US History

The MSt in US History is open to all students whose research centres on colonial North America or the United States. It is designed for graduate students who wish to deepen their knowledge of this area of history and who wish to obtain experience and training in research.

Graduate destinations

About a quarter of master’s students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford; others continue academic study at other institutions. Other career destinations are as diverse as, but broadly in line with, undergraduate history career destinations: law, finance, management consultancy, civil service etc.

This nine month programme is intended to immerse you in the historiography and current debates in American history and to provide you with rigorous training in historical research, writing, and argumentation.

Teaching and examination comprise:

• two extended essays of up to 5,000 words on the United States and its precursor colonies. Teaching is usually arranged through tutorials. This element is entitled 'History of the United States, and the colonies that preceded it, since 1600';
• an examination paper in historical methodology and historiography. Teaching is arranged in weekly classes on 'Methods and Evidence in the History of the United States of America' in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. The first term covers the major developments in historical writing from the professionalization of the discipline at the start of the 20th century through to the end of the century. The second term focuses on contemporary debates in historical writing; and
• a dissertation of up to 15,000 words on a topic falling within the scope of the general subject area chosen by you for the extended essays on the United States and its precursor colonies. It is expected that you will write your submitted essays and dissertation on different themes, or covering a different sequence of events in American history. You will begin to formulate and plan your dissertation in conjunction with your supervisor from the beginning of the course, and will submit it during Trinity term.

Please note that not every optional subject listed may be on offer every year, depending in part on levels of student demand. Full details of core and optional papers available are available on the course webpage.

If you wish to apply for the DPhil you will be encouraged to develop your doctoral proposal in consultation with your supervisor during the first few months of your second year, so that you will be well placed to make a doctoral application.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in a relevant discipline in the humanities or social sciences.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.75 out of 4.0.

Applicants are normally expected to have a previous degree in history, but for master's applications a number of candidates will be accepted without. You will need to ensure that you link your proposed dissertation topic with your previous expertise when you present it in your research proposal, or that you explain why you want to switch to study history, and to show that you have already done some background research into it. Your submitted written work should show your writing and research skills in their best light, as it will be important to show that you have the necessary skills required for historical research.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement: 500 to 1,000 words, typically two to four pages double-spaced
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each or one essay of 4,000 to 5,000 words
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme