History

Admission Requirements:

• Complete the University Online Application via CSU Mentor

• Send official test scores and transcripts to Graduate Admissions: GRE (and if applicable, TOEFL) test scores must be sent directly from ETS. Send official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

• Complete the Program Online Application via Decision Desk

The program application requires the following items:

• Astatement of purpose of no more than 500 words is required. It should include information as to why you would like to pursue a Master\'s degree in history, what your goals are following completion of the degree, your field or area of interest, and what work you have done in that area to date (and in the field of history generally, including coursework, research, internships, language preparation, work, etc.). What knowledge and skills, in other words, have you developed that will allow you to be successful in a graduate history program? Finally, how and why is SDSU\'s history program the appropriate place for you to study? The more specific about your interests and academic experience you can be, the better. It is recommended that you write this statement early and ask one (or more) of your professors to review it and give you feedback so that you have time to incorporate the feedback and go through several drafts if necessary. The statement of purpose should be very well written and concise, yet clear with adequate depth of explanation.

• Two letters of recommendation are required from professors who are familiar with your abilities as a student. It is most helpful to have letters from history professors with whom you took courses, but if you worked closely with a professor in another related field, you may submit a letter from him or her. If you have been out of school for several years, you may submit one letter from a supervisor, but academic letters hold the most weight, as they give the greatest insight into your ability to succeed in the program. Please do not submit letters from friends or acquaintances.

• Awriting sample is optional but recommended, as it gives the committee excellent insight into your writing ability and experience. Sample papers to include would be a senior thesis, a paper you wrote for a history course in which you used primary source evidence, a research paper written for a history course, or a historiography paper. You might want to ask one of your undergraduate professors and/or recommenders what he or she would recommend you submit.