Learning Outcomes
- Students will deepen and expand their command of the "facts" (content knowledge) and interpretations (historiographical schools) of History primarily within their major field but also in an outside field.
- Students will practice historical research and analysis at an advanced level by finding, interpreting, critiquing, and synthesizing numerous and varied primary sources and secondary works.
- Students will improve their reasoning, oral, and written communication skills by presenting conclusions based on original research, using theoretical concepts and logic, and utilizing the stylistic rules of the discipline. Students will be prepared to continue at the Ph.D. level and/or to teach at secondary schools or community colleges or to apply their acquired knowledge and skills in another venue.
Requirements for the
M.A. Degree (30 credits)
The History Program is a 2-year, 30-credit Master's program that offers three major areas of study--American, European, and Global/International--through three flexible tracks of study: thesis, non-thesis with a minor, and non-thesis without a minor.
This program is well-suited for advanced students who wish to pursue a Ph.D., secondary school teachers interested in increasing their content knowledge, and individuals who want to work in non-profits, government, or business.
All candidates for the M.A. degree in History must pass written comprehensive examinations based on coursework and reading lists provided by three faculty examiners. Students are to have two examiners in their major area and one from outside of it. These exams are typically taken in February or March for students graduating in May, and in October or November for students graduating in December.
American/U.S. History (30 credits)
Methodological Courses - 6 credits
- HIST 601 Introduction to Graduate History
- HIST 602 Research Seminar
Period Courses - 6 credits
Choose 2 from the American/U.S. period courses:
- HIST 610 Colonies to Republic
- HIST 611 Emergence of the Modern United States
- HIST 612 Contemporary United States
Elective Courses - 6 credits
Choose 2 other American/U.S. History courses (from above or below):
- HIST 521 Roman Catholicism in the Long 19th Century, 1789-1914
- HIST 530 Atlantic World, 1450s-1750s
- HIST 533 Gender in American History
- HIST 541 American Painting and Sculpture
- HIST 542 American Architecture
- HIST 565 U.S. Social Movements
- HIST 570 History of Urban America
- HIST 579 U.S. Diplomatic History
- HIST 582 Inter-American Relations
- HIST 583 Mexico and the U.S.
- HIST 588 China and the West
In addition to the required courses above, choose the 12-credit track:
A. Thesis Track
Choose 1 Global/International History course; Choose 1 European History courses; 6 Thesis credits
B. Non-Thesis with Minor Track
European History Minor
Choose 1 European period course; Choose 2 European History courses; Choose 1 Global/International History course
Global/International History Minor
Choose 3 Global/International History courses; Choose 1 European History course
Public History Minor
Choose 1 Theoretical Public History course; Choose 2 Professional Public History courses; Choose 1 European or Global/International History course
Gender Studies Minor
Choose 3 Gender Studies Minor approved History courses; Choose 1 European or Global/International History course
C. Non-Thesis without Minor Track
Choose 1 European History course; Choose 1 Global/International History course; Choose 2 additional History courses not yet taken, only one of which may be a Public History course (PHST 601 is not eligible)
European History (30 credits)
Methodological Courses - 6 credits
- HIST 601 Introduction to Graduate History
- HIST 602 Research Seminar
Period Courses - 6 credits
Choose 2 from the European period courses:
- HIST 501 Medieval Europe
- HIST 511 Early Modern Europe
- HIST 619 19th-Century Europe
- HIST 620 20th-Century Europe
Elective Courses - 6 credits
Choose 2 other European courses (from above or below):
- HIST 513 Renaissance Europe: Courts and Nobles
- HIST 521 Roman Catholicism in the Long 19th Century, 1789-1914
- HIST 528 British Empire
- HIST 548 World at War
- HIST 550 The Cold War
- HIST 552 Modern Germany, 1871-1991
- HIST 588 China and the West
In addition to the required courses above, choose the 12-credit track:
A. Thesis Track
Choose 1 American/U.S. History course; Choose 1 Global/International History course; 6 Thesis credits
B. Non-Thesis with Minor Track
American/U.S. History Minor
Choose 1 American/U.S. period course; Choose 2 American/U.S. History courses; Choose 1 Global/International History course
Global/International History Minor
Choose 3 Global/International History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. History course
Public History Minor
Choose 1 Theoretical Public History course; Choose 2 Professional Public History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. or Global/International History course
Gender Studies Minor
Choose 3 Gender Studies Minor approved History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. or Global/International History course
C. Non-Thesis without Minor Track
Choose 1 American/U.S. History course; Choose 1 Global/International History course; Choose 2 additional History courses not yet taken, only one of which may be a Public History course (PHST 601 is not eligible)
Global/International History (30 credits)
Methodological Courses - 6 credits
- HIST 601 Introduction to Graduate History
- HIST 602 Research Seminar
In addition to required courses, choose one of the following tracks:
A. Thesis Track
Choose 3 Global/International History courses:
- HIST 528 British Empire
- HIST 530 Atlantic World, 1450s-1750s
- HIST 547 History of Human Rights from the 19th Century to Present
- HIST 548 World at War
- HIST 550 The Cold War
- HIST 579 U.S. Diplomatic History
- HIST 582 Inter-American Relations
- HIST 583 Mexico and the U.S.
- HIST 585 China in Revolution
- HIST 588 China and the West
Choose 2 European History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. History Course; 6 credits Thesis
B. Non-Thesis with Minor Track
Choose 4 Global/International History courses and select the minor
American/U.S. History Minor
Choose 3 American/U.S. History courses; Choose 1 European History course
European History Minor
Choose 3 European History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. History course
Public History Minor
Choose 1 Theoretical Public History course; Choose 2 Professional Public History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. or European History course
Gender Studies Minor
Choose 3 Gender Studies Minor approved History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. or European History course
C. Non-Thesis without Minor Track
Choose 4 Global/International History courses; Choose 1 American/U.S. History course;
Choose 1 European
History course; Choose 2 additional History courses not yet taken, only one of which
may be a Public History course (PHST 601 is not eligible)