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<p>I’m not a historian. (I’m an attorney.) It’s just that back when I was in college, the language component was the stumbling block for some people I knew. When my kid was in college a few years ago, foreign language was the stumbling block for some of my kid’s friends. So, I think it’s a piece of the puzzle you ought to know if this is a possible career.</p>
<p>I’d ask others with more knowledge than I have for advice. That said, I think as a general rule, it’s easier to learn languages when you are young. I guess part of it though is how fluent you are in the first language you’ve studied. Most US high school kids aren’t fluent enough in one language to satisfy the proficiency requirements. Moreover, LOTS of kids drop a forieign language before college or after first or second year. By the time grad school rolls around, they’ve forgotten a lot and have to relearn things. </p>
<p>So, I think, without having any special knowledge, that the answer depends on how good you are in the foreign language you HAVE studied. If you are fluent, start studying another. If you aren’t, do more work in that subject and consider a summer immersion course if you aren’t really fluent. </p>
<p>As for specific requirements, you can check the websites of various history grad departments. Obviously, it may well be that you will develop a particular field of interest during college and need to learn a specific language to study that field. You may not know what it is in high school. But, repeating myself, I think it’s very unrealistic to think that you can complete course work in history AND learn two languages at the same time. That’s why so many programs are requiring you to demonstrate fluency to get accepted. It’s a waste of limited resources to admit candidates who drop out without Ph.D.s because they couldn’t satisfy the language component.</p>
<p>I was typing this when #22 was posted. WOW!! I’m really impressed! I think the OP can see how with a limited number of slots, it’s only natural that a Ph.D. program is going to take foreign language capability into account in deciding whom to accept. </p>
<p>Again, though, get advice from folks in the field.</p>