ADMISSIONS

Each year, we admit 6 to 8 students into the PhD Program and additional students into the Masters Program. Applications for admission are handled through the Graduate School. Prospective students must apply online.

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Successful applicants typically have a strong record of undergraduate achievement, familiarity with historical approaches and scholarship, and excellent writing, research, and analytical skills. Prior specialization in History is not required. Admissions decisions are based primarily upon assessment of the applicant's potential for scholarly achievement in the discipline of History and our faculty's ability to support them in their intended field of study. 

Deadlines must be postmarked/submitted/received by:

• PhD program applications are due January 15. 
• MA application materials are due March 15.

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To apply, you will need to submit the following: 

Completed Graduate School Online Application Form.

• Statement of Purpose

  (uploaded with application) (3-4 pages) describing the intended field(s) of study, the insights or experiences motivating the decision to specialize in this area, and the kinds of questions which the applicant hopes to explore; this statement should be as specific as possible about intended research topics and subject area(s) and indicate relevant faculty with whom they envision working. Applicants are encouraged to contact these professors before submitting the application.

• Writing Sample

   (uploaded with application) that illustrates the applicant's writing skills and capacity for research, analysis, and creative thought. The sample should be 12-20 pages, with proper citations and bibliography. 
  

• Letters of Recommendation

  Three (3) Letters of Recommendation are now required for all PhD applicants and MA applicants. When you submit your application, your recommenders will automatically be sent a link to submit their letters electronically to the Graduate School. Letters should describe the applicant's achievements and potential for intellectual growth.

• Official College Transcripts

  Please upload COPIES of official transcripts to your Admissions Application from all colleges/institutions that you list on your application where your degrees were conferred.

• TOEFL/IELTS

   If  your native or primary language is not English, you must demonstrate your proficiency in English by taking the TOEFL or IELTS examination.  For language test requirements, see Graduate School. Test scores must be sent electronically from Educational Testing Services (ETS) directly to the Graduate School. Our institution code is 2548.

• Optional GRE scores

  GRE scores are no longer required for admission to the MA and PhD programs in History. However, if you wish to be considered for the Graduate Council Fellowship, please be aware that it does still currently require GRE scores.  To be eligible for this fellowship, one must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US; successful GCF nominees typically have extremely high test scores, extremely strong GPAs, significant research experience, excellent letters, and a good fit to the strengths of the program.  We usually only have 1 or 2 applicants each year who meet all these criteria.

  If you do choose to submit GRE scores in your application, they must be submitted directly from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The History subject test is not required. It is advisable, especially for financial aid applicants, if one is taking the GRE, to take it no later than October, to ensure that the review of application materials is not delayed. GRE scores must be sent electronically from Educational Testing Services (ETS) directly to the Graduate School. Our institution code is 2548.

FOR REVIEW ONLY:  In order for the History Graduate Admissions Committee to review information on your previous course history, the department will accept FOR REVIEW ONLY unofficial transcripts uploaded with your admissions application.  However, for those applicants that are offered admission to History’s Graduate Program; a Final Official Transcript will be REQUIRED at the time of accepting the offer of admission. Once the offer of admission is made, it is at that time, that Official transcripts with degree verification MUST be submitted ELECTRONICALLY from the issuing University to the History Department at:  gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu copying History’s Graduate Program Administrator.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the applicant, including current or past Stony Brook University students, to order, and make arrangements for their official transcripts to be submitted ELECTRONICALLY to the Graduate School copying the History Department Program Administrator.

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Funding

All full-time PhD applicants are automatically considered for financial assistance from the History Department, in the form of a teaching assistantship or a graduate assistantship (pending budgetary approval). They also receive full tuition waivers, as long as they maintain their full-time status. There are no special forms to fill out for Departmental support.

The History Department does not fund MA students. Typically, MA students seek financial assistance through Stony Brook University's Financial Aid Department. 

Additional support is available to eligible PhD students in the form of fellowships. The History Department can nominate eligible students for Presidential Fellowships, created by the university president and used to recruit promising new doctoral students. The Department also awards several endowed fellowships generously created by private donors and foundations, such as the Evan Frankel Foundation Fellowship and the Gardiner Graduate Fellowship. The Gardiner Fellowship is awarded each year to a graduate student researching Early American history, with preference for aspects of local and regional history in which the Gardiner family played an important role.

Entering PhD students in history may also be nominated by the admissions committee to compete for university-sponsored awards, namely Graduate Council Fellowships and Turner Fellowships. If you wish to be considered for either of these financial opportunities, please indicate that on your application. Students wishing to be considered for these awards must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents. Turner Fellows must self-identify as a member of an underrepresented groups (such as African American, Native American, Hispanic, etc.) on their application.

U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents are also eligible for other forms of financial aid, which are applied for via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. 

If you have any questions about the process, see the FAQ section at the bottom of this page, and feel free to call or email us with further questions: the Graduate School (631-632-4723), the History Graduate Program Administrator, or our Graduate Director.

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GRADUATE Frequently ASKED QUESTIONS

• When is the application deadline?

  PhD applications must be submitted and all supplemental materials received by  January 15 for Fall admission.

  MA applications m ust be submitted and all supplemental materials received by March 15 for Fall admission.

• How should I submit my application?

  Your application must be submitted online through the Graduate School.

• What if I have a technical problem with my online application?

  Please click the help link on the login page. If you require further assistance, contact the Graduate School at GradAdmissions@stonybrook.edu. The History Department does not have access to the application system. We recommend that you apply in sufficient time to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties. 

• Where do I submit my supporting materials?

   

  —Statement of Purpose should be uploaded with your application. 

  —Writing sample should be uploaded with your application.  
  
  —Letters of recommendation: When you submit your application, your recommenders will automatically be sent a link to submit their letters electronically to the Graduate School.

  —An Official transcript should be sent directly from the Registrar's Office of your school(s) to the History Department. Photocopies are not acceptable. We will need the transcript, in English, with the degree posted for every school you attended. If your school does not offer transcripts in English, we will need an official (notarized) translation. Some overseas documents must be evaluated by World Educational Services.

  —TOEFL or IELTS examination score.  The Graduate School requires that students contact  Educational Testing Services (ETS)  and have them send official score reports directly to Stony Brook University. Our institution code is 2548. See  Graduate School   for language test requirements.

  — Optional GRE scores.  The  Graduate School requires that students wishing to submit their GRE scores contact   Educational Testing Services (ETS)  and have them send official score reports directly to Stony Brook University. Our institution code is 2548.

• What should I include in my Statement of Purpose?

  Your Statement of Purpose (3-4 pages) should describe the intended field(s) of study, the insights or experiences motivating the decision to specialize in this area, and the kinds of questions which the applicant hopes to explore; this statement should be as specific as possible about intended research topics and subject area(s) and indicate relevant faculty with whom they envision working. Applicants are encouraged to contact these professors before submitting the application.

• What sort of Writing Sample should I send?

   An appropriate writing sample would be an undergraduate seminar paper or an excerpt from a BA or MA thesis. It should demonstrate the student's capacity for research, analysis, creative thought, and excellent writing.  A paper based on original research (using primary sources) with a strong historical argument is preferable.  The writing sample should be approximately 12-20 pages, with proper citations and bibliography. If absolutely necessary, the sample can be up to 25 pages long, including footnotes, endnotes, and/or bibliography, but please do not exceed 25 pages.

• What if I don't have any papers in English?

  The requirement still applies, meaning you must translate your paper(s) into English. 

• How do I know if you received my application?

  You may re-visit the application portal to see whether or not all supporting materials have been received. 

• Who has to take the TOEFL or IELTS language exam?

   If your native or primary language is not English, you must take either the TOEFL or the IELTS. No waivers are available for this requirement. "Native or primary speakers of English" are defined as those who have been raised or educated in an English-speaking environment. "Native or primary speakers" may speak a language other than English at home but speak English exclusively outside the home in social and/or educational contexts.  Intentional misrepresentation of ones' native/primary language is academic dishonesty, and grounds for dismissal from the University.  See  Graduate School for minimum required scores on the TOEFL or IELTS.
  

  All doctoral (PhD) students who are not native/primary speakers of English must also take a  speak test upon arrival at the University. Depending on the result of this test, some students may be required to take ESL classes.

• What if I haven’t taken the TOEFL exam yet?

  We need to have the results in our office no later than January 15. If your score is not received on time, it could jeopardize your admission to the program.

• Who has to take the GRE?

  No  applicants to our graduate programs have to take the GRE, since it is now optional.  However, if you wish to be considered for the Graduate Council Fellowship, please be aware that it does still currently require GRE scores.  To be eligible for this fellowship, one must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US; successful GCF nominees typically have extremely high test scores, extremely strong GPAS, significant research experience, excellent letters, and a good fit to the strengths of the program.  We usually only have 1 or 2 applicants each year who meet all these criteria.

• What if my application is incomplete?

  If your application is incomplete, the History Department will not review your file. It is therefore crucial that all required supporting documents are received by the deadline. 

• How does the Department make admissions decisions?

  Admissions decisions are based primarily upon assessment of the student's academic records, potential for scholarly achievement, and the ability of our faculty to support the student's intended field of study.

• When does the Department decide?

  We send out admissions decision letters in March. Please refrain from calling for status updates. If you have not heard from us by April 15, please contact us.  

• Is the Department on social media?

   Yes. Follow us on  Twitter and  Facebook.

   

• Graduate School Application Checklist

  Follow this link for the Graduate School Application Checklist