History Major, MA

Admission

• Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, preferably with a major in history. 
• Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (general).

Requirements

Complete HIST 510  and a 600-level research seminar normally during the fall and spring semesters of the first year in the graduate program. As many as 9 related hours may be taken outside the department. As many as 9 graduate hours taken elsewhere may be applied toward the MA degree. Except by prior approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in History, a student’s course work must be at the 500 level or above.

Thesis Option

Twenty-four hours of course work and 6 hours of Thesis HIST 500  for a total of 30 hours are required. Thesis students are required to select one MA field and write a thesis. At the end of the program the thesis student will take a two-hour oral examination on both the thesis and the field.

Non-Thesis Option

A total of 30 hours of course work is required. At least 6 hours must be completed in each of two MA fields. The primary field is examined by a two-hour written exam followed within one week by a one-hour oral examination. The single grade of pass/fail will be given at the conclusion of the oral examination. No examination is given on the secondary field.

Master of Arts Fields

• United States (colonial to present). 
• Premodern Europe. 
• Modern Europe. 
• Asia.

Retention and Termination

A 3.0 overall grade point average is required to remain in good standing. MA students must take the MA examination no later than the semester following the completion of 30 hours. A student who fails the MA examination must repeat the examination no later than the following semester. A student who fails the examination a second time or does not take the examination when required will be dropped from the graduate program.