Master of Arts in History - Predoctoral Track


Students enrolled in the predoctoral track must complete a minimum of thirty credit hours of graduate course work with a grade point average of not less than 3.0. There is a thesis option and a non-thesis option. Students are expected to demonstrate competency in a foreign language, as well as a written comprehensive examination.

Primary Fields:
Ancient World and Europe to 1700
Europe Since 1700
United States
Asia, Russia, and Latin America
Comparative History: thematic field defined by advisor and approved by graduate committee.

Thesis Option Requirements Credit Hours
Method and Historiography   3 
Major field of concentration (including one research seminar) 15 
Research and Thesis*   6 
Coursework outside the major field**   6 
Upper level undergraduate history courses for deficiencies (as needed) 9
Maximum credit hours of 6000-level coursework 12
Total Hours Required for Degree  30

 
*The student selects a topic and works with a committee composed of three members. Students participate in an oral defense of their thesis upon completion.
**These courses can be in history, the humanities, social sciences, or law. 

Reading proficiency in a European language. This requirement may be met in one of the following ways: 
  a. By passing a proficiency examination 
  b. By successfully completing an intermediate college course in a language appropriate to the student’s   course of study.

Pass a written comprehensive examination in the major and minor areas. These exams are taken in the last year of graduate work.

Non-Thesis Option Requirements Credit Hours
Method and Historiography   3 
Major field of concentration (including one research seminar) 15 
Coursework outside the major field*   6
Additional Coursework in History 12 
Upper level undergraduate history courses for deficiencies (as needed) 9
Maximum credit hours of 6000-level coursework 15
Total Hours Required for Degree  36

 *These courses can be in history, the humanities, social sciences, or law. 

Reading proficiency in a European language. This requirement may be met in one of the following ways: 
  a. By passing a proficiency examination 
  b. By successfully completing an intermediate college course in a language appropriate to the student’s   course of study.

Pass a written comprehensive examination in the major and minor areas. These exams are taken in the last year of graduate work.