M.A. in History
Description
The M.A. in history is offered as either a thesis or nonthesis option. Students in the M.A. program may study a variety of topics and chronological sweeps of American and European history, as well as much of the histories of Africa, Latin America, and East Asia.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 30
Course Requirements
The thesis option requires 24 hours of graduate-level course work in history and 6 hours of thesis work. The nonthesis option requires 36 hours of course work.
Students should pursue a rationally structured course program, to be designed on an individual basis in close consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee. As part of this program, students must take the Historical Methods course (His 550), at least three other 500-level courses, and at least one 700-level research seminar. Students may, with the prior approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee, take 3 to 9 hours of graduate credit (500 level or above) outside the Department of History.
Examinations: Nonthesis option students must pass an oral examination to be administered by a three-member ad hoc examination committee. This committee will be constituted and convened for the examination upon consultation between the student and the graduate committee. Students opting for a thesis should by the end of their second semester have selected a faculty member in the department who is willing to direct their thesis. The thesis director in consultation with the student and the graduate committee will select two additional faculty members willing to serve as readers and members of a thesis committee. The thesis director will be the student’s primary adviser and liaison with the graduate committee, and together with the other two members of the thesis committee conduct and pass judgment on the final oral examination as well as evaluate the thesis.
Other Academic Requirements
Students who choose the thesis option may be required by the thesis director to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language and/or a quantitative technique.