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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Applying to the Medieval Institute’s Ph.D. Program
Students applying to the Ph.D. program in Medieval Studies sometimes have questions about application procedures or specific details not addressed in our program description. The most frequently asked questions (and answers to them) appear below (in no particular order). If you still have questions about aspects of our program, please contact Roberta Baranowski, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, by e-mail, or phone: 574-631-8304.
1. Should I pursue a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies or a Ph.D. in a traditional department?
2. What about Latin?
3. Do you offer a terminal master's degree?
4. Are international students admitted to your program?
5. What is your funding package?
6. What are the language requirements?
7. Do I need to have been a Medieval Studies major in order to apply?
8. Where do I get an application?
9. What should I put in my statement of intent?
10. I already have an M.A. Will I get credit for this?
11. Do I need an M.A. to apply?
12. I have applied before, must I complete the entire application again?
13. Can I come to visit the campus?
14. Is there a cut-off for GRE scores or G.P.A.?
15. Who makes the decision about my application?
16. What should I send for a writing sample?
17. What are the teaching requirements?
18. Do you provide funding for research and conference attendance?
19. Whom should I ask for letters of recommendation?
20. Do you admit students in the spring semester?
21. How long does it take to complete a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies?
22. What is the placement record for your students?
23. When will I hear about whether I have been admitted?
24. What percent of applicants are offered admission?
25. Does Notre Dame provide housing for graduate students?
26. Does the Medieval Institute offer a degree via distance learning?
1. Should I apply for admission to the Medieval Institute for a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies or to a department that permits me to focus my fields of study around the Middle Ages?
At Notre Dame, graduate students in both the Medieval Institute and traditional departments have access to the same courses and the same professors, and the Medieval Institute study spaces and library are available for all campus medievalists. However, specific program requirements differ. For example, while history department students are allowed to take non-history courses, Medieval Institute students on the history track are required to take non-history courses. There are also differences in the schedule for qualifying exams and dissertation proposals. For a full comparison, consult the graduate handbooks online for the Medieval Institute and for the department in your field. Medieval Institute students graduate with an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Medieval Studies, but almost all of our graduates get jobs in disciplinary departments such as History, English, or Philosophy (since there are very few departments of Medieval Studies). Medieval Studies Ph.D.'s from Notre Dame have had a great track record for getting jobs, since we work hard to make sure that you are fully trained for your chosen discipline as well as having the "added value" of interdisciplinary training. On the other hand, getting a job in a disciplinary department with a disciplinary degree is more straightforward (you never have to prove that you can fit within a traditional framework). In the end, it comes down to you. If your interests are deeply interdisciplinary, then consider a degree in Medieval Studies.
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2. What about Latin?
Students entering our program are expected to have strong Latin skills when they arrive and a firm command of medieval Latin is required for success in our program. You will be using Latin in your course work and research as soon as you begin graduate work. Most successful applicants already have at least 3 to 4 years of formal Latin study at the college level (study on one's own is not sufficient). Applicants with an otherwise strong record are encouraged to correct this deficiency before they apply. There are several options. Some applicants choose to "sit out" a year and use the time to do formal, intensive course work in Latin. Several universities (Notre Dame, among others) offer intensive elementary Latin during the summer, which you could follow up with additional course work during the regular term. A few institutions offer certificate programs in Latin that allow students to develop their competency quickly. Enrolling in a one-year or eighteen-month program before applying to the Medieval Institute could jumpstart your language acquisition. Other individuals seek out a terminal master's program that has built-in language training that allows them to enhance their Latin skills and earn a master's degree before applying to the Medieval Institute's Ph.D. program. Some applicants with informal Latin training take the SAT or GRE test in Latin and submit the scores as an indication of their level of mastery. It would also be useful to select a writing sample for submission with your application that demonstrates your ability to use original Latin texts in a research project. Likewise, you might wish your recommenders to evaluate your level of Latin proficiency in their supporting letters. When describing your Latin proficiency on your application, it is helpful to indicate particular texts that you have read or can read with ease. (See Question #6 below about the Institute's Latin exam.)
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3. Do you offer a terminal master’s degree?
No. Back to top.
4. Do you have a special policy for international students?
No. International students are considered in the same pool as U.S. students, and they receive the same funding package.Back to top.
5. What is your funding package?
All of our graduate students receive funding. We offer full tuition and a stipend of between $16,000 and $21,000 (for the entering class of 2008-09) per year, guaranteed for five years. Tuition continues to be covered through the eighth year of study. Summer funding ($3,600 for 2008-09) is provided for most first and second-year students in good standing if they do not have it through their normal stipend. We also cover a portion of graduate student health care premiums. Back to top.
6. What are the language requirements?
You must pass the Medieval Institute's exam in medieval Latin and an exam in one modern language no later than the end of your fourth semester. You must pass an additional exam in another modern language before your Ph.D. qualifying exams. Other languages may be required, depending on your program of study. If you have passed graduate-level language exams in modern languages at another university, you may be able to transfer the credit. However, you must still pass our exam in medieval Latin. (Examples of the exam are available here.)
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7. Do I need to have been a Medieval Studies major in college?
No, but your undergraduate program should demonstrate a strong background in course work related to the Middle Ages.Back to top.
