Program Overview

The History Department offers the Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in United States, European, Latin American, African, Asian, or World History. A student may choose between a thesis and a non-thesis degree program. Each student will choose a primary and a secondary area of emphasis. The primary area of emphasis will be drawn from one of the following subject areas: United States, European, Latin American, Asian, African, or World History. The secondary area of emphasis for a thesis student will be drawn from either another one of the above subject areas, or a topical field related to a particular region or historical phenomenon. Students can minor in a field outside of history; a minor outside of history must include at least nine semester hours.

A degree candidate with a thesis must also demonstrate proficiency in one research skill which may be either reading proficiency in a foreign language or proficiency in quantitative methods or some other relevant research skill as determined by the student’s graduate committee. The non-thesis program is designed for students planning to enter secondary education or who want to develop a broad understanding of history for a variety of other reasons. The secondary area of emphasis for a non-thesis degree candidate must be drawn from a geographic region other than the one the student has selected for the primary field. The non-thesis program does not require a research skill.

Each student must have a graduate committee composed of three graduate faculty members who will oversee the student’s progress toward the M.A. degree and conduct a written comprehensive examination and an oral defense of it at the conclusion of the student’s graduate studies. At least two of the committee members must be members of the History Department’s graduate faculty. If a minor from outside the department is selected, one member must be from the minor area of study.

Each master’s degree candidate will complete a comprehensive examination at the completion of graduate studies. The examination will cover both primary and secondary fields and will be taken at a time and in a format determined by the student’s graduate committee. The student choosing the thesis option will also be expected to provide an oral defense of the thesis at the conclusion of her/his graduate studies.