Department of History

Phone: (540) 568-6132
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/history/graduate/index.shtml

Interim Academic Unit Head
David Dillard

Graduate Program Director
Michael Gubser

Professors
K. Borg, P. D. Dillard, M. Gubser, S. M. Hanifi, M. Hametz, K. Hardwick, G. Lanier, F. Montoya, M. Mulrooney, D. Owusu-Ansah, S. Reich, M. Seth

Associate Professors
R. Brannon, J. Davidson, C. Davis, T. Fitzgerald, E. Friss, J. P. Herrington, Y. Hu, K. McCleary, W. Van Norman, A. Sandman, E. Westkaemper, A. Witmer

Assistant Professors
C. Moore, E. Carrara, J. Jones

Admission Criteria

All applicants must first satisfy the general application requirements of The Graduate School. For information, see the information for prospective graduate students on The Graduate School website.

In addition to satisfying all admission requirements set by The Graduate School, the Department of History requires applicants to its program to have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The department welcomes applicants from any undergraduate major, although the graduate committee may require students who have majored in other fields to take prerequisite undergraduate courses in history.

To Apply

For information about the application process, for the online application form and for application instructions, see http://www.applyweb.com/apply/jmug/index.html. There, applicants will upload the materials required for the application.

Required Materials

The Department of History requires all prospective applicants to submit the following:

Official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended
A brief statement of purpose, 250-500 words in length, that identifies the applicant’s academic or professional background, intended field of concentration and long-range career aspirations
Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which are from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic work and potential for graduate study
A demonstration of the applicant’s research and analytical abilities. This can be presented in one of several ways: A) A formal paper of approximately 10-20 pages that demonstrates the applicant’s analytical abilities and writing skills; B) A public facing history project: exhibit, collection, visualization, podcast, etc. that demonstrates analytical and technological sophistication.
Any additional materials that demonstrate the applicant’s preparation and potential for graduate study

Application Deadlines

Complete applications must be received by February 1. Incomplete applications will not be considered; applicants are responsible for assuring that all materials have been received. The graduate committee begins its review of all complete applications after February 1. Applications received after February 1 will be reviewed in accordance with openings available in the program. Students normally matriculate in the fall semester.

Mission

The graduate program in history at James Madison University offers concentrations in world, United States and public history. Students deepen their understanding of the past and its relationship to the present, and they develop advanced skills in scholarly research, critical and creative thinking, and oral and written communication. The program serves the needs of the Commonwealth of Virginia by contributing to the creation of an educated, enlightened and productive citizenry. The academic training students receive prepares them for additional graduate education in history, for teaching at the secondary level and for employment in a range of other settings such as museums, archives, government agencies, libraries, historic preservation organizations, historical sites and private businesses.

Programs

History, M.A.