History (M.A.)
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in history and 2.75 overall.
- 30 credit hours in history.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A 500-word statement describing the applicant's graduate education goals and preferred fields of history.
In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (18 credit hours) | ||
| Selected under advisement from department course offerings in the following areas: | 18 | |
United States and Canada | ||
Europe | ||
World History | ||
Special Topics courses | ||
| Up to six credit hours may be taken in related disciplines with prior approval of the student’s advisor and the department chair. | ||
| Seminars (6 credit hours) | ||
| 6 credit hours at the 700 level | 6 | |
| Capstone (6 credit hours) | ||
| Select one from the following: | 6 | |
| MASTER'S THESIS (1-6) | ||
One additional 600 or 700 research seminar and Comprehensive Exam | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Graduation Requirements
- At least fifteen credit hours of coursework at the 600 or 700 level.
- Either a master’s thesis or a comprehensive exam:
- Master’s thesis and defense: the student, in consultation with his or her academic advisor and second reader, prepares and submits a written thesis. Once approved, the student must successfully provide an oral defense. The approved thesis is submitted according to the guidelines of the Graduate Studies Office.
- An oral defense of the thesis. The student will answer questions from his or her graduate committee on all aspects of the thesis, as well as questions relating to the student’s coursework.
- Comprehensive examination: under advisement, the student will prepare three fields and will answer questions from his or her examiners.
- Master’s thesis and defense: the student, in consultation with his or her academic advisor and second reader, prepares and submits a written thesis. Once approved, the student must successfully provide an oral defense. The approved thesis is submitted according to the guidelines of the Graduate Studies Office.
- Demonstrated competence in a foreign language may be required. If applicable, competency examinations will be arranged by the thesis advisor and approved by the department chair.
Students will:
- demonstrate mastery of subject material
- demonstrate knowledge of historiography
- be able to identify and interpret primary sources
- understand the relationship between cause and effect
- appreciate different cultural patterns, behaviors, actions, and the influence of ideas on human behavior
- be able to write clearly and effectively according to the standards and the conventions of the historical profession