How long does it take to get a Ph.D. at Michigan?
Students are expected to complete course work as pre-candidates in the first two, or occasionally three, years of study. The preliminary examination qualifying students to write the dissertation must be taken before the end of the third year of study. After advancing to candidacy, students are encouraged to complete dissertation research and writing in accord with the demands of their research topics. Ideally, students will complete all requirements for the Ph.D. within six to seven years.

Do you offer training for new teaching instructors?
Yes, all new Graduate Student Instructors are required to attend a History teacher-training workshop, which takes place over 6 sessions. The first session of the workshop is scheduled each year before classes begin. The remaining five sessions are scheduled in the evenings—two sessions in September, two sessions in October, and one session in November. The sessions cover such topics as: teaching philosophies, teaching strategies, grading, and problem areas.

What is a typical course load for a first year student?
Students register for three courses per term, (9 credits); when employed as a Graduate Student Instructor students register for two courses (6 credits).

Does the University have a graduate student union?
Yes, the Graduate Employees Organization is the second oldest graduate employees' union in the nation. GEO represents approximately 1,600 Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs) at the University of Michigan. They negotiate the contract that determines the wages, working conditions, health benefits and tuition waiver.

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES                back to top

Do you accept students for the Winter term?
The Department accepts students in the Fall term only. Applications and supporting documents must reach the department by the December 1 deadline. This is a firm deadline.

Is it possible to be accepted into your program without taking the GRE (General Record Examination) for U.S. students or the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for international students?
The Department of History requires the GRE for U.S. students and the TOEFL for international students. International students who have received a degree from a university with English as the exclusive language of instruction must take the GRE. Most other international applicants take the internet-based TOEFL (iBT). The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) are also acceptable tests for international students. The Admissions Committee will be unable to consider your application unless all test scores are received by the December 1 deadline. More information on these tests can be obtained from Rackham's website.

When will admission decisions be made?
The Department of History Admissions Committee strives to review all applications as quickly as possible, while ensuring that each file is read with all appropriate care and deliberation. This can be a time-consuming process, and your patience is appreciated. All applicants will be contacted via e-mail with an admissions decision early in March.

If accepted, can I defer enrollment?
Deferment decisions are made on a case by case basis. Students must submit a request to the Admissions Committee explaining why they’d like to defer enrollment, the committee will evaluate the request, and the student will be notified of the committee’s decision as quickly as possible. In general, deferments are discouraged.

APPLICATION PROCESS                back to top

How does the application process work?
Rackham Graduate School provides a very informative flow chart and website on the application process. Please visit their website for detailed information.

What is the Statement of Purpose "Cover Sheet"?
The Statement of Purpose Cover Sheet, part of the online application, is used by the department to assign files to the appropriate faculty members for reading. Please take special care to determine which History professors work in your area(s) of interest as they are the individuals who should read your file.

When writing the Statement of Purpose, what type of information should be included?
Your Statement of Purpose should provide a clear and concise message on your specific interests, the faculty members with whom you are interested in working, and why. Faculty are looking for focused statements that touch briefly on your background, but talk more so on the plan to integrate your research interests with the faculty listed on the cover sheet. Why Michigan?

How will I know if my application and supporting documents have been received?
When you submit your online application, Rackham Graduate School will contact you with instructions for checking the status of your registration materials online. Using Web App Status, you will be able to verify the data submitted, update contact information, view what test scores and transcripts have been received by Rackham, accept an offer of admission, pay an enrollment deposit, or decline admission. To monitor receipt of letters, please consult the Embark website for all letters submitted online. Please do not contact the History Department.

What part of my application is most important—GRE scores, GPA, or letters of recommendation?
The entire application is important. Three or more faculty members carefully review each student’s complete file. The application is reviewed as a whole package, and therefore one component of the application isn’t considered more important than another. The Statement of Purpose, however, should be well-written, clear and focused at it is the first document a faculty reader will see.

What is the minimum GPA and/or GRE?
The History Department does not have a required minimum GPA or GRE. For most of our applicants, the undergraduate GPA ranges from 3.5 to 4.0. Scores for the GRE tests are generally in the range of 650 to 750 for the verbal and quantitative tests, and 5.0-6.0 for the writing test.

When should I take the GRE or TOEFL?
It is advisable to take the exams no later than November so that the score report is available by the December application deadline. To avoid possible delays, applicants should be sure to record exam scores in the online application.

What type of writing sample is the History Department looking for?
The writing sample should be a research paper that demonstrates your research interests and academic capabilities. A term paper (ideally, but not necessarily, from a history class) or an excerpt from a thesis is acceptable. Writing samples should be no more than 35 double-spaced pages.

