History (M.A.)
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. Earning a graduate degree is an undertaking which requires a considerable commitment of time and financial resources. The Department of History expects applicants to its graduate program to arrive well-prepared to undertake this rigorous course of study. Accordingly, the following application deadlines posted by the University are strictly adhered to.
Admission to the Fall Term: January 15 (early admission), April 15
Admission to the Winter Term: October 15
The Department normally considers only applicants whose undergraduate grade point is at least 3.00 overall and at least 3.25 in a minimum of eighteen semester credits in history and related subjects at the advanced undergraduate level. Applicants should have or be in the process of acquiring relevant foreign language preparation to enter the area in which they wish to study. The Department requires that all applicants submit a letter of intent, a research paper as evidence of writing skills, a copy of scores from the Graduate Record Exam general test, at least two letters of recommendation from former instructors, and provide copies of transcripts from each college or university previously attended.
Our M.A. students may write a thesis (Plan A) or essay (Plan B), and the degree requirements are slightly different depending on the path they choose. Both are detailed below.
M.A. in History (Plan A/Thesis)
(30 credits, 22 in regular coursework and 8 in thesis credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIS 7830 | Methods and Research in History | 3 |
| HIS 7832 | History Practicum | 3 |
| HIS 8999 | Master's Thesis Research and Direction | 8 |
| At least three (3) courses in an M.A. field (U.S., Europe, World); HIS 7990, Directed Study, may only count toward the three courses if taken for three (3) or more credits | ||
| At least two (2) 8000-level seminars, at least one which is in the M.A. field | ||
| No more than two (2) courses may be taken at the 5000- or 6000-level without permission of the advisor and DGS (granted by their signatures on the Plan of Work); 5000- and 6000-level courses must be offered for graduate credit to count toward the M.A. degree | ||
MA in History (Plan B/Essay)
(30 credits, 27 in regular coursework, 3 in essay credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIS 7830 | Methods and Research in History | 3 |
| HIS 7832 | History Practicum | 3 |
| HIS 7999 | Master's Essay Direction | 3 |
| At least three (3) courses in an M.A. field (U.S., Europe, World); HIS 7990, Directed Study, may only count toward the three courses if taken for three (3) or more credits | ||
| At least two (2) 8000-level seminars, at least one which is in the M.A. field | ||
| No more than two (2) courses may be taken at the 5000- or 6000-level without permission of the advisor and DGS (granted by their signatures on the Plan of Work); 5000- and 6000-level courses must be offered for graduate credit to count toward the M.A. degree | ||