a) explain why you’re using graduate study to change field. Its a perfectly reasonable thing to do as long you know why you’re wanting to do it. (You’ll also need to show that you understand that by changing field you’ll need to get to grips with another disciplinary field and its subject matter and methodologial underpinnings.

b) show the admissions tutor that you have the appropriate motivation and perseverance (you’ll definitely need both of those to complete).

c) that you have an appropriate topic in mind for your thesis about which topic you wish to know everything that’s already been said! (Without that desire, you’ll get really bored and are very likely to drop out.)

Do that and you should be ok.

There’s some advice available on http://www.graduate-education.org which I find often has relevent posts and also my articles on graduate education at http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/mcculloch may be useful.

Good luck!

Alistair

All you need to do in your applicatoin letter is make it seem as if your first MA actually brought you closer to knowing that what you studied in your BA was your true calling. Explain that you wanted to be sure you were on the right path, and now you are. You will be more serious and you know why it is that you want to pursue the path — more than most undergrads know. Plus, you have been enriched by these ‘other’ experiences in a way that will make you a better whatever it is you’re applying to be.