MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN HISTORY

The department of History, Philosophy and Political Science offers graduate study in African, European, Latin American, United States and African-American history, Ancient history and the History of Religion.

OPPORTUNITIES

The degree of Master of Arts in history is a multipurpose degree designed to prepare students for more effective teaching of history as in-service teachers who may wish to attain supervisory positions or employment at the community college level.  It also provides excellent preparation for those wishing careers in research and publishing, the legal field, public administration, the diplomatic field, library science or museum work.  The degree offers solid background and training for students wishing to pursue the doctorate.

ELIGIBILITY

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required for full admission and 2.75 - 2.99 for conditional admission.  The GPA is calculated by Graduate Studies on the basis of the last sixty hours of academic work.  Additionally, students are expected to have completed 24 credit hours of history, including survey work, with a “B” average.

Students with inadequate historical background are required to fulfill certain prerequisites.  Those with less than a “B” average ordinarily must complete nine hours of 4000 level courses, specified by the graduate advisor, with a “B” average to gain full admission to the program.  It is the student’s responsibility to confer with the advisor and to notify Graduate Studies when the conditions have been met.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process formally begins in Graduate Studies, Douglas Hall 338, and normally takes approximately two months.  Actual admission dates are determined by the deadline application date set by Graduate Studies, March 15th for the fall semester and October 15th for the Spring semester. Only (9) hours of history courses from another institution with permission or 12 hours from CSU will be accepted if they were completed before the admission date.  Still the Department continually receives applications sent by Graduate Studies although the department evaluation sheet may bear a different date of decision than the actual date set by Graduate Studies.

It is a good plan for students interested in the program to schedule a conference with the graduate advisor and to bring in an unofficial transcript.  The prospective applicant can then be informed of his status with regard to eligibility, if any prerequisite courses are needed or if immediate application is recommended.

COURSES

Course work is offered on a regular basis in these fields.

• African history
• European history
• Latin American history
• United States history
• African American history
• Ancient history
• History of Religion

Thirty credit hours (ten courses) are to be taken.  Five must be at the 5400 level and five at the 5300 level. Of the 5400 level two are required, History 5400, Historical Methods, offered annually during the fall semester, and History 5405, Historical Thought offered annually during the spring semester.  History 5400 is to be taken at the outset of the program.  After it is successfully completed History 5405 is to be taken. A student may not enroll in any other 5400-level course before or with History 5400.  A student may take another 5400 level course with History 5405.

THESIS

A thesis is not mandatory but a student may elect to present one in lien of six hours of seminar work.  It is a student’s responsibility to choose a well defined topic, to check carefully on the availability of historical sources and to gain the assent of the departmental specialist to direct thesis preparation.  A committee of three historians, including the director, oversee and evaluate the research and writing at each step of the process.  There must be unanimous approval by the committee after required changes have been made.  Only then is the thesis submitted to the graduate dean for approval.

CHOICE OF FIELDS AND EXAMINATION

When a student has earned twelve credit hours of graduate study in history, he must declare two fields (listed above under “courses”) for the final master’s examination, in consultation with the graduate advisor. A minimum of two courses must be taken in each field to qualify, and these courses must be approved by the graduate advisor. In the various courses, students are introduced to bibliography and ought to begin reading these works long before the examination.  These choices will become a part of the student’s file.  Any changes will be made only under extraordinary circumstances, and only with the graduate advisor’s approval.  The final examination may be taken only if these procedures are followed.  The written examination is administered twice yearly, in the Fall and Spring, and is a total of four hours in length, two hours for each area.  Each of the two fields is assessed separately and the written examinations cannot fall below the grade of B-, given in the numerical equivalent.  Failure in any part requires consultation with the appropriate specialist before a retake can be arranged. Upon successful performance in both written areas, the student goes on to a one hour oral examination.  Evaluation on the oral examination is on a pass/fail basis.  In the event of failure, the final master’s examination may be repeated one time.

ASSESSMENT

Through a structured program of required courses and electives and consistent monitoring of students’ progress, the following goals should be attained.  Note the courses, which assist the student listed under each goal;

• A broader yet more profound knowledge and understanding of diverse periods and areas of history than that achieved at the undergraduate level.

Courses: any 5400-level electives applicable to the degree and content seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491.

• A more facile ability to understand historical causality and effect as well as to analyze the intricacies of historical situations on a higher level.

Courses: any 5400-level electives applicable to the degree and content seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, also 5405

• Greater familiarity with historical bibliography of various periods and ability to work with a variety of historical documents and sources.

Courses: any 5400-level electives requiring bibliographical work and research, any of the seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499

• Knowledge of the principles of historical methodology, namely how to conduct research, how to gather evidence, how to analyze it critically, and how to interpret it objectively.

Courses: any 5400-level electives with a research component, 5400, any of the seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499

• Production of scholarly research papers, utilizing knowledge gained on the methodology of research.  Also, proper mechanical format in their structure and organization and in footnoting and bibliography.

Courses: any 5400-level electives with a research component, primarily 5400, 5405, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499

• Perfecting writing style, since writing is an integral part of the historical discipline.

Courses: any 5400-level electives, 5400, 5405, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499

• Understanding the development of the idea of history through various ages, styles of historical writing, and investigation of meaning in history and various philosophies of history.

The major evaluation instrument is the master’s final examination (supra) Additional criteria to measure student outcomes are course projects and seminar research papers as explained in syllabi, also a thesis, if chosen, which must conform to designated standards.

Throughout their graduate careers, students will be involved in additional ways with the assessment process.  They will learn more about it in orientation sessions and discussions, and they will participate in periodic surveys and questionnaires, especially one given upon graduation.

In order to enhance student learning, the Master of Arts Program in History will be modified as assessment outcomes indicate.

The History Master’s program is assessed using a uniform plan.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Rita C. Kucera

Graduate Advisor

SCI. 276

(773) 995-2205

Material on general graduate rules, policies and procedures in the Graduate Catalog can be downloaded at the website at www.csu.edu. Graduate Studies is located in Douglas Hall 338, tel. (773) 995-2404.