History M.A. students complete coursework and conduct original research in close collaboration with department faculty. Students may specialize in 14 distinct subfields :
Degree Requirements
Terminal M.A. students must have a faculty advisor who approve their program of study. They submit their program proposal to Graduate Program Coordinator in their first quarter. In addition, they are expected to complete
- A minimum of 45 units, of which at least 35 must be in History courses.
- At least 25 units must be graduate-level History courses (300-level or above), including at least one 400-level graduate research seminar.
- At least 15 units must be concentrated in a single Ph.D. major field (examples include U.S. History, Early Modern Europe, East Asia, etc.).
- Up to 10 units may be in Directed Reading courses (399W) if taken for a letter grade and including a significant writing component.
- Up to 10 units may be taken outside the department, provided they are graduate-level courses that contribute to the student's research agenda (e.g., advanced language study).
- Successful completion of History 304M Approaches to History for M.A. Students.
- Successful completion of a research seminar paper.
Please review detailed policies and requirements in the terminal M.A. Handbook and Stanford Bulletin.
As noted in the General tab on the Stanford Bulletin, terminal M.A. program is for applicants who do not wish to continue beyond the M.A. degree in History at Stanford. Admitted students may not apply to enter the PhD program in History while they are working toward their M.A. degree in the Stanford History Department.
Funding
Coterminal M.A. students fund their studies; they do not receive financial assistance from the Stanford History History Departments.
Join dozens of Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who receive up to three years of funding and valuable leadership skills as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS).
KHS admits up to 100 applicants each year from across Stanford's seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a multidisciplinary and multicultural cohort, participate in up to three years of KHS's leadership program, and receive funding for up to three years of your graduate studies at Stanford.
Citizens of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must submit separate applications to KHS and to an eligible Stanford graduate degree program. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment.
If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 6, 2026 at 1:00 p.m PT. Learn more about KHS admission.
How to Apply
Admission to the History Graduate Programs are for Autumn quarter only. Interested applicants can apply online at https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/apply/apply-now and submit the following documents:
- Statement of Purpose (included in Application)
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- A Copy of Official Transcripts from each University/College attended
- Transcripts are required from all prior college level schools attended for at least one year. A scanned copy of the official transcript is submitted as part of the online application. Please do not mail transcripts to the department. We will ask only the admitted students to submit actual copies of official transcripts.
- 1 Writing Sample on a historic topic (10-25 pages; sent via Stanford's online application system only)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test is not required
- TOEFL/IELTS for all international applicants (whose primary language is not English) sent via ETS. Our University code is 4704.
- TOEFL/IELTS Exemptions and Waiver information
- Application fee $125 (subject to change)
- The History Department is not able to provide fee waivers. You may request an Application Fee Waiver from Stanford University Graduate Admissions Office. Waiver equests are due 2 weeks before the application deadline.
The Department of History welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field. We uphold and advance Stanford's values by maintaining recruitment activities that are accessible and free from discrimination. Learn more about Stanford Values and Commitment to Compliance.
Application deadline for Autumn 2027-28 is December 1, 2026, 11:59pm EST. This is a hard -not a postmark- deadline.
All application material is available online. No information is sent via snail mail. Interested applicants are invited to view a Guide to Graduate Admissions at https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/. Please also consider reviewing the Stanford School of Humanities &Sciences' Guide on Getting into Grad School to explore which graduate program may best suit your interest, what graduate committees look for, and the benefits and challenges for pursuing a graduate degree.
Questions?
Please contact Arthur Palmon (Assistant Director of Student Services).
