Three concentrations are available for students who wish to earn the Master of Arts degree in the Department of History: (1) Concentration I, for traditional work in history; (2) Concentration II, for work in American Studies; (3) Concentration III, for work in Public History. Each concentration offers thesis and non-thesis options. Thesis options are intended for students who expect to continue graduate study or to teach in secondary schools or community colleges. Students who satisfactorily complete a thesis option will be eligible to apply for admission to the doctoral program of the Department. Non-Thesis Options, however, lead to a terminal degree. (See Transfer to Doctoral Program, below).
- Admission. In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Division of Research and Graduate Studies (RAGS) of the University, applicants should submit three letters of recommendation, the results of the Graduate Record Examination (including the History portion if possible), a letter explaining the applicant's professional objectives, and a writing sample that demonstrates the student's ability to conduct research and to write. The department requires applicants to hold a traditional undergraduate minor in history (24 hours).
- Designation of Program. No later than the end of the second semester, the student must file with the Chairperson of the Graduate Program Committee a statement of enrollment in one of the three concentrations and in a thesis or non-thesis option. All students holding a graduate appointment are expected to complete a thesis.
- Selection of Advisor. No later than the end of the second semester the student will select an advisor willing to supervise his or her program. The student should secure the advisor's approval of his/her schedule before each preregistration. The advisor/advisee relationship may be terminated by either party at any time without prejudice.
- Foreign Language Requirement. M.A. students following a thesis option must demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign languages if their advisors determine that it is necessary for research. If foreign language proficiency is not required for a student’s program, then the student need not demonstrate it. Students following a thesis option should satisfy the departmental foreign language requirement no later than the end of their second semester of course work. Failure to do so may jeopardize timely completion of a student's program.
- Transfer to Doctoral Program. Transfer to the doctoral program is available only to students who complete a thesis option. This department regards the quality of M.A. work and especially of the M.A. thesis as the best indication of doctoral potential. Hence, students must substantially complete their M.A. work before being considered for admission to the doctoral program. M.A. students with doctoral aspirations should, however, plan their programs so as to mesh with their proposed doctoral fields (if already known to them). M.A. students on departmental appointments who wish to be eligible for consideration for a doctoral award should follow this schedule (assuming they begin in the fall semester):
- First two semesters: complete at least 20 hours of course work, satisfy language requirement, have thesis topic approved no later than end of second semester.
- Summer, third semester: do research and write thesis. By no later than one month before deadline for renewal of grants it should be ready for evaluation by members of the department. (Additional courses toward M.A. requirements should be taken if thesis schedule permits.)
- Fourth semester: complete remaining M.A. courses and take M.A. oral examination if not already done. If admitted to doctoral program, use any available time to begin work.
- Individual Investigation. Because of the abundance of the department's regular offerings open to M.A. students, it should seldom be necessary for them to register for Individual Investigation credit. Students may remedy an occasional deficiency in the regular offerings with an Individual Investigation (which would normally result in substantial written work) with the prior approval of his advisor and of the professor responsible for the course and after filing a prospectus with the Graduate Program Committee.
- Rotation of Courses. Students should be aware that most graduate courses are given only every other year. This means that in a normal two-year M.A. program, each course (aside from 61001 and 61002, which are offered every year) will be offered only once. Students are therefore advised to take a course when they see it offered because it may not be offered again during their programs. Bear this in mind in particular regarding seminars/colloquia, of which you must take at least four.
