Master's Program in History

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This is a twenty-seven hour program culminating in an M.A. in history. It is designed to enhance knowledge of a broad major field of history. Current historical research on particular subjects is treated in 400-level courses. Original research projects are pursued in 500-level seminar courses. Students focus on a topic of special interest by preparing a master's essay. It is useful to the department to know if an applicant for the M.A. intends to continue to the Ph.D. level. This information should be so indicated on the application. Students may attend on a full-time or part-time basis. 

General Requirements

All students in the M.A. program must take History 400; at least one 500-level seminar course; and complete the master's essay (History 599).

Students in the M.A. program are required to complete at least twelve hours, (four courses) in one of the following major fields:

• Medieval and Renaissance
• Modern Europe
• United States

In addition, students must complete one minor field by taking three courses in a field other than their major. The minor fields are:

• Ancient Mediterranean
• Asia
• Early Modern Europe
• Gender and Women's History
• Medieval and Renaissance
• Middle East
• Modern Europe
• Public History
• United States

Students wishing to pursue a minor field in public history must meet with the M.A. Advisor, formally declare public history as their minor field, and indicate their plans for fulfilling the minor.

Students may take no more than three courses at the 300-level and ordinarily no more than three directed study courses (HIST 499). The distribution of hours is as follows:

History 400	3 hours
History 599	3 hours
Major field, including a 500-level seminar	12 hours
Minor field	9 hours
Total	27 hours

The Master's Essay

In addition to writing one or more seminar papers, students will prepare a master's essay on a topic within the major field under the supervision of a history faculty member. They should work out their topic with the supervising professor before advancing beyond their eighteenth hour of coursework (normally, at the beginning of the second year of study.) Students earn three credit hours by registering for History 599. The master's essay, which represents the capstone of the program, will be an approximately fifty page research paper based largely on primary sources.

Examinations

Toward the end of their studies, students must pass a three-hour written examination in the major field. They will define the area of concentration for the examination in consultation with their major advisor. Such an area might be, for example, society and politics in twentieth century America or American social history since 1865 for those who select the United States as their major field. In addition, students satisfy the examination requirements in the minor field through earning nine credit hours with at least a B (3.0) average.

Research Tool Requirement

All master's level students must demonstrate competence in a research skill (e.g., oral history or a reading knowledge of a foreign language) appropriate to their major field. They are expected to master this skill before advancing beyond the eighteenth credit hour. Course work taken to master a language does not apply toward graduation.

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