Requirements
Majors must take 48 units of history: 9 lower-division and 39 upper-division.
1. Core: 15 units. All majors must take HIST 301 and 302 with a grade of C or better; HIST 499 and one history course that fulfills the gender, race, and ethnicity requirement (from a list of approved courses available from the Undergraduate Advisor). HIST 301 MUST be taken in the first semester of course work in the major. 301 is a prerequisite for 302, and both courses are prerequisites for 499.
2. Fields of emphasis: 18 units. All majors have the option of specializing in two or three fields. Option one: two fields of nine units each. Option two: three fields of six units each. The fields are:
A. Africa and the Middle East
B. Ancient and Medieval Europe
C. Asia
D. Latin America
E. Modern Europe (Including Britain)
F. United States
G. World
3. Breadth: 6 units. Majors must take six units in a field (or fields) of history outside of their fields of emphasis.
4. All majors must develop a portfolio (beginning with HIST 301) reflecting their work in the History major. The portfolio will be evaluated as one of the requirements in the senior seminar, HIST 499. Prerequisites for HIST 499 are completion of HIST 301, 302, and 18 units of upper-division work in the major.
NOTE: History majors are strongly encouraged to include the study of foreign language and literature in their programs. Students working for a single-subject credential in secondary education must consult with the College's secondary education advisor as to the applicable credential major requirements.
1. A bachelor's degree in history with an overall 3.0 GPA or higher or
2. A bachelor's degree with 24 units of upper-division courses in history. These courses must be comparable to those required of a major in history at this University. Deficiencies are determined by the graduate advisor after consultation with the student and after study of transcript records.
The Master of Arts in History is a program of 30 minimum units as defined below.
Core Courses required of all students: HIST 501, 590
The fields are Africa and the Middle East, Ancient/Medieval Europe, Asia, Latin America, Modern Europe, United States, World.
For Students pursuing one field of concentration.18 Units of graduate level coursework (500/600 numbered courses) in the student's field of concentration.
18 units must include: HIST 510 in the field, HIST 510 outside the field; Research Seminar if offered (for example, HIST 611 [ancient/medieval], 631 [Europe], 673 [US], and 682 [East Asia]).
For students pursuing two fields of concentration. 9 units of graduate level coursework (500/600 numbered courses) in each field. 9 units must include: two 510s, one in each field; Research Seminar in the field of concentration (for example, HIST 611 [ancient/medieval], 631 [Europe], 673 [US], and 682 [East Asia]).
Electives applicable to all students:
Six units of electives, upper-division or graduate (300/400/500/600 numbered courses) coursework, in history or supporting disciplines related to Field(s) of Concentration. Two of these courses may be upper-division courses marked with an asterisk only if they have not been taken before the completion of a Bachelor's degree.
The courses for Special Preparation (595), Directed Study (695), Directed Research (697), and Thesis (698) may be applied to the 18 unit total only with the permission of the graduate advisor. A student may propose a field other than those cited above with the consent of the Graduate advisor and her/his graduate committee.
A reading knowledge of a foreign language may be required, depending upon the candidate's program of study as recommended by her/his graduate committee.
Students should see Graduate Advisor to file Advancement to Candidacy after at least 6 units but no more than 15 units of graduate coursework are completed.
Must have taken a 501 as well as have passed the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) or appropriate designated course. The Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) is administered several times every academic year by the University Testing Office. Must be attempted in the first semester of graduate work and passed by the time of advancement. Exam may be waived if earned a 4.0 or higher on Writing portion of GRE.
Advancement must take place at least two semesters prior to taking Comprehensive Exams or completing the Thesis. Comprehensive Examination Approval Form or Thesis Committee Agreement Form must be filed with department at time of Advancement. At this point, a student must commit to taking exams or writing a thesis. Advancement to Candidacy is a formal contract listing courses student has taken, is taking, and will take. Changes to contract may be made in consultation with Graduate Advisor.
Students must take either Comprehensive Exams in one field (two periods) or in two fields, or write a Thesis on one field or incorporating two fields to culminate their Master's Degree in History.
Comprehensive exams require filing a Comprehensive Examination Approval Form with the department.
Completion of a thesis, a thesis requires filing a Thesis Committee Agreement Form and enrolling in HIST 698 with the thesis advisor for four (4) units.
All candidates for the M.A. degree in history who have selected to write a thesis must demonstrate competency in one foreign language. Exceptions are granted only with the approval of the chair of a graduate student's committee and the Graduate Advisor.
The language competency requirement may be met in three ways:
1. Through an examination by a faculty member with expertise in the student's language. The exam will be a translation of about a 500-word text to be completed in two hours; a dictionary is allowed.
2. By taking the equivalent of two full years of university level foreign language courses, with an average GPA of 3.0 in those courses. If the primary concentration is in Ancient/Medieval, a student may also fulfill this requirement by taking one year of Greek and one year of Latin. All course work completed must be within five years of admission to the graduate program.
3. By taking and passing the Educational Testing Service Graduate Foreign Language Exam.
