Dual Degree Program--Public History/MLS--Dominican University

Question: Upon graduation, I hope to begin working on my Master's degree and the Public History and Library Information Science Dual Degree program offered by Dominican University and Loyola University of Chicago is of much interest to me.  I have begun an online application for Loyola University Chicago and also one for Dominican University, both of which I hope to submit soon, but I do have a few questions regarding applying to the dual program before I proceed.

• Do I apply to both institutions?  If so, how is it recommended that I go about this?
• What are the application deadlines?
• Is there anything else that needs to be completed in addition to the standard materials required (transcripts, personal statement, etc.) that I need to complete?

Answer: Application to the two programs is completely separate. Follow the instructions for each institution. The Loyola program is smaller and more selective so acceptance here is often harder than Dominican's MLS program. Students generally do the history section first and after  a year and a half move over to Dominican, but you do it the other way around or do both programs at the same time being part-time in each.

 

Application evaluation at the Loyola Program puts a heavy emphasis on your writing sample so choose that carefully to show strong rhetorical skills and an ability to do good research.

Dissertation Proposal Seminars

One should not take the proposal class until one has completed the major examination.  The course is run as an independent study where you work with your advisor to produce a proposal. When it is time, the student just signs up via LOCUS.  You will, however, need a chair for your committee (your main advisor) from History.  It is fine to have an outside person, non-History faculty member, on the committee.  The other two should be from History. In general, people have most of the committee put together by the time they take the proposal seminar (at least a chair!).  You will have to fill out the forms with Lillian for the committee too. [n.b. these are now found through GSPS]   

Dissertations into databases

Graduate students at most universities are encouraged or required to include their dissertations in Proquest’s Dissertations and Theses database and more recently in local digital repositories such as Loyola’s eCommons. Inclusion of dissertations in these types of services is considered beneficial to students and degree granting institutions. Students, recent graduates and newer faculty are encountering new obstacles in academic publishing as a result of the conflict of interest between the goals of the open access movement and those of academic presses. Join representatives from The Graduate School, the Libraries, Proquest, and others for a lively discussion on these issues. Refreshments will be provided. 

Admission Selection Process

Our admissions procedure is a multiple level, "blind" process of assessment by a range of faculty members.  Therefore, it is difficult to be precise about why or why not an applicant receives the final ranking score she or he  does.  Through the process, we assess the complete package submitted, including GREs, but also GPA, letters of recommendation, and especially writing samples.  We also consider very carefully whether the specific interests of a student coincide enough with our faculty offerings to warrant the cost and effort required to come and study at Loyola.  We don't want to invite persons just in order to increase our enrollments.

So, as the manager of this process, but not the "authority" over it, I can not be too specific about any particular case.  My advice is that you consult with your professors and advisers at your present institution about every aspect of your applications,  and pay particular attention to the quality of your writing sample. We do not have a formal, or even informal, policy about multiple applications.  If you feel that your record has strengthened and might submit a stronger writing sample, etc., you have every right to do so and we will consider the new application on its own merits,  along with all others in the coming "season."

Non-US applicants

 For further information about the application process, please visit our program web page, especially the section on graduate admissions.  As a non-US student, would need to have your non-US transcripts evaluated by ECE (www.ece.org) and request the "General Evaluation with Grade Average."  If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, she will need to also submit the TOEFL or IELTS language test. Assuming you are able to process all of these elements, we would assess your application as we would any other.  Please keep in mind, as you consider this option, that we only offer financial support in the form of Teaching Assistantships to Ph.D. students.  

MA Admission Requirements and Link

We are very glad to learn that you will be applying for the MA program in History at Loyola University Chicago.  The application information you requested is available on this link.

Here is the list of elements you must include:

   M.A. PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A B.A. 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 coursework.
2. GRE scores: General Test
3. A one- to two-page statement of your objectives in applying for the M.A. program
4. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from those familiar with work in the field of history
5. A sample of your historical writing, preferably a research paper written for a history course
6. A completed application,accompanied by a $50 non-refundable application fee (fee waived for online application)

You may apply by submitting these materials on paper via mail, or electronically.  For instructions either way, go to this link.

Ph.D Application Deadline

The deadline for all Ph.D. applications, with or without TAship consideration  is January 1 . 

Contact Graduate Program Secretary

For administrative assistance with any details, please contact or plan to meet Lillian Hardison (ljung@luc.edu). 

