Admission to the Ph.D. Program

Admissions Requirements

In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study at George Mason University, applicants for the Ph.D. in History must submit: 

  1. Three letters of recommendation from professional colleagues or academic mentors who can speak to the applicant’s intelligence, research and writing ability, character, and likelihood of success in a doctoral program.
  2. A goals statement, 2-3 pages in length. The statement should explain the applicant’s research agenda, their experience with historical research and writing, and why the applicant thinks the George Mason University Ph.D. program is a good fit for their personal or professional goals. If relevant, the statement should also address the applicant’s interest in or experience with digital humanities, though experience with digital humanities is not required for admission. The application should note the faculty with whom the applicant wishes to work and whether they intend to attend part-time or full-time. Full-time students receive financial support from the department, while part-time students do not receive funding.
  3. A writing sample consisting of a history essay, research paper, or professional publication that demonstrates the applicant’s writing ability, understanding of historiography, and ability to use primary and secondary evidence to support a historical argument.

The GRE is optional.

The university uses an on-line application system for all academic programs. For information on the application process, visit University Graduate Admissions. 

Admissions Procedures

The Department of History and Art History admits doctoral students for the Fall semester only. The University’s application process generally opens in September for the following academic year. Applications to our program are due by January 15.

Admissions decisions are made by a departmental committee composed of the Ph.D. Director, who chairs the committee, and at least four other faculty members, who are appointed annually by the Department Chair. Applications are also circulated to prospective faculty advisors, whose comments are forwarded to the Admissions Committee. Working independently, committee members evaluate candidates based on goals, merit (professional accomplishments as well as more conventional measures of academic achievement), and suitability to our program. The committee meets as a group to arrive at a collective ranking, which determines admission decisions as well as financial aid.

The Ph.D. Director sends admissions letters in early March.  

Funding for Ph.D. Students

Full-time students in the program are eligible for funding, chiefly in the form of graduate assistantships. The Ph.D. Admissions Committee awards assistantships to incoming full-time students on a competitive basis. Students with assistantships work 20 hours per week in either research or teaching in exchange for a stipend, student health insurance, and a tuition waiver. Graduate assistants must enroll in a minimum of 6 credits of graduate-level work in both the fall and spring semesters.

Visit "Funding for Ph.D. Students" for additional information.

Application of Credits from Other Degrees or Institutions

The Ph.D. in History requires the completion of a minimum of 72 credits. Students may reduce the number of credits taken at Mason by applying transfer graduate credits previously earned. Students entering the program with relevant coursework from another institution may transfer up to 35 credit hours to apply toward the Ph.D. if:

  • The credits were not earned more than 10 years prior to admission in our program.
  • The student received a grade of B- or better in the courses.
  • The student earned graduate-level credit for the courses.

Students may also apply credits earned in relevant courses at George Mason University towards the Ph.D. based on the above criteria.

All transfer credits are granted at the discretion of the Ph.D. Director.