Loyola University Chicago

Department of History

Application Procedures and Dates

For information about applying to graduate study programs at Loyola University Chicago, please see the Future Students page of The Graduate School website.  This includes links to the Application Process, Degree Programs, Funding your Education, and Tuition.

You can also select "Apply Now" to go directly to The Graduate School's application portal to create an account:

For specific information about the History graduate programs, please contact:

Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin 
Graduate Program Director
pmooney@luc.edu

Dr. Theodore Karamanski
Public History Director
tkarama@luc.edu

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Admission Deadlines

Fall admission:

  • PhD applications are only accepted for fall admission with a deadline date of January 1
  • All traditional MA and MA Public History applicants are encouraged to apply by January 1 and no later than May 1 for fall admission

Spring admission:

  • Traditional MA applicants can apply by October 1 for spring admission

Applying for the MA Programs

  • Bachelor's degree and a B average.  Normally, students should have 18 hours of undergraduate coursework in history. You must send official transcripts of all undergraduate work as well as any graduate work to Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management (gradapp@luc.edu).
  • A one-to-two-page statement of your objectives in applying for the MA.
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably from referees familiar with work in the field of history.
  • A sample of your historical writing, preferably a research paper written for a history course.
  • A completed application form.

All of the above are submitted through the University's electronic application system.

Applying for the PhD Program

  • Bachelor's degree (in History or American Studies); graduate coursework (often a Master's degree) at the B+ level. We will need official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work.  You must send official transcripts of all undergraduate work as well as any graduate work to Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management (gradapp@luc.edu).
  • A 1-2 page statement of your objectives for applying for the degree.  This should include a clear identification of potential doctoral focus as well as an indication of the faculty members appropriate for the pursuit of the degree.
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably from referees familiar with your work in history.
  • A Master's Essay, Master's Thesis, or a substantial research paper written for a history course.
  • A completed application form.

All of the above are submitted through the University's electronic application system.

Financial Support

The History Department offers a limited number of Graduate Assistantships to students enrolled in the doctoral program. We only accept Ph.D. students who are funded through these GAships, and the number available depends on Graduate School support from year to year.

Ph.D. students are encouraged to compete for Crown Fellowships for Humanities and Schmitt Leadership Scholar Fellowships for Dissertation Research when they reach candidacy.

All students are also encouraged to compete for sources of funding from outside the History Department.  Please see other funding recommendations on the Graduate School's Financial Assistance and Funding website.

Admissions Selection Process

Our admissions procedure is a holistic multi-level, "blind" process of assessment by a range of faculty members.  Through the process, we assess the complete package submitted, including, GPAs, statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, and writing samples.