I am currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in film production, and while I love it, I hope to study history at an accredited graduate school as this is a topic I am obsessed with. I realize that these subjects are pretty much unrelated, so… Would a graduate school even look at me seriously?
If you want to go to graduate school for history and you are, in you own words, obsessed with history, why aren’t you majoring in history? Graduate study requires a solid foundation and research experience in a particular topic. It is meant to build on the fundamentals. While history is not my field, I doubt most, if any, programs would give you any consideration with a degree in film production and no significant research or coursework in history.
I agree with @AuraObscura.
No one doubts your ability and dedication to history. But you will have to compete with many candidates with proven track records (course work, research, publication, letters of recommendation from history researchers).
I would start by looking at the requirements to be admitted to a graduate program in history. People do go to graduate school for subjects other than those they studied undergrad, but there are usually a number of prerequisite courses they have to take prior to being considered for admission.
^Yes, and think not only of minimums but competitiveness. History is a very competitive field, so while you may be theoretically admissible with 5 classes in history, in practice you may need the equivalent of a major to be admitted.
Also, why do you want a graduate degree in history? What do you plan to do with it?
Seems like film production and history would work well together for someone interested in producing non-fiction and historically relevant films-fiction or not-seems like a good combination.
I have two grad degrees that are totally unrelated to my undergrad degree, and to each other. So yes, I know that this can be done.
For the first grad degree, I took classes at my own cheap-o homestate public U for three semesters, and got the core pre-reqs for grad school out of the way.
The second grad degree was designed for people who had some working experience in the field, but assumed no previous education in that field.
I was debating grad school between English and History, and looked into a lot of programs. Almost every History program specified that you DON’T need an undergrad in History, but that it merely helps you out.
This would be for a Master’s. A PhD always has stricter guidelines.