History (M.A.)

Master of Arts. Major in History.

General M.A. requirements apply. This thesis and non-thesis degree is offered in all fields of history for which faculty is currently available. The work toward an M.A. degree stresses preparation for research as well as a balanced course program.

Please see the Department of History graduate handbook for details and program requirements on earning the Master of Arts in History degree.

1. Students will contextualize, evaluate, and interpret primary source materials within broad scholarly debate to create a meaningful contribution to historical scholarship.
2. Students will examine a broad variety of source materials as part of in-depth research to answer historical questions using rigorous critical analysis.
3. Students will formulate concrete historical questions, a reasonable plan of research, and carry it through successfully in a timely manner (ideally two years for full-time M.A. students) that culminates in a thesis with major argument based in primary evidence.
4. Students will communicate research findings and interpretation in formal academic manners, orally and in writing, culminating in a sustained argument presented in a thesis of appropriate length (approximately 100 pages).
5. Students will develop and refine organizational and writing skills to serve their research.