Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.
Program overview
Learn from internationally recognized scholars in a program with excellent student-to-supervisor ratios. Departmental expertise is wide-ranging; our historians are specialists in histories of Africa, Canada, China, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Students learn valuable skills in argumentative writing, critical thinking, public speaking, and grant proposal writing. After a year of seminar course work, students complete a research thesis. Typically, students base their theses in archival research within Canada and abroad. While many students go on to train at the PhD level, others move into research consulting and public history, or use their skills to transition into professions such as teaching, law, or the public service.
A specialization in History and Philosophy of Science is offered in cooperation with the Department of Philosophy.
Completing this program
- Core Course: Historiography and the Theories of History.
- Additional Courses: Topics may include Canada, Europe, Latin America, United States, science, intellectual history, political history and more.
- Breadth: Students must take one seminar course in a field unrelated to the student's research interests.
- History and Philosophy of Science: Students in this specialization may, with departmental approval, take Philosophy courses to fulfill course requirements for the degree.
- Language: Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of a second language related to the major field of study prior to the oral thesis defence.
- Thesis: Students are required to submit and defend an original thesis.
Specializations
Outcomes
Historical research consulting, teaching, public history, government research analysis, civil service and diplomacy, professional writing and editing.
A master’s degree in history will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.
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Accepting InquiriesCanadian History -
Accepting InquiriesU.S. History--Late Colonial, Early National, Antebellum -
Accepting InquiriesHistory of Medicine and the Life Sciences, History and Philosophy of the Neurosciences, History of Physiology, Medical Visualizations throughout History, History of Public Mental Health and Psychiatry -
Seeking StudentsAfrican History/Military History -
Accepting InquiriesHistory of Education, Higher Education, and Media; History of Ethnicity, Race, Immigration, Refugees, and Multiculturalism; History of Intellectual Culture; Cultural Theory and Theories of History; Interdisciplinary Studies and Theory; Images in Historical Cultures -
Accepting InquiriesEditor, Journal of the History of Sexuality, History of German Population Policy, History of Gender in Europe, History of Nazi Racial Policy, History of Sexology and Transsexuality, History of the Holocaust, Comparative History of WWII Psychological Warfare -
Accepting InquiriesUnited States History, Urban History, Civil wars and nationalism in the 19th century -
Accepting InquiriesMilitary, diplomatic, and political history
Admission requirements
GPA
A minimum of 3.4 on a four-point scale or equivalent over the final 60 units of the undergraduate degree.
Minimum education
Normally, a four-year undergraduate program with honours or a major in history.
Work samples
A historical research paper - honours-thesis chapter is particularly invited.
Documents
A statement of research interest which outlines, as specifically as possible, the area of history in which you intend to concentrate and the anticipated thesis topic (500-750 words).
A curriculum vitae.
Reference letters
Two
Test scores
None
English language proficiency (ELP)
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT including TOEFL iBT Home Edition) minimum score of 86 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 (with no section less than 6.0).
- Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency minimum score of 180.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 59 or higher
- Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
- Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) minimum of B+ in each course.
- Duolingo English Test obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).
*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.
Deadlines
For admission on September 1:
- Canadians and permanent residents: Jan. 15 application deadline
- International students: Jan. 15 application deadline
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements
Learn more about this program
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