Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 
    
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in History


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Director of Graduate Studies: Mitch Kachun,
Room 4311, Friedmann Hall
mitch.kachun@wmich.edu

The Master of Arts in History serves both as preparation for doctoral study and as a professional degree in many fields of research, teaching, and public history.

 

Admission Requirements

  1. Substantial undergraduate course work in history and related social sciences and humanities. (Students with strong academic records but deficient in undergraduate course work in history may be admitted with a stipulation to complete appropriate undergraduate courses.)
  2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general aptitude test scores.
  3. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
  4. A brief essay concerning applicant’s academic and professional objectives, and a writing sample.
  5. Students whose native language is other than English must achieve a TOEFL score of 600 or above, or otherwise demonstrate a command of English judged adequate by the department to pursue graduate study in the discipline.

Program Requirements


Three options for completing the degree are available.

Thesis Option (30 hours)


1. History


2. A broad field of specialization built around readings courses and research seminars.


At least two readings courses (HIST 6050-6200) are required and additional course work in this area is strongly recommended. At least one research seminar (HIST 6700, 6750-6880) is required. Specific research emphases are developed in consultation with the supervising professor and department faculty. Consult the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information.

3. Students must take at least two courses


(one at the 6000-level) which focus as a major part of the course work on the tools that historians use, such as cartography, paleography, oral history, anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnography, material culture, art, architecture, archeology, etc. These courses are designated by the Graduate Studies Committee and a list of courses which meet this requirement each semester will be available from the Director of Graduate Studies at registration.

4. Department requirements


The department requires at least one course covering theory and/or research practices in an allied social science or humanities discipline. (Up to 6 hrs. of appropriate course work may be chosen outside the department, and up to 6 hrs. of appropriate course work in history at the 4000-level, exclusive of 4960-4990, may be elected with the approval of the supervising professor and the Director of Graduate Studies.

5. Foreign language requirement:


Proficiency in a foreign language demonstrated by satisfactory completion of a 2010-level or 4010-level foreign language course, or by a translation examination.

Students specializing in Medieval and Ancient History are required, at a minimum, to demonstrate facility in reading one ancient language (eg: Latin or Greek) and one modern foreign language. See the Department of History Graduate Handbook for details.

6. Thesis: a major research investigation in the field of specialization.


Candidates with an advanced record of research and/or publication may substitute a second research seminar (HIST 6700, 6750-6880) with the prior approval of the supervising professor.

7. Students who fail to produce a satisfactory thesis


May count course work taken (except thesis hours) toward a general option degree. If they are students in the doctoral program, they will be dismissed from that program, but will be allowed to continue course work until they have completed enough hours for a general option master’s degree. See the department graduate handbook for additional information regarding the thesis.

General Option (33 hours)


1. History


3. Students must take at least one course


Which focus as a major part of the course work on the tools that historians use, such as cartography, paleography, oral history, anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnography, material culture, art, architecture, archeology, etc. These courses are designated by the Graduate Studies Committee and a list of courses which meet this requirement each semester will be available from the Director of Graduate Studies at registration.

4. Up to 12 hours of course work


May be taken outside the department in an advisor-approved program of study, and up to 6 hours of appropriate course work in history at the 4000-level, exclusive of 4960-4990, may be elected with the approval of the supervising professor and Director of Graduate Studies.

5. Foreign Language Requirement:


The Supervising Professor and Examination Committee may require a student to demonstrate facility in a language appropriate to the student’s course of study.

Students specializing in Medieval and Ancient History are required, at a minimum, to demonstrate facility in reading one ancient language (eg: Latin or Greek) and one modern foreign language. See the Department of History Graduate Handbook for details.

6. Comprehensive examination:


A course-based written examination following completion of at least 24 hrs. of course work including required core courses and a research seminar. An oral examination may also be required by the student’s exam committee.

Public History Option (39 hours)


1. History


3. Students must take at least three courses


(two at the 6000-level) which focus as a major part of the course work on the tools of particular importance to public historians. These courses are designated by the Graduate Studies Committee, and a list of courses which meet this requirement each semester will be available from the Director of Graduate Studies at registration.

4. Up to 12 hours of course work may be taken outside the department


In a program of study approved by the supervising professor, and up to 6 hours of appropriate course work in history at the 4000-level, exclusive of 4960-4990, may be elected with the approval of the supervising professor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the Graduate College.

5. An internship/field experience


6. Comprehensive examination:


A course-based written examination following completion of at least 24 hours of course work including required core courses and a research seminar. An oral examination may also be required by the student’s exam committee.

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