| |
Curricular Requirements
Language Requirements
The M.A. in History with thesis will require demonstration of language competency if the subject matter requires it. The faculty adviser will determine how this requirement should be fulfilled.
The M.A. in History without thesis does not require language competency.
Course Requirements
Students seeking to fulfill either program option are required to complete a minimum of 36 credits of graduate-level work which must include completing the following courses with a grade of 2.67 (B-) or better:
- Research Methodologies 5581 for 3 credits
- Any two Research Seminars (5587R,5587RB) for a total of 6 credits
- At least two graduate-level colloquia (5582,5584,5585,5586) for a minimum of 6 credits
The department encourages students to take all of the remaining courses in their curriculum (21 credits) in the History department at the 5500 level. With the approval of the student's faculty adviser, however, students may take up to 6 credits at the 400 level if these fit with their overall program of study. Students may also take up to 9 credits in courses outside the department provided:
- They are demonstrably graduate level courses.
- They clearly relate to the student's program of study.
- The student receives the approval of her/his supervisory committee.
Students may transfer up to 20% of the graduate credit hours appearing on the final program of study from another recognized graduate school.
Non-Thesis students may take up to 6 credits of Non Thesis Research/Readings (5597) in which they receive one on one instruction in areas of their own special interest (a course offered at the discretion of individual instructors).
Thesis-option students must take at least 1 and no more than 6 credits of Thesis Research/Readings (5599R) in which they receive one-on-one mentoring as they develop their own contribution to knowledge based upon extensive research, reflection, and careful analysis (a course offered at the discretion of individual instructors).
Research Methodologies
This course is offered once a year in the fall semester on either a tuesday or a thursday evening. In it, students will
- Read broadly and learn about the major trends in historiography.
- Develop fundamental skills of the professional historian such as the ability to analyze primary sources, write academic book reviews, make conference-style presentations, and discuss the work of other historians critically among peers.
The course typically culminates in the production of a research and/or grant proposal for a real or hypothetical research project.
Colloquia
Subjects include:
- American History
- European History
- The Non-Western World
On a rotating basis, two of these courses are offered each fall and spring semester, one on monday and one on wednesday evenings. In them, students will
- Read broadly and learn about the major trends in the historiography of a particular historical problem, place, period, or specialization.
- Develop fundamental skills of the professional historian such as the ability to write academic book reviews, make conference-style presentations, and discuss among peers the work of other historians critically.
This course typically culminates in the production of a term paper and/or literature review on a subject of the student’s interest that could serve as the context for a future research project or comprehensive examination field.
Research Seminars
Subjects include:
- Communities and Identities
- Gender, Sexuality and the Body
- Globalization and Internationalism
- Material Culture and Everyday Life
- Region and the Environment
- Science, Technology and Medicine
- Texts and Ideas
On a rotating basis, two of these courses are offered in the spring semester, one on tuesday and one on thursday evenings. Students may take two in the same semester only with the approval of their faculty adviser. In them, students will
- Read examples of this field of scholarship.
- Develop an expertise in a research agenda of their own creation.
- Exercise the fundamental skills of the professional historian such as the ability to write a research proposal, conduct historical research, make conference-style presentations of their research, and discuss the work of other historians critically among peers.
This course typically culminates in the production of an article-length "publishable" paper based on primary research making a contribution to the existing literature. Students writing superior papers will participate in a graduate student conference at the end of the spring semester. The other students will also attend as an audience.
Dual-Numbered Courses (300/5500 & 400/5500)
Offered at a variety of times each semester, these courses expose graduate students further to major trends in the historiography of larger historical problems, places, periods, or specializations and allow them to hone their skills at academic history. Often taught in conjunction with undergraduate courses in the same subject area, graduate students in these courses will be held to a higher standard of knowledge and performance.
The Annual Graduate Student Conference
The Department of History will host an annual graduate student conference on thursday afternoon and evening of the reading period in the spring semester. In it, students will
- Demonstrate their expertise in a research agenda of their own creation.
- Present their research to peers and faculty.
- Comment constructively and critically on the research of others.
- Engage critical questions in public.
- Celebrate their academic achievements that year.
During the banquet, one member of the departmental faculty will present his/her latest research as the keynote speaker. Afterwards, the faculty will present one student participant of the conference with the Carla Klausner Award for the best paper/presentation.
|
