graduate study.  Your writing sample needs to show promise, and your statement of purpose should succinctly state your case for admission by describing your academic and research experience and how these lead into your proposed focus of study.  

I don’t have an undergraduate degree in History.  Can I still apply to your program?
Yes.  Your application will be considered holistically and various measures of experience will be taken into consideration.  Your application materials need to show adequate preparation to conduct original research and produce academic writing in the field of history.  They also need to show your familiarity with the subfields and geographic areas that you propose to research.

What foreign language skills do you require for admission?
Applicants are expected to be well on their way to proficiency in the languages necessary to undertake their proposed research.  Study in American History requires that you pass one foreign language exam; all other programs require two languages.  Details on language requirements can be found in the Official Guide to Graduate Study.

Is there a separate application for funding?
Each admitted student is automatically considered for all applicable funding available through the University, including fellowships based on students’ background and areas of research.  No additional materials are necessary for funding consideration.  Funding offers will be made and outlined in letters of admission.

How do I become a Teaching Assistant?
There are a limited number of Teaching Assistantships (TAships) available in the History Department.  We can only guarantee TAships as part of funding offers made at the time of admission.

When are admissions decisions made and when will I be notified?
Admissions materials continue to be processed in December, and are evaluated by faculty and admissions committees in January.  Admissions decisions will be sent by early March.

How competitive is your program?  How many students get in each year?
For the past three years our application rate has been around 300 with an enrollment rate of about eight percent of applicants.  In Fall 2010 we will enroll only eight students due to budgetary constrictions.

How long does it take to finish the PhD graduate program?
Students finish our program in an average of seven years.

Where do your students find teaching jobs?  What are your placement rates?
Eighty percent of those who completed the PhD program between 2004 and 2008 achieved tenure-track jobs.  Our Alumni page provides lists of doctoral graduates and their placements over the decades.