Graduate Admissions
Thank you for your interest in the OU History program
The OU History Department is excited to prepare the next generation of professional historians—individuals with critical analytic and writing skills, a talent for historical research, and a commitment to scholarly rigor.
Your graduate education should involve the realization of an individual research agenda; diverse opportunities for professional career development; and active participation in an intellectual community. Our faculty, staff, and graduate students work together to foster these ends in an inclusive environment of mutual respect.
Our graduate program is built around the department’s “core” areas of study:
The American West
Native American History
Environmental History
Latin American History
Transnational Women’s and Gender History
We also welcome applications to work with faculty in the Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies and other fields, particularly at the MA level. And we have developed courses and research opportunities in Public History, preparing students for diverse career options.
Incoming students are eligible for the Western Historical Quarterly fellowship; applicants should mention their interest in the statement of purpose.
In addition to GTA stipends, top Ph.D. applicants will be considered for fellowships from the OU History Department, the Graduate College, and the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
To learn more about the OU graduate program, please contact the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Jennifer Davis, at jennifer.j.davis@ou.edu, or any faculty member with whom you are interested in working.
The deadline for applications is December 15.
Application Process
Prospective students file their applications through the Graduate College. The History Department’s Graduate Committee and other Graduate Faculty then review the applications following the December 15 deadline.
The department seeks applicants whose academic profile, statement of purpose, writing sample, and letters of recommendation indicate a capacity for sustained, sophisticated, and original scholarship. We hope to foster a stimulating learning environment and a vigorous exchange of ideas by admitting a student body that is intellectually and socially diverse.
Admission to the Degree of Master of Arts
Formal application for admission is made online through the Graduate College Admissions Office. The Graduate College sets residence and other general requirements for the Master of Arts (M.A.) Please complete the Graduate College application form and forward the required transcripts to the Graduate College.
In addition, the Department of History requires:
- Three letters of reference, preferably from the applicant's professors;
- A statement of purpose (no more than 800 words) explaining your academic preparation, research interests, and professional goals; *
- An essay, term paper, or seminar paper, preferably from a history course, which serves as a writing sample.
Successful applicants will have a 3.5 or better grade-point average in a 4-point system in all courses in history taken as an undergraduate and a 3.5 or better grade-point average in all courses taken during the last two years of undergraduate study, although the History Department will consider a slightly lower GPA in exceptional circumstances.
Admission to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Formal application for admission to the program is made online through the Graduate College Admissions Office. The Graduate College sets residence and other general requirements for the Ph.D. Please complete the Graduate College application form and forward the required transcripts to the Graduate College.
In addition, the Department of History requires
- Three letters of reference from the applicant's professors;
- A statement of purpose (no more than 800 words) explaining your academic preparation, research interests, and professional goals*;
- A single writing sample, preferably from a history course. This can be a master’s thesis chapter, journal article, essay, term paper or seminar paper. The sample should highlight your writing ability and your skills in interpreting primary sources. Samples generally are 15-30 pages in length but can be longer or shorter.
Successful applicants will have a 3.5 or better grade-point average in a 4-point system in all M.A. work, although the History Department will consider a slightly lower GPA in exceptional circumstances.
*A strong statement describes your research experience, identifies the historical issues and topics you find engaging, and outlines the specific program of study you envision at OU, including the names of faculty members with whom you would like to work. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Consider including any information about your efforts to overcome barriers to access in higher education.
