A Message from Professor Matthew Dennis, Director of Graduate Studies

Welcome to the web page for the Graduate Program of the History Department at the University of Oregon.

There are many reasons to consider pursuing graduate studies at the University of Oregon. The University has a wide range of interdisciplinary programs, a research library of more than two million volumes, a computer network that was recently ranked third in the nation among public universities, and many other resources.

The History Department has an outstanding faculty. We are large enough to have a wide array of geographical and thematic specialties, but small enough to provide close working relationships between faculty and graduate students.

Our graduate students have compiled an enviable list of accomplishments. Students with M.A. degrees frequently win admission and funding at top Ph.D. and professional programs. Most of our Ph.D. students secure faculty positions at colleges and universities.

The University of Oregon is able to provide on-line admission applications for those who are paying the application fee with a credit card. In addition we have made our forms (Graduate Teaching Fellows, Letters of Recommendations) downloadable so you don't have to wait to receive a graduate admissions packet from us. All of the information about our program is available on our website.

Financial aid is available both in and outside the History Department. In 2003-2004 the Department of History had a total of 23 Graduate Teaching Fellowships (GTFs) 9 of which were awarded to incoming students at both the M.A. and Ph.D. level. History graduate students are also eligible for-and have been very effective in securing-GTFs in other parts of the University. In recent years, History Department graduate students have served as GTFs in Religious Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Women's Studies.

The History graduate student organization, the History Guild, is a vital part of our department. Graduate students serve on the department's Graduate Committee, its Speakers and Events Committee, and all Faculty Search Committees. At the university level, graduate students have been unionized since the 1970s; they are represented by the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, which negotiates workloads, stipend levels and health insurance benefits.

Oregon students enjoy the many advantages of living in Eugene, a town of 140,00 people that combines the convenience of small-town life with many of the amenities of much bigger cities. UO graduate students can ride Eugene's extensive bus system for free with their student ID cards; they can find low-cost housing on and off campus; some campus housing sites offer on-site day care programs for student parents.

Thanks for your interest in our program. We'll look forward to receiving your application, which must be postmarked by December 15, 2008.