History M.A.

Introduction

The History M.A. program has suspended admissions for the 2023-24 year.

The Department of History offers an M.A. degree in history for those individuals who are interested in postgraduate work, but who are not planning to complete a Ph.D. It is a degree program that can fulfill in-service education requirements for current teachers as well as for future teachers earning a single-subject credential in social studies. Part-time enrollment is allowed.

Each student will be required to choose one of three areas of specialization (U.S., Europe, East Asia). To complete the degree, each student must pass a total of 12 courses of 5 credits each and two courses of 2 credits each. Students are required to produce a substantial research essay (average word count of 8000-10,000) grounded in original research in primary historical documents. There is no language requirement.

Detailed information for prospective graduate students, including procedures for applications and admission to graduate studies, examinations and requirements is available from the Division of Graduate Studies.

Applications

The deadline for applications to the History Program is Dec. 10 of each year. Admission information and application material are on the Division of Graduate Studies website.

Requirements

The M.A. degree is awarded after two years in residence, provided that the following requirements have been met:

Completion of 12 five-credit courses and two 2-credit proseminars
Removal of all Incomplete notations on record
Approval of an M.A. essay

Course Requirements

HIS 200	Methods and Theories of History	5
HIS 201	Directed Research Colloquium	5
HIS 202	Practicing World History	5

HIS 200: year 1, fall quarter

HIS 201: year 2, winter quarter

HIS 202: year 1, spring quarter

One research seminar during the first four quarters:

HIS 204A	History of Gender Research Seminar	5
HIS 204C	Colonialism, Nationalism and Race Research Seminar	5
HIS 204E	Transnationalism, Borderlands, and History	5

Three Proseminars of 2 credits each including:

HIS 280A	History Graduate Proseminar: Teaching Pedagogy	2
HIS 280B	History Graduate Proseminar: Research Presentations and Grant Writing	2
HIS 280C	History Graduate Proseminar: Job Market	2

HIS 280A: year 1

HIS 280B: year 1

HIS 280C: year 2

Six area of concentration electives of 5 credits each, two of which may be taken outside the History Department.

Courses taken must be graduate seminars, upper-division undergraduate courses, and independent study courses (maximum of two).

Reading seminars in the area of specialization:

U.S.:

HIS 210A	Readings in U.S. History	5
HIS 210B	Readings in U.S. History	5

Europe:

HIS 251A	Readings in Modern European History: Environment and Technology	5
HIS 251B	Readings in Modern European History: Empire	5

East Asia:

HIS 230A	Readings in Late Imperial China	5
HIS 230B	Engendering China	5
HIS 230C	Readings in 20th-Century China	5
HIS 242	Readings in Modern Japan	5
HIS 243	Transnational Japan	5
HIS 244	Gender and Japanese History	5

Further details about the graduate program are available from the Department of History website.

Applying for Graduation

The final essay (hard copy and pdf copy) must be submitted to the graduate program coordinator by the spring quarter deadline. A completed Application for the Master's Degree must be filed with the graduate coordinator with the submission of your final essay.

Essay Review and Evaluation

The Graduate Committee evaluates the master’s essays and makes recommendations to the graduate director on the awarding of the M.A. degree. Applicants are notified of the committee's decision in June.