How to Apply

Applicants for either the MA or the Ph.D. program in history should begin by consulting the Graduate School's website. Instructions for applying online may be found there, as well as links to the Graduate Catalog and other useful information. In addition to submitting the application form and obtaining official transcripts, applicants must include the following:

• A personal statement concerning the applicant's interests and qualifications
• An example of written work from a history course (preferably a research paper)
• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from academic faculty members

Applicants should follow the instructions given at the Graduate School's website for collecting and submitting all application materials. The History department requires that all applicants take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) aptitude test.

Students who are completing a Masters degree in history from the University of Connecticut and who wish to apply for the Ph.D. program should fill out a paper application and submit it (without paying a fee) to the Graduate School. All other application materials should be submitted directly to the department. New transcripts or GREs are not required.

Financial Aid

The Graduate School's website contains information regarding need-based financial aid. Graduate Assistantships (which include tuition waivers) and pre-doctoral fellowships are available through the History Department for full-time students. Applicants seeking financial aid should so indicate at the appropriate place on the application form. Aid is not normally available for MA students for more than four semesters or for Ph.D. students for more than ten semesters beyond the MA degree. All awards are made on the basis of academic merit.

Deadlines

Applications for fall admission must be received by January 1. Applications for spring admission are considered only under exceptional circumstances, and financial aid is generally not available. Please contact the Director of Graduate Studies for more information about spring admission.

Admission Requirements for the Masters Program

Any student with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution may apply for admission to the master's program. Applicants must meet the admissions requirements set by both the Graduate School, which are listed at its website, and the Department of History. The Department expects applicants to have adequate preparation in history and in related fields in the social sciences and the humanities. A minimum of 21 credits of history above the introductory level is expected, as is at least a "B" average in a broad range of history courses. Both undergraduate grades and Graduate Record Examination scores need to show promise for graduate study. In rare cases, students who fail to meet minimum requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis and required to meet specific conditions before receiving regular status.

Admission Requirements for the Doctoral Program

For admission to the doctoral program the applicant's record should offer promise of superior achievement. Students holding either the BA or the MA in History from an accredited institution may apply to the doctoral program.

Applicants with degrees in related fields should consult the Director of Graduate Studies for eligibility.

Although not required for admission into the doctoral program, reading proficiency in a foreign language is highly desirable. All doctoral students are required to demonstrate reading proficiency in at least one foreign language early in their Ph.D. work.