Applying to the Graduate Program

Visit the Apply page for more information

Applicants to the graduate program in History are expected to show high potential for engaging in advanced historical research and analysis. Applicants must meet general university requirements for admission to graduate standing and should have completed an undergraduate major in History or related fields (approximately 40 upper-division quarter units or approximately 24 upper-division semester units). History is a discipline that benefits from training in other fields, so applicants who do not meet these requirements are still encouraged to apply, but are also strongly urged to contact faculty in their proposed field of study for advice. If admitted, applicants who were not History majors may be required to do some additional course work, which must be completed in the first year and does not count in satisfaction of graduate degree unit or course requirements.

Requirements

All departmental requirements can be viewed on the “History section” of the UCSB online catalog.

In addition to departmental requirements, applicants for admission and candidates for degrees must fulfill University requirements described in the Graduate Education section of the UCSB online catalog.

GRE and Grade Point Average (GPA)

The GRE is not required for admission. The Graduate Division of the University requires applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the junior and senior years. The average GPA of students admitted to the Graduate History Program is 3.55 for the junior and senior years.

Statement of Purpose:

Please be specific in your statement of purpose. We need to know the fields in which you wish to work. BEFORE submitting your application, we strongly encourage you to contact one or more faculty members with whom you would like to work. Discuss your research interests with faculty members. Please include the names of faculty who might serve as a mentor in your statement of purpose. No student will be admitted unless the appropriate professor consents to mentor that student through his/her course of study at UCSB.

Questions?

Check out our application FAQs page!

You can also contact the History Graduate Program Assistant:
grad-advisor@history.ucsb.edu (805) 893-2224.