Application & Admission Information

 

Applying to the History Graduate Program 

To enter a program leading to a graduate degree in History at Texas Tech University, the applicant must apply to and be admitted by both the Graduate School and theDepartment of History. Each has its own application requirements. The Department of History cannot consider your application until your admissions file in the Graduate School is complete. The procedures below outline the admissions process requirements for both the Department of History and the Graduate School.

For general advice on applying to graduate school, CLICK HERE for an article published by the American Historical Association on navigating the graduate admissions process. 

 

Application Deadlines

For Fall 2024 Enrollment

Completed applications must be received by January 15, 2024. Completed applications are those which include all required materials for both the Department of History and the Graduate School. Late applications will not be considered.

For Spring 2025 Enrollment

Completed applications must be received by October 15, 2024. Completed applications are those which include all required materials for both the Department of History and the Graduate School. Late applications will not be considered.

 

Summer Enrollments 

For the PhD program and the in-person MA program, the Department of History does not accept applications for summer admission. Students admitted for the fall semester may, if they choose to, begin taking graduate courses in the summer before the fall semester begins. Students should be aware that summer graduate course offerings are very limited. This arrangement must be discussed with the Graduate Program Coordinator and approved by the department. In addition, students must coordinate with the Graduate School to complete the necessary forms and pay the applicable fee to change their graduate program entry date.

 

Application Process

Students applying to the Department of History graduate program will apply through the TTU Graduate School. For an overview of the admissions process for the Graduate School and to begin the application process, please visit the Graduate School's application website. 

Please follow the following steps to apply. All application materials will be uploaded through the Graduate School's application portal. Do not send any materials directly to the department.

Please note: The Texas Tech University Department of History does not require the submission of GRE scores as part of the application process.

1. Begin your application with the Graduate School here.
2. Contact members of the department facultyyou wish to study with to discuss the possibility of working with them in your graduate study. Please note who you spoke with in your Statement of Purpose.
3. Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework to Texas Tech through the Graduate School's online application portal.
4.  Submit your current CV through the Graduate School's application portal.
5. Submit a Statement of Purpose outlining your reasons for wanting to study history at the graduate level, your goals in the field, and your particular strengths and aptitudes for graduate study in history. This document will be uploaded through the Graduate School's application portal.
6. Submit a 10 to 20 page Writing Sample such as a thesis chapter, research paper, or some other written work indicative of your abilities as a historical writer and researcher. This document will be uploaded through the Graduate School's application portal.
7. Have three referees (preferably those familiar with your academic record) submit letters of recommendation. You will provide names and contact information to the Graduate School through the application portal, and your recommenders will receive an official email from the Graduate School with a link to upload their letter.

 

Any student who, because of a disability, may require some special arrangements in order to meet degree requirements may gain information about possible accommodations by contacting the Department of History and/or the Dean of Students Office's AccessTech.

 

Admission Requirements 

Admission to the Masters of Arts Program in History 

A student qualifying for admission to the Graduate School may gain admission to the department's Master's program by meeting the following standards:

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in history or at least 24 hours of undergraduate history or sufficient courses in related disciplines to indicate a background in the general area of humanistic studies.
• An overall grade-point average on undergraduate work of 3.00 or higher.
• At least 18 hours of undergraduate history with grades of B or above.

Conditional Admission to the MA Program 

Students who meet the minimum qualifications for entrance to the Graduate School, but who fail to meet the requirements for conditional admission to a degree program in history, can be considered for conditional admission by completing one full semester of graduate coursework in history with a grade-point average higher than a 3.25. Typically this is done as a Graduate Temporary Student (GTMP). Please contact the Graduate School for information about GTMP enrollment.

An appeals committee, normally the Department's Graduate Studies Committee, may consider special cases for admission and make recommendations to the Graduate Faculty.

The Department will accept credit by examination for leveling work. Course requirements for conditional admission may be waived in exceptional circumstances. Students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies.

 

Admission to the Doctoral Program in History 

A student qualifying for admission to the Graduate School may gain admission to the department's doctoral program by meeting the following standards:

• Possession of a master's degree which includes at least 18 hours of course work in history.
• An overall grade-point average in all graduate work of 3.50.

Conditional Admission to the PhD Program 

A student can be considered for conditional admission to the department's doctoral program by meeting the following standards:

• Possession of a master's degree in a related discipline or a degree with less than 18 hours of graduate course work in a related discipline.
• An overall grade-point average in all previous graduate courses of less than 3.50.

 

Students admitted conditionally must maintain at least a 3.50 grade-point average through the first semester of their graduate work or through their first 12 hours of graduate work if they enroll for less than a full course load.

Students who meet the minimum qualifications for entrance to the Graduate School, but who fail to meet the requirements for conditional admission to the doctoral program in history, can be considered for conditional admission by completing one full semester of coursework (9 hours) in history with a minimum grade-point average of 3.50.

Students admitted to the Doctoral program as Non-Degree seeking graduate students by the Graduate School must complete six hours of graduate work in History before applying for regular admission to the history graduate program.

An appeals committee, normally the Graduate Studies Committee, may consider special cases for admission and make recommendations to the Graduate Faculty.

Course requirements for conditional admission may be waived in exceptional circumstances. Students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies.