History
2005-2007 Graduate Academic Catalog | Catalogs

Master of Arts (MA) in History

The MA program in history serves students who seek to teach history in a secondary school, junior college, or community college; prepare for a PhD degree; or prepare for government positions or other careers requiring advanced study of history. The program offers instruction in the following fields:United States history to 1877, European history from 1715 to the present, United States history from 1877 to the present, 20th-century world history , or a special field with two faculty sponsors and approval of the program. Special fields may include topics such as Latin American history, pre-modern Europe, or women’s history.

Admission

Applicants who meet the criteria detailed in the Policies and Procedures section of this catalog will be permitted to enroll in the program provided their undergraduate record in history has been approved.

Degree requirements

Students may elect to take 36 semester hours of course work or take 30 semester hours of course work and write a thesis (three semester hours) for a total of 33 hours. A two-and-ahalf-hour written examination is required in two of the fields listed above. Students wishing to take one or both examinations in a given semester must notify the graduate advisor in writing during the first month of that semester. At all stages, particularly before applying for graduation, students are responsible for checking on their progress toward fulfillment of degree requirements. Students must maintain a B average in this course work, as specified in the general requirements. Two courses with grades of C may be accepted provided the 3.0 grade point average is maintained and the student meets in conference with the graduate advisor in history.

There is no formal foreign language requirement; however, competence in a foreign language is recommended for students choosing a field outside US history. Graduate students should also be aware that most doctoral programs require competence in one or more foreign languages.

Thesis option

Students who opt to write a thesis must complete 33 semester hours of 400-level graduate courses, of which at least 24 semester hours must be in history and taken at Roosevelt. Students who have selected this option must write a thesis that conforms to University regulations and is acceptable to the program. A thesis topic should be selected early and consent of two faculty sponsors secured.

A student who has not completed a thesis or other final project must maintain continued registration during fall and spring semesters until completion of the project by registering for the appropriate zero-credit course (course number followed by “Y”). Students who have not maintained continuous registration for thesis or other final project will be required to register for all intervening fall and spring semesters prior to graduation.

No thesis option

Students who elect to take 36 semester hours of course work must take at least 27 semester hours at Roosevelt. Up to nine semester hours may be taken outside of history in closely allied fields, but only with the written approval of a graduate advisor in history. A seminar paper acceptable to the program is generally written in conjunction with a one-semester seminar to demonstrate command of historical method and interpretation.