Applying to PhD programs with only a minor in the subject?

[dillonr1]

Hi All,

I have decided (finally) that I want to persue a PhD in modern european history. However, I have a bachelors in that includes a double major in english and education as well as a minor in psychology and history. I was just wondering, is it absolutely neccessary to have a bachelors in the subject area that you want to teach in? I really want to go into a bachelors---> phd program. Can I take this course or is there no shot that I will get in? (My GPA is a 3.7 if that helps any)

[frankdux]

i dont have an answer to your question, but i would also like to know.

i want to go into an interdisciplinary applied math program and study the applications and overlappings of mathematics in astronomy. my major was math and my minor was astronomy. so i'd like to think i'm ok. but i get the feeling that if i wanna take some upper undergrad/grad level courses in astro, that i'm gonna need to go back and take some lower level courses to catch up.

(i really regret not having double majored)

[rising_star]

I didn't take any undergraduate courses in the field that I now study as a grad student. Now, this could be because my undergrad didn't offer any classes in it and I'd never heard of it... That said, my field is unusual in that it's considered one that people often come to later in life. Very few people in the graduate program have an undergrad degree in it.

I think you'll be fine if you can show the adcom your passion for studying whatever it is you want to study.

[frankdux]

i actually have something more to add...

in my own experiences i believe that subjects that roughly fall under the categories of humanities and social sciences might be a bit more lenient in admitting someone with some deficiencies in their background, compared to someone interested in a subject requiring more technical knowledge and expertise, like the sciences. i base this on two things:

1. all of the applied math programs i'm applying to specifically state on their website that they require a bachelor's degree in either math, physics, or a related math-heavy field, and also many programs look for a strongly related minor. a grad program admitting someone with deficiencies in their undergrad program is supposedly very rare probably because theorems and proofs aren't going to be absorbed through general life experience and casual reading.

2. additionally, i have already done a masters in math education which is an education degree first and foremost, and the program admitted several students who had math deficiencies in their undergrad. so this education program allowed for deficiencies and allowed students to take the extra classes to make up for their background.

in other words, in my own experiences i have seen that math and science graduate programs require a strong background. a humanities/social science degree such as math education is much more lenient.

in summary, i'd say you have a reasonable shot and it is certainly worth applying.

[misterpat]

Hi All,

I have decided (finally) that I want to persue a PhD in modern european history. However, I have a bachelors in that includes a double major in english and education as well as a minor in psychology and history. I was just wondering, is it absolutely neccessary to have a bachelors in the subject area that you want to teach in? I really want to go into a bachelors---> phd program. Can I take this course or is there no shot that I will get in? (My GPA is a 3.7 if that helps any)

It depends where you want to go, if you have letters from History profs, if you can explain convincingly why History is now your primary interest in your SOP and how good of a writing sample you have.

You might have trouble at higher-ranked schools without a major, but I bet it really wouldn't be an issue outside of the top 50. You could still have a shot at schools higher than that if you're a great applicant, but History is a pretty competetive discipline and you're starting off with a (possible) strike against you. I think you just missed all the deadlines for apps this round though.

Also, for modern Euro you are going to need languages. I don't know what area you want to focus on, but if you want to look like a solid applicant you should have some knowledge of 2 going in. If you know German or French you are off to a good start. This might help show you are serious without having a major.

Edit: Finally, you're going to focus on a specific-type of history, or at least sell yourself as such in your SOP. Perhaps you could play up your English major's relevance by selling yourself as somoene focusing on Cultural History.

[synthla]

I'm applying to history Ph.D programs without a history major, or even a history minor. Rather I majored in political science with an emphasis on theory, then went on to law school. I've only applied to "Top 50" programs. The majority of them mentioned looking for a major in history OR a related/complementary field, which most seem to think includes political science. The one program with an express requirement did not require a history major, but just referred to a certain number of credits in history as a mandatory qualification. I fell just short ofthat number, emailed the head of graduate studies, and was essentially told that even that number was flexible (unless my previous experience with history had been Zero), it sounded like I had plenty of exposure to history and not to worry about that particular item. I can't speak for programs other than those to which I applied, but I imagine they are fairly representative.

Of course we'll see how it works out for me.

[jmbky1]

I have a Bachelor's in Business Administration and have been admitted to get my PhD in chemistry this fall.

I originally intended on med school, but I decided I would hate myself if I went to med school and that I liked chemistry too much. Since at this point I was already a senior, I only had time to complete a minor in chemistry. I took a year of physics, a year of gen chem, a year of organic, a year of biology, a semester of analytical and a semester of biochem all within a year and a half.

My overall GPA ended up being a 3.4 (I hated business and got bad grades in accounting) but my science GPA was around a 3.9. My GRE math was very high, did research all last summer which was uncredited/unpaid, and got very strong letters of recommendation from science faculty.

I realize I'm a rare case, but grad schools look at your situation and take it all into account. At first glance, I am a business major with a 3.4 GPA who wants to be a chemistry PhD which is absolutely laughable. BUT, grad schools obviously take time to look beneath the surface to see your potential and examine your situation. Just contact faculty and explain your situation. That's what I did.

[Genghis]

It all depends. Sure, a major is preferable. Can you indicate in your SOP that you fell in love with history and didn't have time to pursue a major in it by then? Can you say that you became overwhelmed with a passion for Euro history and just knew that it was exactly what you wanted to do for the rest of your life? Are your recs from history profs who say you are a promising historian?

Your double major and double minor are very impressive, but I'm worried an adcom would think "This guy doesn't know what the hell he wants to do." You need to demonstrate a drive to study history. Prove it to them. If you can accomplish that, the difference in preparation between a major and a minor will be insignificant.

The above poster is correct in that he said it is more flexible in the humanities than the sciences-- in the sciences there are just certain classes you have had to take or else you're up shit creek. You have a little latitude here, but you gotta hit in every way possible that Euro history is your passion and you are fully dedicated to it.

On the other hand, grad admissions are so tough, that it comes down to you and another candidate, and he has a major, adcoms might say "fuck it, lets take the dude with the major."

[humblemumblings]

I did not have a history major as an undergrad, and my school didn't offer minors - although I took quite a few history classes. Only one of my LORs came from a history professor - the others were in anthro or comp lit. My thesis was a mishmash of history and anthro methodologies. And so far so good - I have experienced no questions about my preparedness to study history at a graduate level, and have gotten encouraging responses from schools. I think it's the languages and the passion for it that they really want to see.