Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of History

In the PhD in history program, students delve into the subject with GW's world-renowned scholars. The program's proximity to some of the most important research repositories in the world, including the National Archives, Folger Shakespeare Library, National Security Archive, and Smithsonian museums, makes GW an ideal place to examine a variety of fields, from Renaissance Europe to the Cold War, and from imperial and colonial studies to modern American political and social history. Because the program is relatively small, students work closely with faculty and graduate with the knowledge, analytical tools, and writing skills for a range of professions.

The program offers full tuition remission and a full fellowship to cover living expenses for five years. During that period, doctoral candidates master relevant historiography and write a dissertation. PhD students gain teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants for undergraduate lecture courses.

Visit the program website for additional information.
 

Adminssion Requirements

Article	Requirement
Admission deadlines:	Fall – December 1
Standardized test scores:	GRE general test is not required.
	The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction.
	Minimum scores for the program are:
	- Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0; or
	- TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based; or
	- PTE Academic: 68;
Recommendations required:	Three (3) recommendations
	Recommendations should be submitted by professionals familiar with the applicant's academic work and potential for graduate study.
Prerequisite requirements:	A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in history, or with substantial history coursework of high academic quality.
Prior academic records:	Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission. If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application.
Statement of purpose:	In an essay of 250 – 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field. Include your academic objectives, research interests, career plans, and the GW faculty member(s) with whom you anticipate working. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application. If you are applying for an assistantship or fellowship, you should also describe any teaching experience you have had and whether you are interested in serving as a research assistant for the Eleanor Roosevelt papers.
Additional requirements:	All applicants must submit a recent writing sample (research paper preferred) of 10 - 30 pages in length. Please see the suggestions on what to include in your writing sample at https://history.columbian.gwu.edu/graduate.
International applicants only:	Please review International Applicant Information (https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants) carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College  of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact:

askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs, including the satisfactory completion of the General Examination.

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Program.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Program.

72 credits, including at least 45 credits in required and elective coursework, and 6 and to 27 credits in HIST 8999 Dissertation Research. Two specific courses, HIST 6005 Introduction to Historiography and HIST 6007 Writing History, are required and must be completed in the first two years of the student’s program.

In each of the first two years of doctoral study, students must also take at least one 3-credit research seminar for which a research paper is required. If no such course is scheduled that fits the student’s area of study, the student can arrange for an independent study (taken under HIST 6097 Independent Readings and Research) with the permission of a specific instructor.

Up to 12 credits in coursework can be taken through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Language requirement: Students are required to pass language examinations when their field of study or dissertation topic requires proficiency in a particular language.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 to remain in the program.