Doctor of Philosophy in History - Middle East

The Department of History offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. In conjunction with the College of Information Studies, the Department of History also offers a dual-degree Master of Arts in History and Library Science. In conjunction with the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation the Department of History also offers a dual-degree Master of Arts in History and Historic Preservation. Major fields of concentration for the MA and PhD programs are: Ancient Mediterranean, Medieval, Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Global Interaction and Exchange, International, Jewish, Latin America, Middle East, Russia & Eurasia, Technology, Science, & Environment, the United States, and Women & Gender. MA-only fields are: Africa and Military. The graduate program, which includes over fifty regular faculty members and approximately 150 degree-seeking students, excels in the following subfields: African-American, US, and Middle East. Other areas of established strength are Western and Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia, Ancient Mediterranean, Latin American, and Women & Gender. More recently, the following fields have emerged as centers of growing faculty strength and are attracting increasing numbers of students and faculty: Atlantic history, the African diaspora, and Global Interaction and Exchange.

The Middle Eastern field at University of Maryland offers instruction in the history of the region stretching from Islamic Iberia in the west through North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean basin to Iran in the east from the period of late antiquity (fourth-seventh centuries) to the present day. The faculty consists of Antoine Borrut (late antique and early Islamic), Ahmet T. Karamustafa (medieval and early modern), Madeline Zilfi (early modern), and Peter Wien (modern Middle East), with special research strengths in early Islamic history, historiography, and cultural memory, social and intellectual history of medieval and early modern Islamic piety, social and religious movements in urban contexts, law and legal practice, slavery and freedom, women's experience, and the role of nationalism and religion in the cultural and political transformation of modern Arab societies. In line with the focus of the Department of History on trans-regional and global themes and questions, the Middle East faculty offers expertise in exchanges between various regions of Europe, the Mediterranean, Iran and South Asia.

Statement of Purpose: Other than the required questions for the Statement of Purpose asked by the University of Maryland, the History Department asks applicants to include content that emphasizes academic and research interests:
what is the applicant interested in studying and why,
what the applicant might be interested in working on for the M.A. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation and
how the applicant's prior education has provided good training for graduate work in the particular field of interest.
Transcript(s)
TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Letters of Recommendation (3)
CV/Resume
Writing Sample: Research paper of about 20 pages, uploaded to the Upload Requirements section of the application.
Description of Research/Work Experience
As a demonstration of our commitment to excellence in historical scholarship and education, admission to our degree programs is highly competitive. It is important that each applicant clearly articulate his/her academic preparation and qualifications for graduate study at Maryland. All prospective applicants are encouraged to make contact with the faculty in the area(s) of interest. Faculty play an important role in the admissions decision. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to make contact with current graduate students to learn more about their experiences. The History Graduate Student Association can facilitate communications with current students.

Although there are exceptions, the minimum overall grade point average is 3.25 for admission to a master's degree program and 3.50 for admission to the doctoral program. The admissions committee would typically expect a higher grade point average in past coursework in history and related disciplines.

iBT TOEFL - 96 Overall (Speaking 22, Listening 24, Reading 26, Writing 24)
IELTS - 7 Overall (Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7, Speaking 6.5)