History
The study of history reveals the past, enlightens the present, and influences the future. Historians seek to understand how nations, societies, and individuals have lived and thought, and why they have behaved the way they did.
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Degree Offerings
- Faculty
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Application Requirements
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Questions about your application?
Contact us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
M.A. in History
The master's program in history is a small, selective program of graduate study that emphasizes comparative understanding of historical process. It is organized around colloquia in comparative and regional topics, the preparation of specific fields, and individual research in consultation with a faculty member.
The program is designed both to prepare students for doctoral programs in history and to enhance the historical knowledge and interpretive skills of professionals working in secondary schools, libraries, foundations, and museums.
Ph.D. in History
The Ph.D. program in history accepts only well-prepared students who intend to work closely with a particular Tufts faculty member. Students in the Tufts M.A. program may apply to be transferred into the Ph.D. program after one year of study, and the department will consider applications from students who have completed a master's degree in history or the equivalent elsewhere.
The Tufts Department of History offers the Ph.D. in history in the following fields:
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- Interpret primary and secondary sources quickly and critically
- Understand printed and electronic historical research aids, exhibit knowledge of bibliographical search procedures, and have the ability to effectively develop research bibliographies
- Understand the broad outlines of historical interpretation and narrative in a field of specialization
- Display knowledge of dominant schools of historical explanation and narrative, and exhibit the ability to apply the various interpretative frameworks to investigation of data
- Exhibit disciplined habits of research through experience at gathering primary and secondary historical data and effectively storing them so as to be readily retrieved
- Construct a historical argument—marshalling arguments for interpretation or narrative involving complex data—and write up results or narrative in clear, persuasive language
- Display facility at presenting historical arguments orally and describing research and findings to an audience
- Exhibit knowledge of a language other than English, sufficient for research into sources in that language
- Work cooperatively on the investigation of an area of historical inquiry and be able to accommodate one’s own research to findings of co-researchers
- Exhibit an elementary ability to lead classroom discussion of historical material, assess historical work, and organize readings and agenda for analysis into effective syllabus
- Critically read and orally summarize foundational arguments, as well as the related works of specific scholars, in global history and related fields, and situate oneself critically within the trends of the fields
- Understand major methodologies of historical writing and display the ability to implement a chosen set of methodologies in one’s own research
- Formulate a research question that makes a valuable contribution to the field of global history
- Conduct independent research in archives or research libraries chosen in discussion with the dissertation adviser
- Complete an original dissertation manuscript based on individual research, current methodologies, and accepted citation and bibliographic standards
- Participate in learned conferences and present research papers
- Exhibit knowledge of two languages other than English which is also sufficient for research into sources in those languages
- Teach effectively from a prescribed syllabus as a teaching assistant
- Evaluate student progress and guide student assignments as a teaching assistant
- Formulate a course plan for a semester‐long undergraduate course and prepare a preliminary schedule of readings for course
- Critically read and orally summarize foundational arguments, as well as the related works of specific scholars, in modern South Asian history and related fields, and situate oneself critically within the trends of the fields
- Understand major methodologies of historical writing, and display the ability to implement a chosen set of methodologies in one’s own research
- Formulate a research question that makes a valuable contribution to the field of modern South Asian history
- Conduct independent research in archives chosen in discussion with the dissertation adviser
- Complete an original dissertation manuscript based on individual research, current methodologies, and accepted citation and bibliographic standards
- Participate in learned conferences and present research papers
- Exhibit knowledge of two languages other than English which is also sufficient for research into sources in those languages
- Teach effectively from a prescribed syllabus as a teaching assistant
- Evaluate student progress and guide student assignments as a teaching assistant
- Formulate a course plan for a semester‐long undergraduate course and prepare a preliminary schedule of readings for course
Related programs:
Faculty
Application Deadline
Fall: January 15
Round 2 for Fall Enrollment: May 15 (MA only)
Doctorate:
> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
- Please detail your planned dissertation field.
> Official GRE scores
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of recommendation
> Proficiency in one foreign language
> Writing sample
- Submit a statement of intent, detailing the planned dissertation field
Be in touch with Professors Ayesha Jalal and Kris Manjapra for the Modern South Asia program, and with Professor Kris Manjapra for Global History
Masters:
> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
> Official GRE required
- GRE scores are not required for current Tufts undergraduates applying for an M.A.
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of recommendation
> Writing sample
For questions about the M.A. program, including scholarships and assistantships, please contact the graduate program director, Professor Steven P. Marrone.
If you are applying to the Ph.D. program, contact Professors Ayesha Jalal and Kris Manjapra for the Modern South Asia program, and Associate Professor Elizabeth Foster for Global History.
Department of History
Upper Campus Road
East Hall, Room 010
Medford, MA 02155
Tel: 617.627.3520