Master of Arts in History, General History Concentration

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the graduate school; cover letter stating reasons that the applicant wishes to enter the program in history; sample of written work such as a research paper.

Minimum Criteria for Unconditional Admission:

  • 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree, OR
  • 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).

Meeting one of these criteria does NOT guarantee admission.

Program of Study for the Master of Arts in History (General History)

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in History with a Concentration in General History (Code: 255B)

Semester Hours Required (minimum): 30 with Thesis; 36 without Thesis

Required Course

  • HIS 5000: Varieties and Methodologies of History (3)

Thesis Option

Choose at least 6 hours from the Research Seminars:

  • HIS 5107: Research Seminar in European History (3)
  • HIS 5207: Research Seminar in American History (3)
  • HIS 5209: Research Seminar in Appalachian History (3)
  • HIS 5307: Research Seminar in Latin American History (3)

Choose at least 6 hours from the Readings Seminars:

  • HIS 5106: Readings Seminar in European History (3)
  • HIS 5206: Readings Seminar in American History (3)
  • HIS 5208: Readings Seminar in Appalachian History (3)
  • HIS 5306: Readings Seminar in Latin American History (3)
  • HIS 5406: Readings Seminar in African/Middle Eastern/Asian History (3)

HIS 5998: Thesis Research (3)

HIS 5999: Thesis (3)

9 hours of graduate electives: may be satisfied by enrolling in other History courses or in up to 6 hours of relevant courses in other departments with advice and approval of the advisor.

Non-Thesis Option

Choose at least 9 hours from the Research Seminars:

  • HIS 5107: Research Seminar in European History (3)
  • HIS 5207: Research Seminar in American History (3)
  • HIS 5209: Research Seminar in Appalachian History (3)
  • HIS 5307: Research Seminar in Latin American History (3)

Choose at least 9 hours from the Readings Seminars:

  • HIS 5106: Readings Seminar in European History (3)
  • HIS 5206: Readings Seminar in American History (3)
  • HIS 5208: Readings Seminar in Appalachian History (3)
  • HIS 5306: Readings Seminar in Latin American History (3)
  • HIS 5406: Readings Seminar in African/Middle Eastern/Asian History (3)

15 hours of graduate electives: may be satisfied by enrolling in other History courses or in up to 6 hours of relevant courses in other departments with advice and approval of the advisor.

Other Requirements :

  • Thesis: Optional
  • Proficiency: General History students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a foreign language**, or competence in statistics and computer science as a research tool, subject to departmental approval. 
  • Candidacy: Required for thesis students only; awarded upon approval of thesis committee and prospectus
  • Comprehensive: A written comprehensive examination is required by the end of the third semester of coursework for thesis students, and by the end of the fourth semester of coursework for non-thesis students.
  • Product of Learning: Not required