Master of Arts Degree Program in History
The Master of Arts degree in History program is intended to meet the educational needs of those aspiring to professional advancement in the study and/or teaching of history or in other professions requiring an advanced degree. The proposed curriculum in history provides a sound basis for students to accomplish the following four objectives: (1) to deepen students’ knowledge of history and historical literature, and to expand their critical thinking skills as well as to provide opportunities for students to learn the techniques of historical research and writing; (2) to assist high school teachers to further their expertise in history and to aid them in becoming “highly qualified” teachers as defined under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act; (3) to prepare students for advanced study at the Ph.D. level or for entry into professional schools such as law, library science, journalism, seminary training, and for careers in business, educational institutions, government, and other areas that require an advanced degree; and (4) to prepare students for careers in instruction at the community college level, in historical research, public history, museums, government service, and for advancement in job preparation and salary for professionals in education, business, and industry.
The proposed Masters of Arts in History is organized as a generalist program, with an emphasis on United States History. The program offers two options: thesis and non-thesis. The 33-hour thesis option requires 27 hours of coursework, 6 hours of thesis work, and the successful defense of a thesis. The non-thesis option requires 33 hours of coursework (six of which must be seminar courses), and the successful completion of a comprehensive examination. Both options require a 15-hour core that encompasses a course in Historiography and Research Methods as well as four graduate colloquia in United States and European History. The remaining coursework–12 hours–is composed of 500 and 600 level electives.
MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY
DEGREEE AND PROGRAM PLANS
Master of Arts in History Degree requires a minimum of 33 semester hours of credit and includes the following core and options:
Hours
Core Courses of Study…………………………………………………..15
HI 605, Historiography and Methodology
HI 611, Studies in U.S. History (1607-1865)
HI 612, Studies in U.S. History (1865-P) (3)
HI 621, Studies in European History to 1815
HI 622, Studies in European History Since 1815
Elective Courses of Study………………………………………………18
THESIS OPTION: students choosing the Thesis Option must complete HI 695 Thesis (6) in addition to the core and 12 additional semester hours of 500-600 level history electives.
NON-THESIS OPTION: students choosing the Non-Thesis Option must complete six hours of seminar coursework (any combination of HI 640 Seminar in U.S. History and HI 641 Seminar in European History) in addition to the core and 12 additional semester hours of 500-600 level history electives.
Comprehensive Examination: Students choosing the non-thesis option must enroll in and satisfactorily complete HI 698--Comprehensive Examination.
ADMISSION
In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate studies (See General Regulations and Procedures), admission to the Master of Arts in History degree program requires the following:
1. Preparation: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A Graduate Admission Committee will review each application; consequently, all applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of Admissions of the University in accordance with submission deadlines established by that office.
2. Scholastic Achievement: A minimum of 2.75 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale in all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework.
3. Test Scores: Submission of satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam, which shall consist of the attainment of at least two of the following: Verbal, 400; Quantitative, 400; Analytical Writing, 3.5.
4. Three letters of recommendation to be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of History & Political Science, University of North Alabama.
5. The Graduate Admission Committee will review each application and will make the final decisions on all applications.
Send Application Materials to:
University of North Alabama
Office of Graduate Admissions (History)
Attn: Mrs. Carolyn Austin
Box 5011
Florence, Alabama 35632-0001
For more information contact: Chizuru Saeki, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies, csaeki@una.edu, ph: 256-765-4152 or Christopher Maynard, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, camaynard@una.edu, phone: 256-765-4541.