Coterminal Masters Program

Each year we admit a limited number of Stanford undergraduates to our co-terminal B.A. - M.A. program in History.   Admitted students work with History faculty members in conducting original research in a historical field. Explore available fields and their affiliates . 

Some students apply to the coterminal M.A. program in their junior year and complete the coterminal M.A. requirements in their fourth year at Stanford. Others apply in their senior year and complete their M.A. requirements in their fifth year at Stanford.

Seniors who are applying for a coterminal M.A. are advised to meet with the Registrar and plan degree program wisely. They should closely track their completed units toward graduation. As soon as a co-term student reaches 180 units, they will be registered with graduate status and will not be able to "stop out" or to apply for Permit for Services Only (PSO) registration. Achieving graduate status may have other consequences, depending upon each student's unique situation. 

Students from other departments should have done sufficient work in History and should be done with their undergraduate major by the start of the coterminal M.A. program. BA conferral is restricted to the quarter after admission into the coterminal M.A. program. For instance, if admission is for Spring quarter, conferral of the B.A. must be for Spring quarter or later. 

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 2025-26 Spring Quarter is December 2, 2025. 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.