--- title: Graduate Studies in History | SMU description: The William P. Clements Department of History at Southern Methodist University offers innovative graduate study in transnational history. image: https://grad.smu.edu/hubfs/Program%20Pages/History/History_PhD_Program_Three.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-studies-in-history#main-content) [![SMU logo](https://grad.smu.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/SMU%20logo.png?width=150&height=44&name=SMU%20logo.png "SMU logo")](https://www.smu.edu/) [EXPLORE SMU](https://www.smu.edu/aboutsmu) ## [Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies](https://www.smu.edu/moody/) - About Show submenu for About - [About](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about) - [Mission and History](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/mission-and-history) - [Moody Foundation Gift](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/moody-foundation-gift) - [Charter](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Moody/graduate/Moody-School-Charter-Summer-2021-Final.pdf) - [Director of Graduate Studies Handbook](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Moody/Moody-School-DGS-Handbook-20220811.pdf) - 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[Meet our Ph.D. Fellows](https://www.smu.edu/moody/funding/phd-fellows) - [Ph.D. Health Insurance](https://www.smu.edu/moody/funding/phd-health-insurance) - [Graduate Student Travel Grant](https://www.smu.edu/moody/funding/moody-grad-student-travel-grant) - [Dedman Graduate Student Assembly](https://www.smu.edu/moody/funding/gsa) - About Show submenu for About - [About](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about) - [Mission and History](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/mission-and-history) - [Moody Foundation Gift](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/moody-foundation-gift) - [Charter](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Moody/graduate/Moody-School-Charter-Summer-2021-Final.pdf) - [Director of Graduate Studies Handbook](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Moody/Moody-School-DGS-Handbook-20220811.pdf) - [Moody Hall](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/moody-hall) - [Dean's Office](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/deans-office) - [Graduate Council](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/graduate-council) - [Contact Us](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/contact) - 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Clements Department of History at Southern Methodist University offers innovative graduate study in transnational history. The courses of study explore the [human historical experience](https://grad.smu.edu/reanalyzing-our-world-humanities-phds-at-smu) in American, global, and comparative perspectives, with individualized specializations in transnational themes, such as borderlands, nationalism, democracy, gender, and capitalism. The department emphasizes advanced work on the southwestern United States, the West, Native Americans, ethnic Mexicans, U.S. presidents, and colonial history. But students may pursue other individualized specializations in coherent global fields of study, approved by the Graduate Committee and mentored by appropriate faculty. The Department of History is home to two centers that sustain and enrich its core offerings through research colloquia, visiting postdoctoral fellows, and scholarly lectures. The [Clements Center for Southwest Studies](https://www.smu.edu/dedman/academics/institutescenters/swcenter) has long been the nation’s leading venue for research in the history of the Southwest in a transnational perspective. And since 2012, the [Center for Presidential History](https://www.smu.edu/CPH/) promotes critical inquiry into the study of the rich history of U.S. politics and government in both domestic and foreign affairs. SMU, a nationally ranked private university, is home to top flight research facilities, including the [DeGolyer Library](https://www.smu.edu/libraries/degolyer), which is devoted to the history of the Southwest, the history of business, and the history of science and technology; the [Bridwell Library,](https://www.smu.edu/Bridwell) which provides a wealth of resources for the study of religious history; and the [George W. Bush Presidential Library](http://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/), one of four presidential research libraries within easy reach of Dallas. For students with interdisciplinary interests, the [Underwood Law Library](https://www.smu.edu/Law/Library) supports the study of legal history, including that of international law. The [Women’s and Gender Studies Program](https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Undergraduate-Minors-and-Programs/Interdisciplinary-Studies/WomenandGenderStudies) offers a graduate certificate that can be earned together with the Ph.D. in history. Naturally, the [Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute](https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Research/Institutes-and-Centers/DCII) especially addresses the needs of students with multidisciplinary and global interests. [APPLY NOW](https://gradadmission.smu.edu/apply/)   ## We Offer two degrees [History M.A.](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-studies-in-history#ma) [History PH.D.](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-studies-in-history#phd) ![](https://grad.smu.edu/hubfs/Program%20Pages/History/History_PhD_Program_One-page.jpg) ## History M.A. - Admission Deadline Priority deadline for fall admission is **January 8.** Final deadline for fall admission is** March 1.** - Admission Requirements - All applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (students from abroad must hold the equivalent degree), a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and at least 12 advanced credit hours in history courses. - Transcripts from all institutions attended (post high school; unofficial documents can be uploaded to your application). - 3 Letters of Recommendation - Résumé - Statement of Purpose - [GRE Scores](https://www.smu.edu/Moody/Prospective-Students/Dedman-College-GRE-Requirement) - Writing Sample: an essay, chapter, or some other substantial piece of historical writing that demonstrates your ability to think critically and use citations.  - On admission, students should have two years of college-level study in a language in addition to English. - International applicants must provide [English Language Proficiency scores](https://www.smu.edu/Moody/Prospective-Students/International-Applicants/Dedman-International-Students) if their degree does not meet our waiver requirements.  [Learn more about this degree](https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Departments/History/Graduate/MA) [Apply Now](https://gradadmission.smu.edu/apply/) ## History PH.D. - Admission Deadline Final deadline for fall admission is **January 8.**   - Admission Requirements - All applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (students from abroad must hold the equivalent degree), a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and at least 12 advanced credit hours in history courses. - Transcripts from all institutions attended (post high school; unofficial documents can be uploaded to your application). - 3 Letters of Recommendation - Résumé - Statement of Purpose - [GRE Scores](https://www.smu.edu/Moody/Prospective-Students/Dedman-College-GRE-Requirement) - Writing Sample: an essay, chapter, or some other substantial piece of historical writing that demonstrates your ability to think critically and use citations.  - Applicants should possess a foundation in a language for research, normally Spanish, sufficient to pass an examination in translation to English in September of the first year of study. - International applicants must provide [English Language Proficiency scores](https://www.smu.edu/Moody/Prospective-Students/International-Applicants/Dedman-International-Students) if their degree does not meet our waiver requirements.  [Learn more about this degree](https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Departments/History/Graduate/PhD) [Apply Now](https://gradadmission.smu.edu/apply/) ![](https://grad.smu.edu/hubfs/Program%20Pages/History/History_PhD_Program_Six-541217-edited.jpg) [![1209039_-SMU- Humanities Guide-mockup_110921](https://grad.smu.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/1209039_-SMU-%20Humanities%20Guide-mockup_110921.png?width=400&name=1209039_-SMU-%20Humanities%20Guide-mockup_110921.png)](https://grad.smu.edu/reanalyzing-our-world-humanities-phds-at-smu-download) ## Access Our Free Digital Download Reanalyzing Our World: Humanities PhDs at SMU [![Download Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3974384/c3ef3593-4fab-4a00-8824-7b2b953f4746.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3974384/c3ef3593-4fab-4a00-8824-7b2b953f4746)   ### Related Blog Articles ## About the department [Send us a message](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-studies-in-history#send-request) [Useful Links](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-studies-in-history#useful-links) ## Send Us a Message ## Useful Links [Learn more about our faculty](https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Departments/History/People) [Visit department website](https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Departments/History/Graduate) [Send an inquiry](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-studies-in-history#send-request) [Apply now](https://gradadmission.smu.edu/apply/) - [Cox School of Business](https://www.smu.edu/cox) - [Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences](https://www.smu.edu/dedman) - [Dedman School of Law](https://www.smu.edu/law) - [Lyle School of Engineering](https://www.smu.edu/lyle) - [Meadows School of the Arts](https://www.smu.edu/meadows) - [Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies](https://www.smu.edu/moody) - [Perkins School of Theology](https://www.smu.edu/perkins) - [Simmons School of Education & Human Development](https://www.smu.edu/simmons) - [SMU CAPE](https://www.smu.edu/cape) - [SMU Libraries](https://www.smu.edu/libraries) - [SMU Guildhall](https://www.smu.edu/guildhall) - [Undergraduate Students](https://www.smu.edu/infofor/students) - [Graduate Students](https://www.smu.edu/moody) - [Alumni](https://www.smu.edu/alumni) - [Faculty & Staff](https://www.smu.edu/infofor/faculty-staff) - [Media](https://www.smu.edu/news) - [Parents](https://www.smu.edu/studentaffairs) - [SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow](https://www.smu.edu/ignited) - [Corporate and Foundation Relations](https://www.smu.edu/corporate-foundation-relations) - [Bush Center](https://www.smu.edu/bushcenter) - [SMU Store](https://smu.bncollege.com/shop/smu/home) - [Academic Calendar](https://www.smu.edu/enrollmentservices/registrar/academiccalendarscoursecatalogs/academiccalendars) - [Academic Ceremonies](https://www.smu.edu/academic-ceremonies) - [Events Calendar](https://calendar.smu.edu/) - [Employment](https://www.smu.edu/businessfinance/hr/workingatsmu) - [Giving to SMU](https://giving.smu.edu/) - [Virtual Tour](https://www.smu.edu/admission/visit/virtualtour) - [SMU Stories](https://www.smu.edu/stories) - [Contact Us](https://www.smu.edu/aboutsmu/contactsmu) - [Maps Directions](https://www.smu.edu/aboutsmu/maps) - [Compliance](https://www.smu.edu/compliance) - [Legal Disclosures](https://www.smu.edu/legaldisclosures) - [Privacy Policy Statement](https://www.smu.edu/legaldisclosures/privacystatement) - [Report Sexual Harassment](https://www.smu.edu/sexualharassment) - [Reporting a Bias Incident](https://www.smu.edu/studentaffairs/get-help/bert) - [SMU Aware](https://www.smu.edu/aware) - [Emergency Preparedness](https://www.smu.edu/businessfinance/risk-management/emergency-management-fire-safety) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/smudallas) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/smudallas/) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/school/smudallas/mycompany/) - [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@smu) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLRmiYkXF2YHOXzIqasjzg) - [X](https://twitter.com/smu/) [![](https://grad.smu.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/SMU%20logo.png?width=140&height=41&name=SMU%20logo.png)](https://smu.edu/) © SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY