Do you need a specialization to apply to grad school?

[hippocleides_doesn't_care]

This is my first post after looking for a while. I would really appreciate some guidance on specialization and its importance.

On me: I'm in my 3rd year in undergrad studying History and Classics at a relatively good liberal arts college. I don't think I want to be a philologist, as I am more interested in the broader Historical scope than total command of Greek and Latin language. I am also super interested in the Middle East-- I took an exceptional class in the history of U.S.- Middle East relations this past year that kind of turned my neat little Ancient Mediterranean History track on its head.

I've since discerned that my main interest, really, is Empire. What kind of language is used to create them and hold them together structurally and culturally? What's the relationship between colonized and colonizer? Of course, like a lot of History majors, I love everything I study. I'm taking Latin and Greek right now, but I would like to take Arabic next semester, and take classes in Political Science if I can. So, on to my actual question... 

Do I need to pick one scope or the other now, or should I keep doing everything I find interesting, even if it isn't facilitating my need to choose a specialization for grad school? What was your path?

 

Thanks so much!

[Septerra]

You sound like you're on your way. I think that many undergraduates who apply and are accepted into PhD programs have completed long (25+) papers on an area in which they hope to specialize. Such a paper should be used as your writing sample, and should definitely be based on your primary source research. Archival research is a big plus, but schools typically understand that most people do not have access to such resources at the undergraduate level. Your language skills are also HUGE for going into ancient Greco-Roman history. I have heard that it is the top consideration for this field, as it is quite impossible to do research without those skills.

I think it's important that you explore your options as an undergrad. However, you should demonstrate a prolonged interest in one particular area, and one historical "question" in your application. You should structure your personal statement around that question, as well as how you became interested in it, and what preliminary steps you have taken to begin answering it. Your writing sample, of course, should be your first attempt at addressing said question. Grad schools want to see that one area can keep your attention for YEARS, because that will be vital for dissertation research and writing.

Good luck!

[archersline]

I had a brief conversation with a committee member who is currently at a top-20 grad program. He told me that it is advisable for you to have a specific historical focus. They see countless applications that try to explain how passionately they enjoy history and, in nearly all of these cases, throw them aside. Specifically regarding your own work I think your thematic interest is commendable. That being said, I would try and adapt that topic to a specific region or time period so that you can engage with faculty members and have them back your application. Best of luck to you. 

[TMP]

If you were to do Ancient world, you have the languages.  But remember, hundreds of people studied ancient history before you.  What is it going to be new?   Your question about colonizer-colonized is not a bad one-- you could look at slavery, gender roles, and labor.  You will find immensely vast literature.

You mentioned Middle East-- you'd be looking into, perhaps, the Achaemenid Empire, which doesn't use much of Greek or Roman languages.  You have to decide which of the "empires" in the Ancient world you'd like to focus on and work on your languages from there.

Yet, if you want to shift to modern Middle East, then, yes, you need Arabic and one other language (Farsi, Turkish, Hebrew).  

You sound like you're not in a rush to go to graduate school and that's great.  Take the time to explore history, find questions that interest you, and write a senior thesis (or equivalent through independent study).

[hippocleides_doesn't_care]

2 hours ago, TMP said:

 

2 hours ago, TMP said:

 

Thanks for your responses everyone! It's so nice to get feedback. 

I'm planning on doing 4 1/2 years in undergrad, and applying to schools for Fall 2018 with an honors thesis to use as a writing sample, so I do have some time, but not much. Do you all have any ideas (other than mountains of reading) on how to pick a specialization?

My school, as I've mentioned, is quite small, so it doesn't have many languages available-- and Latin and Greek are on their way out. Is it best to do intensive summer language programs for Arabic, Farsi, or other such languages, or just find what I can nearby or online?

Again, thanks very much!

[AP]

I like how you identified your interest as "empire", which is atemporal and ageographical. This is a great start. As historians, we are trained to ask those broad questions that you asked and then try to answer them somewhere (justifying, of course, why that place and that time are an excellent case study for doing so). In short, we generalize and particularize at the same time. This dynamic should be explicit in your statement of purpose. 

I think you have time to explore and pinpoint the specialization, but also bear in mind that  it could also change (unlikely, but still). 

Oh, and I second previous suggestions

[krystasonrisa]

It has been my experience that apart from academic record, research matching is the primary factor for admission. I think it's necessary to be very familiar with other work, because historical work is, essentially, a conversation that transcends time and place. Even if you haven't developed very clear and specific personal research interests, be very aware of potential advisors' past and present work and their interests. 

 

Good matches generally are thematically compatible and theoretically compatible. Definitely prioritize YOUR interests and passions over those of any potential advisor, but as far as having clearly defined research projects for applications, I think it's only necessary to have defined thematic and theoretical interests rather than a concrete thesis. 

 

I come from a liberal arts background, too, and I found doing an interdisciplinary MA (in Latin American and Carribean Studies) to be the most beneficial phase in my professional academic development because it allowed me the freedom to explore my interests for two more years and really define what I'm passionate about with a bit more maturity. (In undergrad, I was passionate about popular literature and social history, so coming out of undergrad, I applied to both literature and history programs, and ultimately settled on interdisciplinary.) Research projects, though, are fluid and changing, so don't stress it too much.  

 

(The best way to find a project is to be in conversation. Read everything. Talk to everyone. Find what's missing. Do it. Obviously that is impossible, so just do your best to approximate the model.) 

[krystasonrisa]

On February 25, 2016 at 10:25 AM, Septerra said:

Grad schools want to see that one area can keep your attention for YEARS, because that will be vital for dissertation research and writing.

While I think this might be true for some l, I don't think it's generally true, especially not for Latin Americanists. (Not sure about  other fields, though.)

Scholars (Latin Americanists) are usually loyal to their region and/or period, but work on a lot of different historical questions. 

I think the strongest scholars have worked on a variety of projects, but there is logic in their transitions from one project to the next. (Robin Derby 4ever <3) 

So please don't think you have to define your entire life this year. You do not. You are expected to ask questions, and get progressively better at engaging with them. (And it seems like you are asking great questions!) 

[Septerra]

5 hours ago, krystasonrisa said:

So please don't think you have to define your entire life this year. You do not. You are expected to ask questions, and get progressively better at engaging with them. (And it seems like you are asking great questions!) 

I totally agree with that! However, it is important that you go into the application process with a fair idea of what you want to research for the next few years, because a program will be much more likely to admit a candidate if they are well matched with an advisor. The best way to show that you are well matched is to show an extensive interest in one particular historical question, while connecting it to the larger geographical-thematic picture.

My MA thesis relied on discourse from only 5 years in Soviet history...I will likely expand the scope of my research, either chronologically or transnationally, for my dissertation. Of course, I hope to research other themes in Soviet history as well over the course of my career. However, I think it's important to show that you have a starting point, direction, and can think like a scholar (typically one project at a time).