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 credit hours may be taken outside the department. As many as 9 graduate credit 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 credit hours of graduate course work and 6 credit hours of Thesis HIST 500  for a total of 30 credit 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 credit hours of graduate course work is required. At least 12 credit hours must be taken in one MA field. The primary field will be examined by a written exam, which is graded pass/fail.

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 credit 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.