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Nov 23, 2024
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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
History, M.A. (30 hrs)
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Program Overview
The Department of History and Social Sciences at William Carey University offers a unique Master of Arts in History program with a focus on the development of empires in world history. The M.A. program is designed to introduce high-achieving students to the various historiographical and methodological issues related to imperial studies, to critical analysis of primary source material and other related research skills, and to the appropriate secondary historical works relevant to their specific area of study. In addition to graduate coursework, M.A. students will be expected to demonstrate high-level skills in research and writing by completion and successful defense of a thesis-length project. Graduates will be prepared for further graduate work on the doctoral level, teaching in community colleges, as well as a number of other academic and nonacademic jobs.
Graduate Outcomes
Upon degree completion, students will be able to demonstrate:
- an in-depth knowledge of the past, including a knowledge of and critical engagement with the literature, methodologies, theories and debates of the historical discipline;
- proficiency in original, graduate-level research by successfully developing and defending a master’s thesis; and
- the ability to use a foreign language source as part of their research.
Program Admission Requirements
- Completed graduate application form and application fee. The form and fee must be submitted to the office of graduate admissions.
- A GPA > 3.0 on undergraduate coursework and 24 undergraduate hours of history courses.
- A minimum score of 500 on the verbal section of the GRE.
- Critical writing sample (10-15 pages).
- Three narrative letters of recommendation from academic references.
- Final approval by the history department graduate admissions committee.
Transfer Credit
Students may only transfer up to 6 credit hours of history coursework from a previously completed graduate degree. Transfer credit will be applicable only if they contribute to the student’s plan of study. Graduate credit carrying less than a grade of ‘B’ will not be accepted.
Program Progression and Graduation Requirements
- At least 12 hours of coursework in the student’s chosen field of study, either pre-modern empires or modern empires.
- Only 6 hours of 500-level history coursework may count towards the degree.
- Prior to completion of coursework, the student must demonstrate reading proficiency in one of the following research languages: for pre-modern empires, Greek or Latin; for modern empires, French or German. Language examinations will be administered by competent faculty within the history department.
- Upon completion of course work and demonstration of language proficiency, the student must pass a 4-hour written comprehensive exam.
- Upon successfully passing the comprehensive exam, the student will move on to the thesis stage. The student must complete at least 3 hours of HIS 6990 Master’s Thesis . All students in the M.A. in history program are required to complete a thesis. There is not a non-thesis option for the M.A. in history program. The thesis must successfully pass an oral defense before a committee of three history faculty members.
- Students must maintain a GPA > 3.0 to continue in good standing in the program and must have a GPA > 3.0 in order to graduate.
- Students making a third ‘C’ or lower may not repeat any other courses and will be dismissed from the program.
Program of Study (30 hrs)
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