The graduate program in history is a compact
program with traditional strengths in medieval and modern Europe and
emerging programs in U.S. and Latin American history. Course offerings
typically focus on Europe and the Americas, the heart of our M.A. and
Ph.D. programs, although the department regularly offers courses on
transnational or global themes. One of the great strengths of the program
is that graduate students take only graduate courses. Although some of
these courses (at the 5000 level) include a few advanced undergraduate
history majors, no graduate students take undergraduate lecture-style
courses. The graduate syllabuses are demanding, normally requiring a
minimum of 300-400 pages per week of common reading, discussion, and
writing assignments that typically add up to 20-25 pages, most of which
require additional outside reading and library research. Consult our
course offerings and syllabuses by clicking on the appropriate link
above.
Starting in the Fall of 2003, the Ph.D. is offered
in all areas of Europe and the Americas from the middle ages up to the
twentieth century. Students interested in applying for an M.A. or Ph.D.
degree in the Department of History should contact the director of
graduate studies. You may also wish to contact faculty in your field
directly via email, letter, or phone. The following links take you to the
website of the
Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences. Open the
GSAS on-line inquiry
form if you have any general questions regarding graduate school at
Fordham. Follow this link to
apply on-line. All
non-matriculated students who are interested in taking classes should fill
out an
application
form.
Each year, the Department of History receives
several inquiries from students who are interested in applying for an M.A.
in Medieval Studies. For more information, consult the website for the
Center for Medieval
Studies.
In general, the following are necessary to be
considered for admission for a graduate degree in the Department of
History.
Admission Requirements for
the M.A.
- Bachelor’s degree from an approved
college or university
- Six courses in history in
undergraduate program
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
General Aptitude Test
- For foreign students, English
proficiency exams such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL)
- GPA of at least 3.0
(B)
- A writing sample, minimum of 5-7
pages, is strongly advised
- Three letters of recommendation
from former professors
- Official transcripts of school
records
Admission Requirements for
the Ph.D.
- All of the above. In addition, you
will need:
- Master’s degree in history from an
approved college or university
- GPA of at least 3.5 (B+)
- A writing sample, minimum of 5-7
pages, is strongly advised
Current M.A. Students who wish to apply for the Ph.D.
program
Students who are currently enrolled in the M.A. program who
wish to apply for admission into the Ph.D. program will need to fill out
another application. The form is available from the Office of Graduate
Admissions (Keating 216) or on-line. In addition to the application form
itself, you will need to submit a request for your current Fordham
transcript. You are also strongly advised to replace your three references
letters with letters written by current Fordham faculty. You may also wish
to rewrite your statement of intent. You do NOT need to resubmit any of
the following: transcripts from your undergraduate school, writing sample,
and GRE scores. In addition, no application fee is
charged.
If you are not currently on financial aid and wish
to apply, you should download, print, and fill out the form available by
clicking
here (PDF only). This form should be submitted to the department.
Contact Daniel Soyer if you prefer
to use a paper copy of the form or need advice. This form should be used
by all matriculated students.
Seniors in the accelerated MA program should also
fill out this form if they wish to be considered for financial aid.
Students will need to take the GRE examination to be eligible for
financial aid.
