Graduate Application

The Graduate Studies Admissions Committee in the Department of History considers applications once each year. Applicants must have all materials (application, transcripts, and reference letters) submitted by December 15. Accepted applicants should plan to enroll in the fall semester, but may delay their matriculation for up to one year from admission. We do not admit students for spring semester entrance.

The department encourages applicants to visit the campus if possible to meet faculty members and graduate students and to discuss plans with a graduate advisor. To arrange a visit, or for any other questions, please call the History Department at 979-845-7385; or you may email Katherine Unterman, Director of Graduate Studies or David Hudson, Associate Director of Graduate Studies.

• Terminal MA Degree (2 years). Although most of our graduate students are on a PhD track, we will admit terminal Master’s students who have a compelling reason for pursuing the MA degree (rather than the MA+PhD degree); for example, if they would like to pursue a career that only requires an MA. Our standards for admitting MA students are just as rigorous as for PhD students and our MA students take the same courses and are held to the same standards as PhD students. If you would ultimately like to get a PhD, you should apply to the PhD program rather than the MA program. Terminal MA students do not receive tuition and fees from the department.

• 96-Hour PhD Program (5 years). This MA+PhD track is for students who have not yet earned an MA degree. Students will first complete an MA and then proceed to earn a PhD. These students can receive 5 years of funding, if they are hired as teaching assistants (GATs) by the department. If you would like to apply for this degree, you should choose the PhD degree in your application. If you would like to be considered for funding, please answer Yes to the question “Would you like to be considered for a graduate assistantship?”; if you have an alternate funding source, please select “No.”

• 64-Hour PhD Program (4 years). This PhD track is for students who have already earned an MA degree. These students can receive 4 years of funding, if they are hired as teaching assistants (GATs) by the department. If you would like to apply for this degree, you should choose the PhD degree in your application. If you would like to be considered for funding, please answer Yes to the question “Would you like to be considered for a graduate assistantship?”; if you have an alternate funding source, please select “No.”

• The Texas A&M University GraduateCAS is the Centralized Application Service (CAStm) for most graduate programs at Texas A&M University. Use the Texas A&M University Graduate CAS in order to apply for Fall 2026 entry into the program. Visit the Texas A&M Admissions site for additional information on graduate application.

• Visit the Graduate and Professional School's Scholarships page for more information.

• To complete the application process you will be required to submit: transcripts from any other institution of higher education you have attended; TOEFL (if applicable) scores; a Curriculum Vitae; and a writing sample. The applicant will also solicit three (3) letters of recommendation written on his/her behalf. We no longer require GRE scores from applicants.

As part of the application process you will be asked you to write a Personal Statement Essay. Your personal statement should address and answer the following questions: What are your research interests in the field of history and how did you develop those interests?  Why have you selected the History Graduate Program at TAMU as the best venue to pursue those interests?  You should identify one or more members of our faculty whose research interests closely reflect yours and who might act as your primary academic advisor.  You are encouraged to contact those faculty before you apply.

Your sample should reflect your best historical writing. It can consist of an undergraduate honors thesis, senior seminar paper, undergraduate research paper, chapter of your MA thesis, or graduate seminar paper. The writing sample should be no more than 25 pages.

Please submit all materials by December 15.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Katherine Unterman, Director of Graduate Studies, or David Hudson, Associate Director of Graduate Studies.