Department of History and Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts

The M.A. Degree in History is a 36 hour program with a thesis and project option. Students who desire to pursue additional education beyond the M.A. degree are strongly encouraged to choose the thesis option.

1. Required Courses – History 545 (Historical Criticism and Historiography) and History 546 (Historical Research for the Thesis) or History 547 (Historical Research for the Project).

2. The thesis option requires 30 hours of course work, 6 hours of research (History 590), and the completion of the thesis for graduation.  The project option requires 33 hours of course work, 3 hours of research (History 591), and the completion of a research project for graduation.  Up to 6 course hours may be taken in another discipline.  All outside courses taken must be relevant to the student’s historical studies or research.  The department chair and the graduate advisor must approve of the outside courses and should be consulted before any such courses are taken.

3. A student who has demonstrated some academic deficiencies and is provisionally admitted to the graduate program may be asked to take an undergraduate course(s) or to enroll in a structured remedial program. In this way, the Department increases the likelihood of the student successfully completing the program and receiving the Master of Arts degree.  These course hours are not included in the 36 hours required for the program.

4. An M.A. student must take the Graduate English Competency Exam in the first semester of the program.  If the student does not pass the exam, he or she must complete English 500 the following semester.

5. A written Area Comprehensive Examination is required for completion of the M.A. degree in History.  Students are eligible to take the exam after completing 18 hours of course work.

6. Thesis-option degree candidates must complete at least 6 hours of History 590.  After completing 18 hours of coursework (which must include History 545 and 546) and submitting the Degree Plan and Committee Approval forms, thesis-option degree candidates may register for 3 hours of History 590.  After completing 27 total hours, thesis-option degree candidates may register for an additional 3 hours of History 590.  If the thesis is not completed after the initial six hours, the student must register for at least 1 hour of History 590 each semester until all degree requirements have been satisfied.

7. Project-option degree candidates must complete at least 3 hours of History 591.  After completing 27 hours of coursework (which must include History 545) and submitting the Degree Plan and Committee Approval forms, project-option degree candidates will concurrently register for History 547 and 3 hours of History 591.  If the research project is not completed after taking 36 total hours in the program, a student will need to register for at least 1 hour of History 591 each semester until all degree requirements have been satisfied. 

Thesis Option Course Plan:
HIST 545: 3 hours
HIST 546: 3 hours 
Global History Area: 3 hours
African Diaspora Area: 3 hours
U.S. History Area: 3 hours 
Public History Area: 3 hours
Elective Courses: 12 hours 
HIST 590: 6 hours

Total Hours: 36

Project Option Course Plan:
HIST 545: 3 hours
HIST 547: 3 hours
Global History Area: 3 hours
African Diaspora Area: 3 hours
U.S. History Area: 3 hours
Public History Area: 3 hours
Elective Courses: 15 hours
HIST 591: 3 hours

Total Hours: 36