Jumping from Southeast Asian Studies to History

[fishsauce]

Hey all!

I've made a couple posts in other parts of the forums but thought I'd come announce myself here. I have recently completed an MA in Southeast Asian Studies. I focused heavily on history, writing a thesis which would have fit in a history program as well as in a Southeast Asian Studies program. In fact, my original intention when signing up for the program was to study history, as that has been my primary academic interest (though not my major) for a very long time.

Now I've graduated, and I'm hoping to switch to History for my PhD. What sort of a disadvantage am I at? If it comes to general knowledge, I'd say that I have a fairly well-rounded knowledge of history, and if it comes to research experience, I have already written a (very successful) thesis in the field of history. Are there any other potential obstacles here that I haven't taken note of just yet?

[pudewen]

Now I've graduated, and I'm hoping to switch to History for my PhD. What sort of a disadvantage am I at? If it comes to general knowledge, I'd say that I have a fairly well-rounded knowledge of history, and if it comes to research experience, I have already written a (very successful) thesis in the field of history. Are there any other potential obstacles here that I haven't taken note of just yet?

You're at no disadvantage; in fact, you're at an advantage relative to applicants with no MA. For those of us who work in areas other than US or Western Europe, it's quite common to have an area studies Masters prior to starting a PhD program, and will not harm your admission prospects in the least, particularly if you had a historical focus within the MA program.

[kyjin]

Like pudewen said, you're not at a disadvantage all. You have an MA, and I bet you have tons of language training that other applicants will not have. The thesis in history certainly helps as well. I'm in an East Asian Studies Dept as well and (probably) going to a History program as well. From what my professors have told me, this is very common amongst MA students from interdisciplinary programs. (Another students from my dept. is applying to Literature programs.)