M.A. in History

While strong in many conventional geographical fields of historical study, our graduate program takes an innovative thematic approach to encourage comparative, transnational, interdisciplinary, and theoretically-informed scholarship and teaching. Working closely with our award-winning faculty, our graduate students develop expertise and teaching experience in both thematic areas and geographical fields, while pursuing extensive original research. In the process, they learn how to apply important concepts-such as class, gender, race, culture, power,and environment-to the study of the past. By emphasizing active engagement, discussion, and collaboration, our program fosters a dynamic,collegial learning environment where graduate students receive substantial mentorship. The program is designed so individual students may customize their course of study to their own intellectual interests and career objectives. All graduate students are welcome and encouraged to participate in university and departmental events and programs.

Admission Requirements Admissions Website Bachelor’s degree in History, or equivalent, with minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all undergraduate coursework and History courses. 3 Letters of Recommendation for Ph.D. applicants; 2 Letters of Recommendation for M.A. applicants. Letters should address student’s potential to succeed in a rigorous course of graduate study. All students who are not native or primary speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in English to be admitted to the Graduate School by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System(IELTS). Required minimum scores: IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no subsection below 6; TOEFL score of 80 for M.A. and 90 for Ph.D.and to be eligible for TA/GA support. See English Proficiency Requirements for Admission for a more detailed explanation. Writing sample (12 pages for M.A.; 20 pages for Ph.D.) that exemplifies the applicant’s writing skills and capacity for research, analysis, and creative thought. Any additional requirements of the Graduate School. With approval from the dean of the Graduate School and the History Department, a student with an M.A. degree from another accredited institution may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program at Stony Brook. In special cases, students whose GPA does not meet the requirements stated above may be admitted on a provisional basis for M.A. study only. Admission to Ph.D. Program: Students with an M.A. degree, including those conferred by Stony Brook University, who wish to be considered for the Ph.D. Program must submit a formal application to the Graduate School. Admission is not guaranteed.