Coterminal Masters Program

Each year we admit a limited number of undergraduates to its program leading to a coterminal BA/BS and MA degree in History. Some students apply in their junior year and complete their MA studies in their fourth year at Stanford. Others apply in their senior year, planning their MA coursework for their fifth year at Stanford. Students applying for coterm admission must specify a field of study, select a faculty advisor, and have a 3.75 GPA in history courses (or the equivalent if they enter without a history major).

Applicants must meet the same general standards as those seeking admission to the MA Program. For admissions information, please visit our Coterminal Masters Program webpage.

Students from departments other than History should have done sufficient work in History. Students should finish their undergraduate major by the program’s start. Conferral of the BA is restricted to the quarter after admission to the coterminal program. For instance, if admission is for spring quarter, the conferral of the BA/BS  must be for spring quarter or later.

Remember that courses cannot be “double-counted” towards both degrees. For more information about the Co-terminal Program, please refer to the Graduate Admission’s Coterminal Online Application webpage.

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 of pursuing a graduate degree. 

Degree Requirements

Co-terminal M.A. students in History must 

• have a 3.75 GPA in history courses (or the equivalent if they are entering without a history major).
• select a coterminal M.A. faculty advisor
• complete 15 full-time quarters cumulatively (or the equivalent including transfer credit) or 3 full quarters after completing 180 units, for a total of 225 units. Nine graduate-level courses (a minimum of 45 units) must be completed with B+ or better.
• complete all courses with a letter grade and with the following coursework distribution:
  • at least one history graduate seminar (400-level);
  • at least four history graduate colloquia (300-level) except History 304;
  • three courses within a single field of study. Fields include
    • Africa
    • Britain
    • Early Modern Europe
    • East Asia
    • Jewish History
    • Latin America,
    • Medieval Europe
    • Modern Europe
    • Ottoman Empire and Middle East
    • Russia/Eastern Europe
    • Science, Technology, Environment, and Medicine,
    • South Asia
    • Transnational, International and Global History
    • U.S. History
  • no more than 2 courses taken outside History may be counted to the M.A.;
  • no more than 2 may be Directed Reading or other individualized courses.

Students must meet all requirements for both B.A. and M.A. degrees; no course may be double-counted. For more information, please refer to the Coterminal Online Application webpage.

How to Apply

Applicants must meet the same general standards as those seeking admission to the MA program. The requirements are as follows:

• Coterminal Application
• Statement of Purpose
• 1 Copy of Official Transcripts
  • Official Stanford transcript is requested and submitted through the online application. DO NOT request an official paper transcript from the Registrar's Office.
• 1 Writing Sample on a historical topic (10-25 pages)
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • At least 2 letters must be from History Faculty.
  • One letter from the current faculty advisor, one from the prospective M.A. advisor, and one other of the students choice.
• Preliminary Program Proposal (specifying a field of study)
• Coterminal course transfer information
• Application fee (to be billed by the University)

Application deadline for the 2026-27 Spring Quarter is December 1, 2026. For more information, please contact Arthur Palmon ( Assistant Director of Student Services).

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.