History, M.A.

The Master of Arts program in History guides students in developing familiarity with issues and literature in selected major and minor fields of history; an understanding of the fundamentals of historiography and its variations over time; and skills in historical research, analysis, and writing. The program emphasizes opportunities for both independent and collaborative learning. Areas of particular strength include American History, Southern History, Early Modern and Modern European History, Comparative Global History, The Atlantic World, War and Society in a Global Perspective, and Public History. We welcome students seeking admission to a doctoral program in history or similar professional studies, a career teaching history in secondary schools or community colleges, work as a professional public historian, or simply a greater understanding of the historical development of our society and the world. We expect our graduates to function effectively as professionals in their chosen fields of history.

Admissions:
For regular admission to the program, a student must ordinarily have a degree in history with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, a GRE score of 151 on the verbal section and 4.0 on the writing section. However, a GRE waiver is available for the following:

1. Applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher from an accredited institution or
2. Applicants who have earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution. Three letters of recommendation, a one-two page statement of purpose, a writing sample (minimum of four pages), and official transcripts are also required. If an applicant’s undergraduate degree is in social studies, or in a social science other than history, a student may be admitted provisionally with the permission of the Department of History.

The department of History offers three distinct tracks leading to the MA in History:
The Thesis Track - (please see the list of concentration available for this track listed above) requires fifteen hours in a major field, nine hours in a minor field, and six thesis hours.

The Public History Track - requires fifteen hours in public history courses (including HIST 5400: Introduction to Public History), nine hours in a minor field, three hours in an internship, and three thesis hours.

The Generalist (non-thesis) Track - requires nine hours in US History, nine hours in World History, nine hours in a thematic field, three hours in an elective, and written and oral examinations.

All graduate students, regardless of track or concentration, must complete a course in historiography, a course in historical writing, and at least four seminars at the 6000-level. In addition, all students must meet a Foreign Language requirement by:

1. Completing a language course numbered 2002 with a B or higher;
2. Earning a B or higher in an undergraduate or graduate-level translation course or its equivalent;
3. Earning at least an 80% on a translation test administered by Academic Testing Services;
4. Earning a B or higher in two 6000 World History courses (these courses are in addition to the thirty-six hours required and do not count toward a major or minor field);
5. Earning a B or higher in two graduate level Department of History Study Abroad courses (these courses are in addition to the thirty-six hours required and do not count toward a major or minor field).