The University of Toledo

Graduate Studies in History

Applications for Fall Semester admission to the graduate program in history must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies before March 1

Admission Guidelines

Inorder to provide all applicants to graduate programs in history at The University of Toledo with an equitable admission process, the Graduate School and the departmental graduate committee will evaluate all application materials before making a decision for or against admission. This is not to say that all pieces of evidence are of equal importance. Generally speaking, a student's performance at the undergraduate level is most reliable in predicting success at the graduate level.  Letters of recommendation, the student's Statement of Purpose, GRE test scores, writing samples, and work experience provide additional evidence and will also be considered before the committee renders a decision. The graduate committee pays particular attention to the candidate's Statement of Purpose as an indication of the candidate's maturity, commitment, and seriousness of purpose.

Inthe case of students who are not native speakers of English, it is important to remember that the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests minimal English competency but not a student's academic potential. Therefore, a low TOEFL score (450-549) should not preclude evaluation of an applicant's academic credentials or admission to the university. However, an applicant normally must have a TOEFL score of at least 450 before the Graduate School will permit a department to consider a student for admission to a graduate program. If the student is acceptable academically, but has a score in the range of 450-549, he/she can be admitted conditionally. Conditional admission means that the student is academically acceptable but lacks English proficiency. It allows students to enroll in the American Language Institute at The University of Toledo, and once they achieve a TOEFL score of 550 or better they may be considered for an assistantship and permitted to take graduate courses. The department of history must be convinced of an applicant's ability to use English not only in coursework and research but also in the classroom, since it normally expects graduate students to carry out teaching responsibilities. (See also last paragraph, Graduate School Requirements.)

Graduate College Requirements

Anapplicant is considered for admission to the Graduate College at the University of Toledo on the basis of several general criteria, as well as the minimum specific requirements listed below. The general criteria are:

1.  the performance of the applicant in the undergraduate program

2.  a well-formulated objective for graduate study

3.recommendations from college faculty members acquainted with the student's character and ability, and in some instances additional recommendations from non-academic individuals

The Graduate School's specific requirements are listed below, with additional departmental requirements added in brackets:

1.A baccalaureate or professional degree earned from a department of approved standing and granted by an accredited college or university. [The history department will consider only candidates with substantial undergraduate preparation in history.]

2.  A 2.7 cumulative grade-point average for all previous academic work. [The history department will normally consider only those candidates with a GPA above 3.0.] Applicants with less than a 2.7 cumulative grade-point average on all undergraduate work are required to forward results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and/or other appropriate qualifying examinations as specified by the department concerned. On the basis of the results of these examinations, the department will make a recommendation to the Graduate School.

3.  Prerequisite academic work which gives evidence that the applicant should be able to pursue effectively the graduate work in the department in which specialization is desired.

4.  Acceptance by the college and/or department concerned.

Itis within the discretion of the various departments to require the Graduate Record Examination or other qualifying examinations for all applicants. [The history department normally requires that all applicants take the general GRE.  For school teachers who apply for admission to the master’s program in history for the purpose of enhancing their professional performance, the G.R.E. requirement is waived.  But once admitted, these students are encouraged to pursue the non-thesis track and to accept the M.A. degree as terminal in the graduate program in history at the University of Toledo.]

International students are invited to apply for admission to the Graduate College. In addition to the requirements for regular admission, all students from non-English speaking countries must achieve satisfactory scores on the TOEFL and the aptitude and advanced sections of the Graduate Record Examination. [Students who are not native speakers of English and who score below 550 on the TOEFL will not be considered for assistantships in the department of history. The department reserves the right to request additional evidence of competence in English.] All international students also must demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources for their graduate education before they can be admitted. In addition, they are required to have health and accident insurance at the time of registration.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships, which cover payment of tuition and surcharges for up to 16 credit hours per semester and which pay a stipend, are awarded by the graduate committee of the department of history.  

Graduate assistants are required by the Graduate School to take a minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate work each semester.

A full-time assistantship requires approximately 20 clock hours of work per week, assigned by the department or chairperson.  Students will be limited to two years of financial assistance for the M.A. degree and four years of financial assistance for the Ph.D. degree.   

 

For further graduate admissions information, including on-line inquiry forms, admissions forms and assistantship forms, click here or contact Dr. Roberto Padilla, Director of Graduate Studies, at the address or email below.

Dr. Roberto Padilla
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of History MS 503
The University of Toledo
2801 W. Bancroft St.
Toledo, OH 43606 

419-530-4538
roberto.padillaii@gmail.com