History

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the master’s degree are required to complete thirty credits of graduate-level history, or twenty-four 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.  Areas for a minor field include American, Modern European, Medieval, or East Asian history.  All students are strongly encouraged to take a course in historiography in their major field.  

Students may pursue a Master of Arts degree with a primary major in either American History or Modern European History and, if desired, a second major in American, Modern European, or Medieval History.  (A Medieval major may be chosen only as a second major and does not qualify as a primary major.)   

Three courses a semester designates full-time status.  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 approved by the Director.  In some instances, a student may be allowed by the Director to substitute a designated computer language course (with a minimum grade of “B”) to serve as the language requirement.  

After the completion of all coursework, a candidate for the master’s degree must pass an oral examination covering the major field and, if applicable, an additional oral examination covering the second field.