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BA/MA Dual Degree Program

The Department of History offers a five-year joint degree program that provides qualified students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in History. This is an accelerated program that allows students the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in a shorter period of time and at a slightly lower financial cost. In this program, the undergraduate degree requirements are modified in an effort to prepare students for the more rigorous masters-level coursework. The BA/MA is designed for students who would like advanced training in history for their future careers in any number of fields including going on to a PhD program.

Undergraduate students interested in this program are to apply during the spring of their junior year. If admitted, they begin taking graduate-level courses in the fall of their senior year. At the end of the fall semester of the junior year, prospective applicants should make appointments with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss their intent to apply for the program, and to determine what requirements still need to be fulfilled before the end of the junior year. Prerequisites to apply are: at least 18 credit hours of history completed at the time of application;18-30 credit hours of undergraduate coursework remaining; an overall GPA of 3.0 and a major GPA of 3.5. Once accepted into the program, students must maintain a B average to remain eligible.

The actual application to the program will be submitted in the spring of the junior year. Those who meet the GPA requirements and have consulted with both Directors will be able to submit an online application online application.

Please note that the BA/MA program represents a rigorous and intellectually demanding curriculum. It requires students to carry a heavy course load. Applicants should have a solid grounding in basic history and a strong interest in advanced historical study. Only qualified students will be selected for admission.

As part of this application, you will need to submit:

  • A statement of purpose, no longer than two pages, double-spaced. It should include your ideas about what you want to study and your reasons for pursuing the joint BA/MA degree.
  • A writing sample of 10-20 pages. This should be a paper you wrote for a history class. The paper can cover any topic, but it must showcase your research skills and should analyze primary historical sources. It should be carefully edited and proofread.

You must also solicit letters of recommendation from two faculty members in the History Department including one from the faculty member whom you wish to supervise your degree. Letters can be sent by faculty directly to the Director of Graduate Studies. Your application will be reviewed by the Graduate Committee, who may require you to come in for an interview. Applications are due in March, no later than the Friday before Spring Break.