History — Degree Requirements

The MA in History

Students in this track take 30 credit hours: seven 3-credit courses, a 3-credit thesis preparation course, and the MA thesis (6 credits). A maximum of two courses at the 300 level or above may be counted toward graduate credit; extra work is required of all graduate students in these courses. There are three required courses: HIST 600 (Research Seminar): an introduction to historical research and methods, with special attention to primary sources, usually given in American history; HIST 605 (Colloquium): an introductory course in historiography, normally given in European history, with topics varying each semester; and HIST 690 (Thesis Preparation): a course in which the student works with an advisor to develop a thesis topic and produce a formal proposal. Other courses are electives, chosen according to the student’s interests. The thesis, normally undertaken after completion of course work, should be approximately 60 pages long and based on original research. It is prepared under the guidance of an individual faculty advisor and defended before a committee of three faculty members. Students enrolled in the History track must demonstrate a reading proficiency in one foreign language—French, German, Spanish, or another judged relevant to the student’s major area of interest. This requirement is met through passing a test administered by the program.

The MA in History Teaching

This track requires 30 credit hours: nine 3-credit courses and a capstone project (3 credits). Two courses are required: HIST 600 (Research Seminar) and HIST 605 (Colloquium). There are seven electives, three of which may be upper-level undergraduate courses (extra work is required of graduate students in undergraduate courses). There is no foreign-language requirement.

For the capstone project, the student prepares a 30-page research paper, under the supervision of an individual faculty member, on a topic of the student’s choice. The paper includes a curricular section indicating how the topic or subject area could be taught to secondary-school students. The capstone project is presented and defended before a three-member faculty committee.

The MA in History/Historical Archaeology

Students in this track complete 36 credit hours, as follows:

Four elective courses in Anthropology or History, chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor (12 credits).

Also required:

Special emphasis is placed on the growing internationalization of the field, theoretical issues, the interpretation of material culture, and interdisciplinary analysis in historical archaeology. Specialized training in environmental archaeology, forensic osteology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications (in conjunction with the Geography Department) is also available. Thesis research normally involves the analysis of material culture or environmental data from archaeological sites, collections-based research, or documentary analysis. The thesis is prepared under the supervision of a faculty advisor and defended before a committee of three faculty members.

Additional Requirements for All Students

Students may choose to pursue the master of arts degree either full or part time. In normal circumstances, it is expected that all requirements for the degree will be completed within five years (History, History Teaching) or six years (Historical Archaeology) of each student’s first enrollment.

Each student in the History and Historical Archaeology tracks must pass an oral thesis defense before being awarded the master of arts degree. The examining committee consists of the student’s thesis supervisor and two additional readers (one of whom may be from outside the History Program or Anthropology Department), to be chosen by consultation among the supervisor, the student, and the relevant graduate program director. To pass this examination, the student must receive at least two affirmative votes. A student who fails may repeat the examination two times at intervals of not less than three months.

A student who has not passed the examination within two calendar years from the date upon which it was first taken will be removed from degree candidacy and will be readmitted only through a special petition to the History Graduate Committee.

No grade below B- awarded to a graduate student will count toward fulfilling the requirements for a master of arts degree in history.