Application Deadline

The application will open December 1 and guarantee full consideration for assistantships with submission by February 1. Applicants seeking to apply for fall admission after the deadline, or spring semester, or are interested in enrolling part-time must first contact the graduate director before applying.

Program Begins

Fall

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions should be uploaded with your electronic application and may be used for departmental admission review purposes. If offered admission, you will be directed and required to submit to the JMU Graduate School an official transcript from any institution from which a degree has been awarded to finalize your admission. Transcripts are considered official if they are sent to JMU directly from the issuing institution.

Required by Program
  • Statement of purpose (approximately 500 words) We invite you to discuss your intellectual and professional development thus far and how earning an M.A. in History at JMU will contribute to your development, both intellectually and professionally, as a historian.
  • Formal writing sample of approximately 10 to 20 pages that demonstrates the applicant's analytical abilities and writing skills
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Any additional materials that demonstrate the applicant's preparation and potential for graduate study

Applicants who have been out of school for some time should contact the Graduate Director for advice on identifying appropriate recommenders and selecting a suitable writing sample.

Online Application
International Applicants

International Graduate Information

Details regarding transcripts and credential evaluations from non-US academic institutions can be found on the Transcripts & Credential Evaluation webpage. 

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