Online Master of Arts in History

Admission to the History MA program is selective. The most competitive applicants will meet the following academic criteria:

• A strong record of relevant coursework (18 hours of previous coursework in history and/or other humanities or social science disciplines)
• a GPA of 3.3
• a strong writing sample
• academic letters of recommendation
• a minimum TOEFL score, for international students, of 90 for the iBT, or 600 for the PBT.

Any applicant who submits all of the required elements will be considered for admission. However, if an applicant’s GPA or relevant coursework do not meet the above criteria, it is strongly recommended that the student provide an explanation in the Statement of Purpose.

1. Online electronic application: Applicants must submit an online Graduate Admissions application and application fee.
2. Transcripts: Should be mailed to Graduate Admissions Services from the issuing institution(s). All transcripts from any institution attended, including graduate work, should be submitted.
3. Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose should be addressed to the history admission committee and should explain the applicant's scholarly background and training (addressing any concerns with the applicant’s academic record), career goals, the primary field the applicant wishes to pursue (North America or Global), and why the applicant wants to pursue graduate study at ASU (about 500 words in length). It is not necessary to specify a historical interest, but the applicant should include it if they have one in mind.
4. CV/Resume: Upload into online application.
5. Writing sample: A sample of the applicant's written work should be submitted electronically as part of the online application. Compelling writing samples will include a strong thesis, demonstrated use of primary and secondary source evidence, and solid writing foundations (such as proper grammar and logical organization). The writing sample may be an article (published or unpublished), a research paper, or any other extended sample of expository skill no longer than 35 pages in length. Longer writing samples should not be submitted without first consulting the Director of Graduate Studies. Documents and files may not be password protected. Acceptable file types are .rtf, .pdf, and .doc.
6. References: Applicants are required to submit a minimum of 3 email addresses from faculty or others qualified to speak of the applicant's suitability for graduate study in history. Academic letters of references will be given the most weight. Applicants should avoid asking friends or family members for references. References will be contacted by the University and asked to upload letters and evaluations online.
7. TOEFL: An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must follow Graduate Admission guidelines for demonstrating English language proficiency. The history program requires an iBT TOEFL score of at least 90 or a PBT TOEFL score of 600. TOEFL scores should be sent electronically from ETS (Educational Testing Services) to ASU.