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.
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.
Prerequisites to apply:
- 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
Undergraduate students interested in this program should begin preparations at the beginning of their junior year.
- Fall semester, junior year: make appointments with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss intent to apply for the program, and to determine what requirements still need to be fulfilled before the end of the junior year.
- Spring semester, junior year: apply for the program using the online application if you meet the GPA requirement and consulted with both Directors. Applications are due March 8, 2024.
- Fall semester, senior year: begin graduate-level courses. Students must maintain a B average to remain eligible for the program.
Prepare the following to submit with your online application:
- A statement of purpose, no longer than two pages, double-spaced. It should include your ideas of 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.
- Letters of recommendation from two faculty members in the History Department including one from the faculty member whom you wish to supervise your degree. These letters to be sent 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.
Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Katherine Unterman
unterman@tamu.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Hoi-eun Kim
hekim@tamu.edu