FUNDING                back to top

What type of fellowship aid is offered by the Department?
The History Department, the Rackham Graduate School and the College of Literature, Sciences and the Arts at the University of Michigan offer all students admitted to the Ph.D. program in history a five-year program of support. This five-year funding package begins with fellowship support for the first year of graduate study. The following four years are funded through three years of Graduate Student Instructorship, an additional year of fellowship support, and one summer of research. The timing and distribution of this support is customized to the individual needs and eligibility of each student. The fellowships and instructorships include stipends, tuition, and medical insurance. Provision of each year of this funding package is conditional upon satisfactory progress toward degree and satisfactory fulfillment of teaching obligations. You do not need to submit a separate application to apply for funding through the Department. See Fellowship Opportunities for more information.

Are international students eligible for fellowship aid?
Yes, all students admitted to our program will receive a five-year funding package, regardless of citizenship.

Do I need a separate application for the FLAS fellowship?
Students interested in applying for the FLAS fellowship must complete the FLAS information sheet and submit an application to the appropriate area center. Please refer to the UM International Institute website for further information. The deadline for the FLAS fellowships is February 1. See Fellowship Opportunities for more information.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT                back to top

Is a foreign language proficiency a requirement for admission?
Although foreign language proficiency is not a requirement for admission, previous training in a language relevant to one’s major field is highly desirable, and in some cases essential to admission.

If I satisfied a language requirement for my M.A. degree will this count as fulfilling a language requirement for this program?
Yes, by showing documented proof that you have satisfied a language requirement, similar to our own and administered in similar ways, for a master’s degree, you have established your ability to use a foreign language. Language courses taken during a B.A. program are not eligible for satisfying the language requirement.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS                back to top

How many required courses will I have to take?
All students are required to complete two 600-level courses, one of which must be the designated studies course, History 615. This studies course covers a broader scope than other studies courses. It is designed to offer first-year graduate students in introduction to historical literature to encourage the development of critical skills. This course is offered in the fall term only.

All Americanists are required to take History 611. The purpose of this graduate seminar is to introduce first-year Americanist graduate students to certain important topics within the monographic literature of U.S. history and to develop critical interpretative skills. This course is offered in the winter term only and is a requirement for all first-year Americanists. This course also fulfills the second 600-level course requirement.

Seminars (700-level courses) are an introduction to advanced research. They emphasize the preparation and presentation of a major paper based on research on primary materials. All students are expected to complete one seminar in the first year of study in the program; a second seminar is to be completed in the second year.

Other studies courses and seminars (usually three credits each), as well as independent reading courses, are elected as appropriate to prepare the four (three history and one cognate) doctoral fields. At least 36 required fee totals of coursework must be completed before achieving Candidacy.


ABOUT ANN ARBOR                back to top

What is Ann Arbor like?
Located in southeastern Michigan 45 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Ann Arbor is a city of surprises. It's small yet cosmopolitan, with a rich variety of restaurants, museums, galleries, and cultural opportunities. Most activities are reachable by foot, bus or taxi. From football games in the fall to the city's renowned Art Fairs in the summer, there's always something to do in Ann Arbor!

Although it offers the variety of a metropolis many times its size, this city of 140,000 residents manages to retain a small-town charm and sense of security. Visitors to Central Campus will discover tree-lined streets, historic homes, and modern facilities adjacent to classic campus archtecture, museums, libraries, specialty shops, countless coffee bars and bookstores, and plenty of city parks and bicycle paths.

The Main Street area—just a few blocks from Central Campus—is a great place to dine, shop, and stroll. Eat dinner at an elegant Northern Italian restaurant, browse the art galleries, or listen to live music. This is just a few of the many activities to choose from.

Several blocks further to the north, you'll find the Kerrytown area of Ann Arbor. On Saturdays, the Farmer's Market takes place; indoor Kerrytown shops are open every day of the week and include everything from fish markets to flower sellers to designer clothing stores. And just around the corner you'll find Zingerman’s, Ann Arbor's famous New York-style deli, one of the most popular eateries in the city.

The corporate side of Ann Arbor is active too. Long home to businesses and organizations connected to the auto industry, Ann Arbor hosts many other companies including Google's AdWords division, Domino's Pizza, and Borders Group, Inc., many of whom have made their headquarters here.

Ann Arbor is easy to reach by air, rail, or highway. An Amtrak station is located less than two miles from Central Campus, and Detroit Metropolitan Airport is a brief 45-minute drive. Please visit the Ann Arbor website for more information.