MA in History
Admission to the MA program in history requires completion of an undergraduate major in history, or a minimum of 18 hours of history; a grade point average of 2.750 or better, including all undergraduate hours, and a 3.000 grade point average in history. Under unusual circumstances applicants with less than a 3.000 average in history may be granted a probationary admission. Applicants must submit a one page Statement of Purpose, and a writing sample of no more than 20 pages to the graduate coordinator. International students are required to have a minimum TOEFL score of 600 paper-based, or 100 Internet-based, or an overall band score of 7.5 on the IELTS, or a score of 73 on the PTE-Academic. The application deadline for domestic and U.S. resident students for fall admission is March 15, and October 1 for spring admission. For international students, the deadlines are April 1 and August 1, respectively.
Program Requirements
Students may follow one of three plans for a graduate degree in history: a thesis program, a nonthesis program, and a program in local and community history.
Thesis Program
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
HIST 725 | Advanced Historical Methods | 3 |
HIST 727 | Readings In History | 3 |
Select 9 credit hours of the following: | 9 | |
Seminar American History | ||
Seminar European History | ||
Select 12 credit hours of HIST 500- and 600-level courses | 12 | |
HIST 801 | Thesis Research | 2 |
HIST 802 | Thesis | 2 |
Total Credit Hours | 31 |
At least one seminar and one lecture-based course must be taken outside of the student’s primary comprehensive field.
Students must pass a foreign language competency examination, pass a written examination in one comprehensive field, and pass an oral examination in defense of the thesis. The written examination must precede the oral examination.
Nonthesis Program
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
HIST 725 | Advanced Historical Methods | 3 |
Select 6 credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
Readings In History | ||
Select 12 credit hours of the following: | 12 | |
Seminar American History | ||
Seminar European History | ||
Select 12 credit hours of HIST 500- and 600-level courses | 12 | |
Total Credit Hours | 33 |
Students must pass written examinations in two comprehensive fields.
Comprehensive Fields
Students may select from the following areas for their comprehensive examinations:
- U.S. History
- The Ancient and Medieval Worlds
- Modern Europe
- Public History
- Local and Community History
Written examinations will be scheduled to take place during a two week period following the spring and fall breaks.