History Master's Program

• MA in International & Thematic Major Fields
• MA in US History Checklist
• MS in International & Thematic Major Fields Checklist
• MS in US History Checklist

MA/MS students must form a supervisory committee no later than the second semester of graduate study.

Supervisory committees for master's students consists of at least 3 faculyy members, a majority of whom should hold regular faculty appointments and come from the Department of History.

Graduate school regulations for Supervisory Committees can be found on the Graduate School website, and in the Department Graduate Handbook pages 13-15.

Non-thesis degree

Candidates must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of post-baccalaureate upper division (5000 level & above) coursework in History.

Requirements:

• HIST 7800: History Methods
• HIST 7500 & 7510
• Two reserach seminars; at least one of which must be in major field.

See the History Graduate Handbook pages 15-16.

Candidates for the MA degree in all fields except US History must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of post-baccalaureate upper division (5000 level & above) coursework in History. 

Requirements:

• HIST 7800: History Methods
• Two research seminars; at least one of which must be in major field.
• 6 credit hours of HIST 6970: Thesis work.

See the History Graduate Handbook pages 16-17.

Candidates for the MS degree must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of post-baccaluaureate upper-division (5000 level & above) coursework in History.

Requirements:

• HIST 7500 & 7510
• One research seminar i their major field.

See the History Graduate Handbook page 21. 

Satisfactory progress requires timely and satisfactory completion of all coursework and steady progress toward qualifying exams and thesis and dissertation defense.

The department conducts an annual Progress Evaluation Review every spring to assess students' progress in the programs of study. The best way for student to ensure that they
are on track is to maintain regular contact with supervisory committee chairs and members. Where deficiencies in a student's progress have been identified, the student should consult with hi/her supervisory committee and then develop a specific plan for addressing those deficiencies within a six-month period.

See History Graduate Handbook pages 5-6.

MS candidates do not need to complete a language requirement.

All MA students must achieve standard proficiency in one foreign language. Students should contact the History academic advisor to learn how to fulfill this requirement. MA students may also be required by their Supervisory Committee to master other foreign languages to conduct research and read scholarship in their chosen fields. Language credits will not count towards fulfillment of degree requirements.

See History Graduate Handbook page 17.

MA Thesis Requirement - International & Thematic Major Fields:
Candidates for the MA degree in all fields except US History will prepare a thesis
that constitutes a substantive contribution to historical scholarship. The Supervisory Committee will evaluate the thesis, determine its acceptability, and administer a final oral exam based in part on the thesis.

MA Portfolio:
Candidates for the MA degree shall submit to the members of their supervisory committee a portfolio of materials during the final semester of their coursework. This portfolio will consist of written work completed during the candidate’s course of study including: the thesis for candidates in fields other than US History, both seminar papers, two annotated syllabi for proposed courses in the candidate’s major fields, and an annotated bibliography of readings, the scope of which will be determined in consultation with the supervisory committee.

MS Portfolio:
Candidates for the MS degree shall submit to the members of their supervisory committee a portfolio of materials during the final semester of their coursework. This portfolio will consist of written work completed during the candidates’ course of study, two annotated syllabi for proposed courses in the candidates’ major fields, and an annotated bibliography of readings, the scope of which will be determined in consultation with the supervisory committee.

See History Graduate Handbook pages 17-23.

Upon completion of the qualifying examination, the student shall be admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree. Thereafter the candidate shall present a prospectus of the dissertation to the Supervisory Committee for approval. The prospectus is a proposal for the
dissertation, and will normally include a statement and justification of the topic to be
explored, a research plan, a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and a discussion of methodology. The prospectus should be developed only after considerable
preliminary investigation of a general problem. The prospectus must receive formal
approval by the candidate’s Supervisory Committee. A departmental form summarizing the action of the committee, along with a copy of the approved prospectus, must be filed with the Advisor following the prospectus meeting.

See History Graduate Handbook page 11.

Students are responsible for filling out forms with the Academic Advisor and Director of Graduate Studies in a timely manner so that their student records can be updated and the student will not fall out of compliance with the Graduate School. 

All forms can be found here.

Requirements for students who wish to switch tracks, either MS to MA or MA to MS, must complete the following by the graduate admissions deadline (mid-January) of their first year of study and submit it to the Director of Graduate Studies. Student must have completed at least one semester before petitioning to change degree track.

• Provide a letter from a Department of History faculty member stating that they will act as your major supervisor.
• Provide an academic transcript for your previous semester(s).
• Provide a letter of explanantion as to why you feel MS/MA is better suited than the MS/MA to your interests and scholarly goals.
• Complete the Supervisory Committee form.

See History Graduate Handbook pages 19 and 24.