Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any questions we haven't answered? Contact Robin Ennis--she would be happy to assist you.
What should my GPA be?
On average, new students have an overall college GPA of 3.7 or above.
Review of GRE scores, faculty recommendations, personal statements, and research
papers is also an important part of the selection process.
What kind of GRE scores are you looking for?
Average GRE scores:
Verbal- 690
Quantitative- 608
Analytical- 695
We do not require the subject test.
Foreign applicants speaking English as a second language must have taken the TOEFL exam within the last 2 years.
When should I take the GRE?
GRE testing must take place within the 5 years prior
to your application to our department. An official report of the scores, sent
directly from Educational Testing Service, must be provided.
What kind of writing sample should I send?
Candidates must submit a sample of recent writing,
preferably a research paper of at least 10-15 pages in
length. This can be a senior or master's thesis. The writing
samples should be sent by December 31st of the year you
plan to begin your degree to the attention of
Robin Ennis,
assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies. Click
here for our mailing address.
How selective is the process of being admitted?
Due to the small enrollment each year (fewer than 10) acceptance
to our program is quite competitive. This small size, however, creates an
intimate atmosphere for learning and a unique opportunity for teaching experience.
Your GPA, GRE scores, faculty recommendations, personal statement, and writing
sample are weighed by several professors in our department, including persons
knowledgeable in your area of interest.
What are the language requirements
for the Ph.D.?
All candidates for graduate degrees in History are required to demonstrate
proficiency in one foreign language. Each student should devise the strategy
that will best suit him or her in the long run, shifting language training
from a burden to a meaningful opportunity.
At present, the way of certifying competency in a foreign language is to pass a translation test, rendering one or more passages into English, with the use of a dictionary, within a set time of two hours. These tests will be administered and graded by a qualified individual within or outside the Department, as appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies. Click here for more details on the History Department's language requirement.
What kind of fellowships do you offer?
Your Ph.D. education can be funded in a
variety of ways.
Click here for general aid information.
Click here for funding sources during the process of writing your dissertation.
What kind of teaching assistant (TA) opportunities are available?
Year 1: Departmental fellows can work as a grader assistant for 9 hours/week
Years 2 and 3: A holder of a departmental fellowship usually designated as a TA in one undergrad course during one semester each year (work includes teaching a section of a large class, grading papers and exams, or even giving an occasional lecture, depending upon the nature of the class--rougly 18 hours/week)
Years 4 and 5: A total of at least 3 paid teaching assistantships are assured to departmental fellows (an average of 9 hours per week throughout the 28 weeks of the academic year or an average of 18 hours per week during the 14 weeks in both semesters)
There will continue to be flexibility within these general guidelines, depending upon the needs of each student and of the department in a given year.