Other Concentrations

Predoctoral History Concentration

MA in History

The faculty in the master of arts History program are at the forefront of traditional historical study, digital approaches to the past, and applied history. Students select from a variety of course topics while also selecting an area of historical specialization that accommodates their interests and furthers their career objectives. Students come to the program with diverse career objectives, and the program is designed with that diversity in mind. Students take classes in which they discuss history alongside future academics, public historians, teachers, military officers, non-profit professionals, government officials, entrepreneurs, and future academics.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30 or 36

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students pursuing this degree must complete the requirements for one of the concentrations below. The concentrations in higher education and teaching require 36 credits, all others require 30 credits.

Concentration in Predoctoral History (AH1, EH1, WH1)

This concentration is for students planning to pursue doctoral studies. Students choose one of three geographic specializations and a chronological or thematic minor field within that specialization. Students complete coursework and a research seminar in their geographic specialization and an additional independent project or thesis in their minor field.

Required Course

HIST 610 The Study and Writing of History 1 3
Total Credits 3

Specialization

Students complete one of the following geographic specializations. 

Specialization in U.S. History 
Select four courses from the following: 1 12
Origins to 1861  
HIST 613
 The Colonial Origins of American Society  
HIST 618
 The Age of Jackson, 1815-1854  
HIST 620
 Development of the Early Republic, 1783-1815  
HIST 627
 Disasters in U.S. History  
HIST 631
 Era of the American Revolution  
HIST 661
 Religion in North America to 1870  
HIST 615
 Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval)  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
1861-1914  
HIST 617
 Topics in the American Civil War Era  
HIST 622
 U.S. South Since 1865  
HIST 627
 Disasters in U.S. History  
HIST 629
 The Gilded Age and Progressive Era  
HIST 633
 Reconstruction  
HIST 662
 U.S. Religion since 1870  
HIST 615
 Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval)  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
1914 World War I to the Present  
HIST 622
 U.S. South Since 1865  
HIST 623
 Recent U.S. History, 1945 to Present  
HIST 627
 Disasters in U.S. History  
HIST 634
 Interwar America: 1918-1939  
HIST 662
 U.S. Religion since 1870  
HIST 677
 The Vietnam War  
HIST 615
 Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval)  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
Specialization in European History
Select four courses from the following: 1 12
Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern to 1789  
HIST 576
 The Crusades  
HIST 642
 Humanism and the Renaissance  
HIST 643
 Religion and Society in the Reformation Era  
HIST 644
 Society and Culture in Early Modern Europe  
HIST 635
 Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval)  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
1789-1914  
HIST 637
 Great Britain: Empire to Commonwealth, 1870-1970  
HIST 639
 Society and Politics in Western Europe, 1750-1914  
HIST 640
 Metropolitan Cities of Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries  
HIST 635
 Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval)  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
1914 to the Present  
HIST 637
 Great Britain: Empire to Commonwealth, 1870-1970  
HIST 640
 Metropolitan Cities of Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries  
HIST 646
 Stalinism  
HIST 635
 Problems in European History (when topic applies with department approval)  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
Specialization in World History
Select four courses from the following: 1 12
World  
HIST 510
 Approaches to Modern World History  
HIST 535
 Problems in Comparative World History  
Africa  
HIST 565
 Problems in African History  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
Asia  
HIST 555
 Problems in Asian History  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
Middle East  
HIST 575
 Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History  
HIST 576
 The Crusades  
HIST 585
 Problems in Middle Eastern History  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  
Latin America  
HIST 525
 Problems in Latin American History  
Other appropriate course with department approval
  

Research Seminar

HIST 797 Research Seminar in History 3
Total Credits 3

Minor Field Concentration

In consultation with the graduate director and other faculty, students identify a chronological or topical subspecialty and select two courses that relate directly to that subspecialty. 6
Total Credits 6

Language Proficiency

Language proficiency sufficient to conduct primary source research in the student's intended area of concentration, as demonstrated by thesis or independent research project.

Project or Thesis

Select 6 credits of Project or Thesis 6
Project and additional Elective  
HIST 798
 Directed Research and Writing in History 1  
Additional 3 credits from Specialization
  
Thesis  
HIST 799
 Thesis  
Total Credits 6