Guide to Graduate Study in History

IV. M.A. Program, Degree Requirements, and Courses

The program offers courses in all areas of historical study. Emphasis is placed on the history of the United States, particularly the South; Britain. Europe, Russia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa; and on the history of classical and medieval civilizations, science and technology, documentary editing, and archival management. The M.A. in history has two objectives that aim to prepare students for history-related careers in teaching, public or government service, law, historical editing, archival management, and business: 1) to increase the student’s knowledge of the areas of history in which he/she wishes to specialize; and 2) to provide the student with skills for performing historical research, analyzing the sources and information gathered, and writing results in an acceptable scholarly essay or thesis.

The student entering the graduate program must be advised on his/her coursework by the graduate program coordinator. New students should contact the graduate coordinator by phone or email to discuss this soon after they have been admitted. Consultation with the graduate coordinator should continue for the duration of the program.

Registration for courses must be done according to regulations and procedures set by the office of the Registrar. For information, see the Registrar’s website.

The M.A. in history requires 30 credits in courses numbered 600 or above that must be divided as follows:

1. Three credits in historiography (HIST 881).

2. One credit in a thesis prospectus workshop (HIST 890).

3. Three credits in either historical methods course, HIST 820 or HIST 872.

4. A minimum of nine additional credits in courses numbered between 800 and 894 (excluding 890 and 891).

5. A minimum of nine elective credits in graduate courses selected with the approval of the coordinator of the graduate program.

6. A minimum of five credits in graduate thesis research (HIST 891), three of which should be taken in the second semester if full-time enrolled or within the first eighteen credits in the program.

Additionally, the student must write a thesis acceptable to the department and must demonstrate reading knowledge of a foreign language (see VII) below. A final examination, which may be written or oral or a combination of the two forms, is required of all candidates.

Full-time graduate students must carry 12 hours each semester. Those holding assistantships must carry 9 hours each semester. The student must maintain a cumulative “B” average in all graduate-level courses (600 level or above). Students who fail to meet these requirements become ineligible for graduation and are placed on academic probation by the Graduate School. The probationary status remains in effect until 9 additional semester hours of graduate credit have been attempted and the “B’ average restored. A student’s receiving a grade of incomplete (“I”) in any course is discouraged, especially for someone holding a graduate assistantship (see section “X” below). With the approval of the graduate program coordinator, a student may take graduate-level courses outside the history curriculum, but normally no more than two such courses.

A. Courses Numbered 800 and Above. These courses include seminars that are designed to provide training in historical research and writing. They may be repeated for credit with the approval of the graduate program coordinator. Other courses at the 800 level include archival management and historical editing. HIST 885 (“Independent Study”) allows a student to undertake critical study of a historical topic, selected according to the needs of the student and with the approval of the graduate program coordinator.  HIST 885 cannot be repeated more than twice for credit towards graduation. It counts as a 600-level course and cannot substitute for 800-level courses.

B. Courses Numbered 600 to 799. Courses numbered 600–699 are courses in U.S., African, Latin American, ancient, British, early and modern European, diplomatic, social, comparative, and legal history. The 600-level courses also include studies in the history of ideas and of science and technology. The enrollment of each 600-level course will not exceed more than five students. Courses numbered 700-799 are designed for candidates for the Master of Education degree.