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Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in History offers students the opportunity for advanced study in a variety of areas. Coursework emphasizes interpretation, methodology and original research. A student's program of study allows for the opportunity to conduct historical inquiry, research and analysis at the highest level. While students will be able to develop a core competence in their chosen field study, they will also study the histories of regions and times far removed from their central interests. Students may also pursue interdisciplinary work in cognate fields composed of courses in outside disciplines.

Students who anticipate continuing their graduate study beyond the M.A. degree should pursue one of the thesis tracks. Those who choose the thesis option, which is required of students on graduate assistantships, will produce a thesis based on original primary source research that engages a historiographically significant research question. Non-thesis options are available for those who do not expect to go on to doctoral work.

The program develops graduates who are educated scholar-citizens committed to historical empathy and in possession of critical thinking and communication skills honed by rigorous training.

The History major includes the following optional concentration:

• The History for Secondary School Teachers concentration is for educators interested in the advanced study of history. Coursework is focused on current scholarship and approaches to history. While the concentration's focus is not in history pedagogy, it is designed to encourage the application of current historical scholarship to the work responsibilities of the practicing teacher. The program provides school professionals with a structured but flexible approach to analyzing and teaching history while permitting interdisciplinary work in related fields or areas particularly relevant to students' professional objectives.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in history from an accredited college or university¹
• Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• GRE scores
• Goal statement describing professional objectives and proposed field of study
• Significant piece of written work that integrates primary and secondary sources
• Three letters of recommendation (preferably academic)
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

Students who have not earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History are eligible to apply for admission if they have completed 12 credit hours of upper-division history courses (with a minimum 3.300 GPA).

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: February 1
    Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Analyze primary sources (texts, artifacts, images); locate, assess and analyze primary sources and incorporate those sources into original historical research projects with a high level of proficiency.
2. Conceptualize, research and write book reviews, annotated bibliographical essays, historiographical essays and research papers.
3. Dissect secondary sources in a variety of areas of historical specialization, and participate actively and positively in class discussions of those sources.
4. Understand that interpretation is one of the foundations of graduate-level study in the discipline, and offer their own interpretations of work both orally and in writing.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students must complete at least one research seminar (HIST 61070) no matter their specific program choice.

²

Students can count no more than 3 credit hours of HIST 60092 toward their degree no matter their specific program choice.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

¹

Students selecting the thesis option must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages if their advisers determine that it is necessary for research.

²

Students may elect to take two graduate-level courses in fields outside of history. Students who choose to pursue outside field coursework must take history graduate courses in two of the following three areas: American history, European history and global history (non-Western). Students who do not take outside field coursework must complete 12 credit hours of graduate coursework in history, and they must include coursework in each of the following areas: American history, European history and global history (non-Western).

³

Students may elect to take two graduate-level courses in disciplines outside of history. Students who choose to pursue outside discipline course work must take history graduate courses in two of the following three areas: American history, European history and global history (non-Western). Students who do not take outside discipline coursework must complete 15 credit hours of graduate coursework in history and they must include coursework in each of the following areas: American history, European history and global history (non-Western).

History for Secondary School Teachers Concentration Requirements

¹

Electives are to be approved by faculty advisor and may include courses from other disciplines, if appropriate. Maximum 3 credit hours of pre-approved workshops for teachers.

²

Students may petition the graduate coordinator to count other courses in pedagogy, regardless of department, toward the electives for this concentration.

Graduation Requirements

• The culmination of the program's writing component for those students intending to go on to doctoral work is the completion of a substantial thesis based on original primary-source research and the oral defense of that thesis.
• Minimum B- grade is required in all specified courses.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus