History M.A.

Major in History

(Major Code: 5111)

General Requirements

All students seeking admission to the master’s degree program in history are required to submit a writing sample as part of their application. Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree in history from a program that includes a historical methods and/or senior seminar course(s) may, with approval of the graduate adviser, submit the final paper from one of these courses to meet this requirement.
Applicants who have not graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from a program that includes an historical methods and/or senior seminar course(s) will be required to demonstrate critical reading, interpretive and writing skills by submitting a two-to-three page typed essay over a topic provided by the history graduate adviser. Packets containing the topics, primary source materials and specific essay requirements will be distributed after an initial consultation with the history graduate adviser.
The evaluation of each writing sample will be the responsibility of a rotating committee consisting of the graduate adviser and one other member of the of history department faculty. In the case of a tie, the head of the Department of History will cast the deciding vote. Essays may only be submitted once.
Students who have been denied full admission to the history M.A. program based upon the evaluation of their writing sample may be given probationary admission status and will be allowed to register for classes. Upon completion of nine hours of 6000-level history courses with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and no grade lower than a “B,” the student will be granted regular status and may be considered as fully admitted to the program at that time.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 to remain eligible for scholarships and/or graduate assistantships.
Students with two or more grades of “C” in their History graduate coursework shall not be eligible for scholarships or graduate assistantships.
Any student whose GPA in their History graduate courses drops to 3.0 or below will, in consultation with his/her advisor, agree to a program improvement plan that shall be signed by the student, advisor, graduate program coordinator, and the History department head, before being allowed to register for classes in the future.
Any student whose GPA in History graduate classes remains below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters or who refuses to abide by the terms of the program improvement plan referenced in No. 3 above shall be removed from the History graduate program.

30-Hour Thesis Program

18-30 semester hours in history, including HIST 6301 and HIST 6302 and HIST 6303 .
With approval of the department head, the student may elect an additional field of study of at least six but not more than 12 semester hours.
At least 24 of the total 30 semester hours must be taken at the 6000 level.
Students may take up to 6 hours of
HIST 6096
.
Students will be required to pass an oral comprehensive examination over the thesis upon its completion.

36-Hour Non-Thesis Program

24-36 semester hours in history, including HIST 6303 .
With approval of the department head, the student may elect an additional field of study of at least six but not more than 12 semester hours.
At least 27 of the total 36 semester hours must be taken at the 6000 level.
Students may take up to 6 hours of
HIST 6096
.
Students will be required to pass a written comprehensive examination in their areas of concentration. Students may also be required to pass an oral comprehensive examination at the discretion of the department.

Emphasis in Art History

30-Hour Thesis Program

15 hours of history, including
HIST 6301
,
HIST 6302
, and
HIST 6303
.
9 hours of history prefixed Art History courses.
6 hours of additional field of study courses approved by the Art History advisor.
At least 24 of the total 30 semester credit hours must be taken at the 6000 level.
Students may take up to 6 hours of
HIST 6096
independent study courses.
Students will be required to pass an oral comprehensive examination over the thesis upon its completion.

36-Hour Non-Thesis Program

12 hours of History, including
HIST 6303
.
12 hours of HIST prefixed Art History courses.
12 hours of two additional fields of study courses approved by the Art History advisor.
At least 27 of the total 36 semester hours must be taken at the 6000 level.
Students may take up to 6 hours of
HIST 6096
.
Students will be required to pass a written comprehensive examination in their areas of concentration. Students may also be required to pass an oral comprehensive examination at the discretion of the department.

Additional Field of Study in Public History

History MA students seeking a field of Public History must take twelve hours of graduate public history courses including a combination of six hours of internship and six hours of readings courses tailored to individual student needs.
With the approval of the Public History Coordinator, courses may be taken by any graduate student who wishes to have a minor field in Public History.