MASTER'S DEGREE CONCENTRATIONS
CONCENTRATION I (History)
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Option A: Double Major in History (27 hours of coursework plus thesis)
Requirements
- History 61001 (3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- Seven M.A. level history courses (21 hours), selected with the following criteria in mind
- Four Seminars and Colloquia in History (12 hours), must include at least one Seminar (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- Must include coursework in all three of the following areas, can include Colloquia
a. European History since 1500
b. United States History
c. African, Ancient, Medieval, Latin American, or East Asian History
- Thesis (6 hours)
- Reading knowledge of one foreign language if advisor determines that it is required for research
Option B: Major in History/Minor in Other Field (27 hours of coursework plus thesis)
Requirements
- History 61001 (3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- Four or five M.A. level history courses (12-15 hours), selected with the following criteria in mind
- Four Seminars and Colloquia in History (12 hours), must include at least one Seminar (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- Must include coursework in at least two of the following fields, can include Colloquia
a. European History since 1500
b. United States History
c. African, Ancient, Medieval, Latin American, or East Asian History
- Two or three M.A. level courses (6-9 hours) in a cognate/related discipline outside of history
- Thesis (6 hours)
- Reading knowledge of one foreign language if advisor determines that it is required for research
Option C: Non-Thesis (Terminal Degree: 33 hours of coursework)
Requirements
- History 61001 (3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- Six or seven courses (18-21 hours) of M.A. level history courses, selected with the following criteria in mind
- Four Seminars and Colloquia in History (12 hours), must include at least one Seminar (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- Must include coursework in all three areas, can include Colloquia
a. European History since 1500
b. United States History
c. African, Ancient, Medieval, Latin American, or East Asian History
- Two or three courses (6-9 hours) of individualized study
a. Education, History, or another departmental discipline
b. Interdisciplinary: Humanities, Social Sciences
CONCENTRATION II (Amercian Studies)
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Option A: Thesis (27 hours of coursework plus thesis)
Requirements
- History 61001 ( 3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- History 50197 (3 hours)
- Three Seminars or Colloquia in History (9 hours), must include one Seminar and one non-American course (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- Three courses (9 hours) from among the following fields (courses chosen from list of appropriate offerings in consultation with advisor)
- American Literature
- American Art History
- American Music
- American Theater
- American Politics
- American Social Patterns
- American Cultural Patterns
- Thesis (6 hours), which must focus on an aspect of interdisciplinary methodology
- Reading knowledge of one foreign language if advisor determines that it is required for research
Option B: Non-Thesis (Terminal Degree: 30 hours of coursework plus comprehensive examination)
Requirements
- History 61001 (3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- History 50197 (3 hours)
- Three Seminars or Colloquia in History (9 hours), must include one Seminar and one non-American course (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- Four courses (12 hours) equally distributed between two of the following fields (courses chosen from list of appropriate offerings in consultation with advisor):
- American Literature
- American Art History
- American Music
- American Theater
- American Politics
- American Social Patterns
- American Cultural Patterns
- Comprehensive Examination, History 69896
CONCENTRATION III (Public History)
Advisor: Professor John Jameson |
Option A Thesis (27 hours of coursework plus thesis)
Requirements
- History 61001 (3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- Three Seminars or Colloquia in History (9 hours), must include one Seminar and one Colloquium (not including History 62097) (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- History 51000 (3 hours)
- History 62097 (3 hours)
- History 60092 (3 hours)
- One course (3 hours) from other fields, selected from the following list. Courses should be selected with consultation and permission of the faculty member responsible for Public History and the Graduate Program Coordinator
- Architecture and Environmental Design
- Art
- Business Administration
- English
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Library Science
- Thesis (6 hours)
- Reading knowledge of one foreign language if advisor determines it is necessary for research
Option B Non-Thesis (Terminal Degree: 33 hours of coursework)
Requirements
- History 61001 (3 hours)
- History 61002 (3 hours)
- Three Seminars or Colloquia in History (9 hours), must include one Seminar and one Colloquium (not including History 62097) (Seminars are writing courses that focus on original historical research; Colloquia are reading courses that emphasize mastery of a discrete element of the historiography)
- History 51000 (3 hours)
- History 62097 (3 hours)
- History 60092 (6 hours)
- Two courses (6 hours) from other fields, selected from the following list. Courses should be selected with consultation and permission of the faculty member responsible for Public History and the Graduate Program Coordinator
- Architecture and Environmental Design
- Art
- Business Administration
- English
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Library Science
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