8. Where do I get an application?
You can obtain an application through the Notre Dame Graduate School web site: http://graduateschool.nd.edu.Back to top.
9. What should I put in my statement of intent?
Your statement of intent should explain your interests and trajectory as a medievalist. Among other things, let us know: What are your special interests? What has inspired your interest in medieval studies? What is your training in the field? With whom do you hope to work at Notre Dame, and why? Why do you want a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies? If there have been any significant setbacks in your academic record that you think we should be aware of, please explain these in your statement. Statements of intent should be no longer than three pages.
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10. I already have an M.A. Will I get credit for this?
All students must complete our requirements for the M.M.S. (Master of Medieval Studies), even if they enter with a master's degree from elsewhere. If you enter the Medieval Institute program with a master's degree, you must complete MI 60001 (Introduction to Medieval Studies), you must take 6 graduate-level courses at Notre Dame, you must pass the Latin exam and an exam in one modern language, and you must pass Paleography if it is offered in your first year before you can take your M.M.S. exams. With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies (who is also the Director of the Medieval Institute), it may be possible to transfer credit for one appropriate graduate-level course from another university.
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11. Do I need an M.A. to apply?
No; many students enter our program with just a B.A. However, we have found that it is often a considerable advantage to enter our program after completing an M.A. elsewhere. Although we require that you complete another master's degree at Notre Dame, your previous experience with graduate-level course work and the extra time for language training can be very helpful for success in our program.Back to top.
12. I have applied before, do I need to complete the entire application again?
No. If you applied within the last five years, your application should still be on record. Some portions may be reused (for example, transcripts), but it is usually a good idea to send a new statement of intent and to ask your recommenders to update their letters. GRE scores more than five years old are not acceptable.
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13. Can I come to visit the campus?
Yes, you are welcome to visit the Notre Dame campus at any time during the academic term, but this is not required. Please be sure to make appointments, in advance, with the Director of the Medieval Institute and with individual professors whose work is of interest to you. Keep in mind that if you are offered admission, we will invite you to campus, usually in March, for a prospective student weekend (at our expense) to acquaint you with our program, campus, and faculty.Back to top.
14. Is there a cut-off for GRE scores and the G.P.A. in order to be considered for admission?
We have no absolute cut-offs for scores, but most admitted students have combined GRE scores well above the 1200s, and a G.P.A. above 3.5 (and higher in humanities courses). We look very closely at all elements of the application.Back to top.
15. Who makes the decision about my application?
The Director of Graduate Studies (=Director of the Medieval Institute) in consultation with the Graduate Committee (drawn from Medieval Institute faculty) makes all final decisions.Back to top.
16. What should I send for a writing sample?
Send your most polished piece of scholarly writing, ideally a research paper (or part of a research paper) based on analysis of primary sources in their original language. Although we prefer writing on a medieval topic, this is not necessary. If your topic is not medieval, it should reflect scholarship in your primary field of interest (history, English, philosophy, etc.). Samples should be no more than 15 pages long, double-spaced, not counting notes and bibliography. If you are sending part of a longer paper, please include an abstract or a table of contents for the longer work. Written work should be in English. Back to top.
17. What are the teaching requirements?
All students are required to serve as teaching assistants in their second and third year of study. This is referred to as "service." At most, a T.A. will be assigned two discussion sections for the same course, with no more than 18 students in each section. Most advanced students also have opportunities to teach their own classes (as "teacher of record") during the summer or academic year. Back to top.
18. Do you provide students with funding to pursue research and attend conferences?
Yes. There is generous funding from both the Medieval Institute and the University to support student travel for brief research trips and to attend conferences in their field.Back to top.
19. Whom should I ask for letters of recommendation?
We usually expect letters from professors who have taught you in the past, either in undergraduate or graduate work. They should comment on your abilities as a student. Where applicable, they should also comment on your abilities in languages. Please send no more than four letters. Be sure to double-check with those writing for you to make sure that letters arrive by our deadline.Back to top.
20. Do you admit students in the spring semester?
No. We only admit students for entrance in the fall. The deadline for all applications is January 4th.
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21. How long does it take to complete a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies at Notre Dame?
Students normally complete our program in six or seven years. We strongly encourage all students to finish within six years, and the university provides no more than six years of stipend funding.Back to top.
22. What is the placement record for your students?
Virtually all of our students obtain academic employment, if they choose to, after they graduate. Consult our web page for highlights about our recent graduates.Back to top.
23. If I apply by the deadline, when will I hear about whether I have been admitted?
Admissions decisions are made by March 1. Back to top.
24. What percent of applicants are offered admission?
Our program is very competitive; we offer admission to roughly 10% of students who apply.Back to top.
25. Does Notre Dame provide housing for graduate students?
Yes. The University has housing available near the campus for both single and married graduate students. Many graduate students take advantage of University housing, while others rent or buy houses and apartments in South Bend. Rental rates and house prices are very reasonable in our area.Back to top.
26. Does the Medieval Institute offer a degree via distance learning?
No. All graduate students must be enrolled on-campus until their dissertation proposals are completed. Once students have completed their proposals, they may pursue their degree while living elsewhere.Back to top.
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