History

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the master’s degree are required to complete 30 credits of graduate-level history or 24 credits plus an acceptable thesis written under the direction of a professor in the student’s major field.

At least 18 (but no more than 21) credits must be taken in the major field, three credits of which must be a seminar in the major field. Three additional credits must be taken in historical methodology. The remaining credits (six or nine) must be taken in an area other than the major field; a minor field may be designated for these credits. All students are strongly encouraged to take a course in historiography in their major field.

The areas of concentration in the Graduate Program in History are American or Modern European. It is also possible to double-major in American, Modern European, or Medieval History. Areas for a minor field include American, Modern European, Medieval, or East Asian.

A student may take up to four courses a semester. Historical Methodology is offered once a year, and seminars in American and European History are offered once or twice a year. The other courses are offered on a rotating basis. A minimum overall “B” average must be maintained.

Candidates for the master’s degree in history must give evidence, in the course of their program, of a reading knowledge of a foreign language. French and German are the recommended modern languages. However, another language may be substituted with the approval of the Program Director. In some instances, a student may be allowed by the Program Director to substitute a designated computer language course (with a minimum grade of “B”) to fulfill the language requirement.

After the completion of all course work, a candidate for the master’s degree must pass an oral examination covering the major field.