Application and Eligibility

Eligibility Information

Pursuit of undergraduate coursework requires no special application process; students simply pursue their History B.A. requirements. However, formal admission to the combined program does require some special arrangements (described below).

As part of that process, students need to demonstrate an ability to do graduate work and must meet the standard requirements for admission to the M.A. program as well as a significant part of their History major. These include:

  • a cumulative GPA in Ohio State University courses of at least 3.5 (B+)
  • GRE scores that meet standard admissions policy
  • completion of at least 18 semester hours of history (including courses in which they are enrolled at the time of application)
  • completion of or current enrollment in History 2800
  • completion of or current enrollment in a 4000-level Readings in History seminar
  • completion of at least Level I and Level II of an East Asian language (Chinese, Japanese or Korean)

Application Information

Students who are interested in the combined degree program should confer with an undergraduate faculty advisor who specializes in East Asian History (Professor Chris Reed) at the earliest opportunity so that they complete the appropriate coursework before applying for the combined degree program.

Late in their second year or early in their third year of undergraduate work, students will complete a “pre-application” to the combined degree program. This step will serve as an indicator of their interest to apply formally during their third year. The applicant’s major field faculty Undergraduate Adviser (who should be an East Asian specialist) will review the pre-application and, if necessary, discuss course requirements that need to be met for the major before formally entering the combined degree program. In addition, the Graduate Studies Committee for the Interdisciplinary M.A. Program in East Asian Studies will review the pre-application. The Committee will provide additional guidance to the student prior to submission of a formal application for admission to the M.A. program.

During their third year in the B.A. program, students will apply to the M.A. program in the Graduate School through our online application system. At the time of application they will need to have met the requirements for eligibility outlined above. This step will involve completing the Graduate School’s combined degree approval form [pdf] and submitting that form to the Undergraduate Studies Committee Chair in the student’s major program and the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. If all requirements are met (see “Criteria” listed on the form), these Chairs will sign and forward to the Graduate School for final approval.

See a sample program [pdf] that shows how a student interested in Chinese history might select courses that fill all of the requirements for the History Major (B.A.) and the Interdisciplinary M.A. in East Asian Studies. Note that this program illustrates the value of beginning study of an East Asian Language early in one’s course of study!