Master of Arts in 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.

Procedures for the Master’s Thesis

A graduate student completing a thesis will register for 6 credit hours of thesis advisement and be assigned a grade(s) for those hours. The Graduate Director will create and register the student for a section of the appropriate course(s) to be offered during the semester(s) during which a student is expected to complete the thesis. This ordinarily will be for the semester(s) immediately following the approval of the thesis-proposal.

Should the student not complete the thesis before the end of the semester in which he or she has registered for the Thesis course(s), the student will receive a grade of “Incomplete” and have one calendar-year from the end of that semester to complete the thesis.

If the student is not ready or able to complete the thesis within that one-year period, the Graduate Director will consult with the student and the thesis-committee regarding the advisability of continuing with the thesis.

If the student wishes to continue, the Graduate Director will write a letter of support, and the student will submit a request to the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies to extend the thesis for an additional (second) year. The grade in this instance will be converted to an “NC” (Not Completed) until the thesis is successfully completed and the final grade is submitted.

If the thesis will extend beyond that second year, the Graduate Director may write a letter of support, and the student will submit a request to the Graduate Council Exceptions Committee to extend the thesis for a third and final year.

For each semester that the student continues work on the thesis beyond the one-year allotted for the completion of the thesis, a student must register for their program’s 0-credit, not-graded, Thesis Continuation course, which will allow the student continued access to the faculty, facilities, and service supports regularly available to all registered students. The fee for this course will be the equivalent of 1-graduate credit.

Students should consult with the Graduate Director of the program for details of the thesis procedures specific to their program. Please note that due to F-1 Visa regulations this policy does not apply to international students.

What can we help you find today?

Academics & Apply

People & Places

Facts & Info

Master of Arts in History

Degree Requirements

Procedures for the Master’s Thesis