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Master of Arts in History

The Master of Arts in History offers a broad yet focused program of graduate training in historical research and writing. The program is well-suited for teachers who would like a discipline-based Masters degree beyond the credential. It is also excellent preparation for a career with the State Department, teaching History at the community college, doctoral studies in History, or any career in the public or private sectors requiring advanced research, analytical, and writing skills.

The graduate curriculum offers balanced coverage of the major theoretical, regional, comparative, thematic, topical, global, and epochal approaches to the research and writing of History. It equips students with the advanced research, analytical, and writing skills needed to produce historical scholarship of professional quality and to participate in the transformative and trenchant discussions of professional historians. At the conclusion of their course of study, students will present original research findings either by writing a traditional Masters thesis or creating a Web-based multimedia Masters project. Either option will be the result of extensive historical research.

Specific Program Admission Requirements: To be admitted to the Master of Arts in History program, students must have a Bachelor of Arts in History or a closely-related field in the social sciences or humanities. If a student does not have Bachelors in History or a closely related field in the social sciences or humanities, the student must take and pass the following prerequisite classes with a B (3.0) average or better to be admitted to the MA program: HIS 400, HIS 360, HIS 361, HIS 362, HIS 363, and HIS 434. Students with a minor in history may be admitted after approval by the Program Lead Faculty.

Additional Program and Thesis Information

All students are encouraged to select a Thesis Advisor early in their program from the program faculty based on areas of interest and planned thesis or multimedia project but they must choose a Thesis Advisor approved by the Program Lead Faculty no later than the start of their fifth course. Students should consult regularly with their Thesis Advisor regarding course selection and their research proposal. Once they begin their research, students will consult monthly with their Thesis Advisor by email. Students initiate the monthly contact with their Thesis Advisor, document their progress, and provide drafts of each chapter for review.

The students program Faculty Advisor and faculty members teaching HIS 695 and/or HIS 696 will give final approval to the students research prospectus and the program Faculty Advisor and faculty member teaching HIS 698 or HIS 699 will give final acceptance to the Masters thesis or multimedia project as satisfying part of the requirements for the Master of Arts in History degree. Students are awarded an IP grade at the conclusion of HIS 698 or HIS 699 and, if needed, have up to nine months after the end of HIS 698 or HIS 699 to submit a completed thesis or multimedia project.

The expected (normative) time to completion of all requirements for the MA History program is two (2) years.

***Please note that HIS 698 and HIS 699 should be taken at the end of the program.

To be considered for graduation a MA History candidate must

1. Submit the completed media/technology project to the course instructor and the Faculty Advisor within one year of the start of HIS 698. The course instructor and the Faculty Advisor are responsible for evaluating the media/technology project and determining whether the candidate has met the requirements for the MA in History as specified in the media/technology project guidelines.

2. Submit the completed thesis to the course instructor and the Faculty Advisor within one year of the start of HIS 699. The course instructor and the Faculty Advisor are responsible for evaluating the thesis and determining whether the candidate has met the requirements for the MA in History as specified in the thesis guidelines.

Program Learning Outcomes

Analyze the relationship between fact, method, theory, and interpretation of historical accounts.
Analyze the various ethical and professional issues that emanate from historical scholarship.
Evaluate and interpret historical texts, in a multifaceted and nuanced manner.
Develop a scholarship-based understanding of key historiographic theories and philosophies to a variety of historical subjects.
Pose questions and conduct historical research that engages disciplinary perspectives, uses relevant resources, and contributes to scholarly understanding.
Create sophisticated and professionally-informed written works or websites in a prose and visual style that is clear and effective.

Requirements

(12 courses; 54 quarter units) To receive the Master of Arts in History, students must complete at least 54 quarter units. A total of 13.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree, and provided the units were not used in earning another advanced degree. Coursework transferred from other universities must first have the approval of the Program Faculty Advisor. Students should refer to the General Catalog section on graduate admission requirements for specific information regarding admission and evaluation.

Program Prerequisites (6 courses; 27 quarter units)

For those with a B.A. in History or a closely related field, the prerequisites listed below can be waived by filing an e-form waiver with documentation of their degree. See the Graduate Information section of the catalog for more information.