Master of Arts in History
Admission
In addition to fulfillment of the general requirements of the Graduate College, admission
to M.A. study in history is based upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies
Committee to the Head of the department.
Preference is given to applicants majored in history as an undergraduate. The Graduate
Studies Committee will consider other applications on an individual basis. Students
with insufficient undergraduate hours in history may be required by the Graduate Studies
Committee to take additional hours at the 5000/6000 level. Students applying to Plan
I are expected to have made progress toward proficiency in a foreign language before
seeking admission. For more information on how to apply:
Plan Options
The Department of History offers two plans leading to the Master of Arts degree. Each requires at least thirty hours of graduate level course work, including a grade of B or better in Historical Methods (HIST 5023), and a thesis.
Plan I
Students must complete a minimum of thirty hours of graduate courses in two of the following fields:
- United States
- Europe
- World (may include Africa, Ancient World, Asia, Latin America, and/or Middle East).
Students will take at least twelve hours in the major field and at least nine in a minor field. These hours must include at least twelve hours of seminar including at least one research seminar, Historical Methods (HIST 5023), and six hours of thesis (HIST 5000).
Students may take one seminar outside of the department in a related discipline with the consent of their advisory committee. Students may have no more than six hours at the graduate level in a related discipline, or in History 6100 or History 6130 courses. The Graduate Studies Committee may approve exceptions under extraordinary circumstances; appeals should be made to the Director of Graduate Studies.
Students in a European or World History major field must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a foreign language.
Plan II: Public History
Students must complete a minimum of thirty-six hours of graduate courses in two fields of study -- the major field being in Public History. These hours must include at least nine hours of seminar (reading and/or research; at least one should be a research seminar), Historical Methods (HIST 5023), Introduction to Public History (HIST 5033), an internship (HIST 5030), and six hours of thesis (HIST 5000). Normally, students will also take Museum Studies (HIST 5053) and/or Historic Preservation (HIST 5063).
With the approval of the student’s Advisory Committee, as many as nine of these hours may be taken in related disciplines. Students may include no more than six hours in History 6100 courses and six hours in History 6130 courses. The Graduate Studies Committee may approve exceptions under extraordinary circumstances; appeals should be made to the Director of Graduate Studies.
The foreign language requirement outlined in Plan I is optional, but a student’s Advisory Committee may require a reading knowledge of a foreign language for certain topics.
The internship (worth six hours of credit) is intended to provide practical experience working in some field of Public History. Normally, this will require at least eight weeks of full-time work or the equivalent. The internship requires the submission of a paper describing the student’s activities undertaken to fulfill this requirement.