History M.A.

See University master’s degree requirements. Specific departmental requirements for the M.A. in history are listed below.

ALL STUDENTS

For either track in history a minimum of 45 credits of approved graduate-level courses are required for the M.A. in history. Of these 45 credits students must complete a minimum of 32 credits in history, including HST 500 (Introduction to the Master’s Program in History) and at least one HST 591-HST 592 seminar sequence. Per university policy all students must complete the second language requirement outlined below. Students are strongly advised to take HST 500 in their first term of the program. Students will enter one of the following tracks. Students may enter either track at any time but they must still fulfill all of the requirements.

THESIS TRACK

Students in the thesis track must complete the following:

●      prepare a proposal outlining their area of study (defined geographically and / or thematically), any preparatory courses necessary for their thesis, and their thesis topic that must be approved by the student’s adviser, who must be a regular (tenured or tenure-track) faculty member of the History Department.

●      enroll in a minimum of 6 credits (a maximum of 9 may be counted towards the degree) of HST 503 (Thesis) in which they will complete their thesis.

●      defend the thesis in an oral examination before a committee comprising the thesis adviser and two other regular (tenured or tenure-track) members of the History Department, one of whom should be someone with whom the student has not taken a course. A fourth committee member from outside the History Department (if the adviser deems it necessary or advisable) may be added.

●      after completing any necessary revisions, the student must submit the thesis to the Graduate School.

EXAMINATION TRACK

Students in the examination track must complete the following:

●      a second HST 592.

●      prepare a proposal outlining an area of study (defined geographically and / or thematically), and any preparatory courses necessary for their written examination that must be approved by the student’s adviser, who must be a regular (tenured or tenure-track) faculty member of the History Department.

●      complete a written examination on that area of study which will be graded Pass or Fail by the adviser who must be a regular (tenured or tenure-track) member of the History Department. This exam will occur in the last term before graduation.

SECOND LANGUAGE

Graduate Students should demonstrate proficiency in a second language no later than the point at which they have completed 32 credits of graduate study. Per university policy, proficiency may be demonstrated by successfully completing language coursework equivalent to PSU’s 203-level course, or by passing an examination administered for this purpose by the Department of World Languages and Literatures. However, some fields of research may require language preparation beyond the formal University requirements. All M.A. students are urged to consult their advisers about expectations for study of languages prior to or soon after admission to the program.