Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor's degreefrom an accredited institution with a major in history or a closely allied discipline, such as political science. Applicants without significant undergraduate coursework in history will still be considered, but they must provide clear and convincing evidence that they are prepared for graduate study in history.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0. The department expects that an applicant's GPA in history courses will be significantly higher.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE): GRE scores are valid for five years as of the test date, at the time of application. The code for Ohio University is 1593.
- Writing samplethat demonstrates the ability to engage in advanced historical research and to express ideas clearly and persuasively. A research essay from an undergraduate course would be an appropriate writing sample.
- Statement of purpose(approximately 500 words). This should explain your reasons for seeking admission to the M.A. program and what you hope to study. Try to be as specific as possible. The department does not expect that you propose a thesis topic, or a schedule of particular classes, but in making decisions on admission, the department does look to ensure that a student's interests can be well served by course offerings and faculty expertise. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any faculty member with whom you think you might like to study. See Faculty Research Areas .
- English Proficiency. All non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official test scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS academic). To be considered official, test scores must be reported directly from the testing agency to Ohio University. Minimum TOEFL-iBT 80. IELTS 6.5 minimum across all bands. More information on English Proficiency .
See more information about Ohio University's graduate admission requirements .
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All graduate applications must be submitted electronically through the Graduate College.
Application Deadlines
The deadline for applications for the Fall Semester is Feb. 15 of the preceding winter. The History Department's Graduate Committee will make decisions on admission shortly afterward. Applicants will be notified of those decisions by early to mid-March. Almost all admissions to the program occur in this cycle. Please note that applicants for fall semester have priority for financial aid in the form of teaching assistantships and fellowships.
The History Department's Graduate Committee may admit applicants to start in the spring semester. Such candidates should apply no later than Nov. 1 of the preceding fall. Admissions on this cycle, however, occur very rarely and only in extraordinary circumstances. Please note that teaching assistantships and fellowships are typically unavailable in this cycle.