Tuition

Tuition is determined by the number of credit hours you take in any semester. For further information about tuition, the application process,  etc., you may contact the Program Secretary, Lillian Hardison at ljung@luc.edu. 

Admissions materials; deadline for Spring admission

For admissions, we assess the complete package submitted, including GREs, but also GPA, letters of recommendation, and especially writing sample.  There is no clear cut off for GRE scores.  

Regarding the deadline for entering as an MA Spring semesters: it would be October 1 in the fall. No Spring admissions for Ph.D. students. 

Consult Funding Page

Information about funding appears on this page. 

Consult Faculty Pages!

 I recommend that you look through our faculty page carefully to see if your interests coincide with our areas of expertise.  Then, if you have specific questions about a particular aspect of our offerings, you can contact me or the most relevant faculty member directly.  

Sources of Funding

As is usual, we don't offer support to MA students, but we do offer financial support in the form of competitive Teaching Assistantships awarded to graduate students working toward doctoral degrees.  Ph.D. students are also encouraged to compete for sources of funding from outside the History Department.  Those sponsored by the Graduate School include:  Crown Fellowships for Humanities and Schmitt Fellowships for Dissertation Research.   

US Urban, Cultural, and Public History

As you can see from our website, we offer a range of programs that may coordinate with your interests, particularly in US Urban and Public History.  I recommend that you look through those offerings carefully, and also consult the list of US History faculty members on our staff.  There you may be able to determine whose expertise coordinates with your areas of interest. 

United States

• John Donoghue
• Elizabeth Fraterrigo
• Timothy J. Gilfoyle
• Theodore Karamanski
• Christopher E. Manning
• Patricia Mooney-Melvin
• Michelle Nickerson
• Kyle Roberts
• Elliott J. Gorn
• Elizabeth Shermer

MA degree while working

As you can see from the program website, we offer an MA program in a range of fields.  A large number of our students do work at the same time as pursuing their studies.  While it is impossible to say precisely how the schedule might work, depending on course offerings from semester to semester, we do offer most of the graduate-level classes in the late afternoon and evening.  Exactly how long it would take you to complete the 27 credit hours required for an MA would depend on how many of those classes you could fit in.  Full time, normal time to degree is two years.  But part time, more gradual fulfillment of the class requirements is feasible.  

I urge you to explore the program for information about the specific requirements, our faculty, and the areas and courses offered.  If they fit your interests, it should be possible to complete a degree while continuing to work.

Public History contacts

The persons responsible for Public History in particular are Professors Ted Karamanski andElizabeth Fraterrigo.  While I can give you general information, they can help you with the particulars of the Public History program.  I recommend that you contact them directly with any questions about Public History.

No Ph.D. in South Asian History

Dr. Pincence is a wonderful teacher and member of our program.  But, as you can see on our web site, we only offer graduate studies in the areas of Medieval Europe, Modern Europe, Transnational Urban, US, and US Public histories.  I'm afraid we cannot offer a Ph.D. program in South Asian history.

Writing Sample: not multiple submissions

I'm sure you have seen that the admissions requirements do stipulate "a sample of your historical writing that consists of 20 plus pages, preferably a research paper written for a history course." I think you will find that this is standard in the field, which is--of course--primarily one which involves intensive writing and teaching about writing.  Therefore, I urge you to try to make your applications as complete as possible--to Loyola and all your other selections.   Of course, it is possible that a combination of shorter papers may impress an admissions committee, so you may try that alternative--with accompanying explanation.  But I cannot predict how our, or any other admissions committee, will assess it in comparison with all the other applications. 

Ph.D. Application for Funding deadlines

Regarding deadlines, the January 1 applies to any application department funding.  It has nothing to do with other forms of loans or financial aid outside of our program.  You will need to determine the particular deadlines for any other forms of financial support you might pursue.  If you choose to apply to our program without asking for funding from us in the form of assistantships, you can apply up until May 1.

Average Times to Degree

Our MA program takes 2 years if the person goes full time (three courses
a term).  The average time for completing a doctorate is more tricky and
depends.  But I would address it this way.  For someone in the
accelerated program, it can take anywhere from 5-8 years with 6-7 years
being about average.  With a MA, I would say its about the same (5-8
years) but more likely that the person will finish in 5-6 years.  Also,
we give out 5 years of funding and then expect our students to be able
to win one of three fellowships offered by the Graduate School for years
6 and 7 (if needed).  

p.s. Statistics are tricky here because it's only in the last three years that
we started giving out 5 years of funding.  Before that, we gave only 3
years and so our students took much longer to finish.