Program Requirements
The professional enrichment concentration is designed to assist persons for whom a two-year graduate degree would provide career advancement in a chosen or desired field other than that for which a history Ph.D. is required. The focus of the terminal M.A. is on providing a platform for developing critical analytical skills (reading, written, and oral) within a historical framework. The program provides intense study of up to three interrelated geographic or thematic fields. The terminal M.A. concludes with written examinations in the students chosen fields of study. The degree does not require the completion of a thesis-length work. For this reason, the terminal M.A. concentration is not intended for those whose interests are oriented toward undertaking Ph.D. work in history. Some of the careers for which obtaining a terminal M.A. in History may be an asset include the following: education/teaching (K-12 or community college), library studies, non-governmental agencies, social work, journalism, campaign management, genealogist, archivist/archival administration, public historian, corporate management, community organizer, counseling, public affairs, political activism, and entertainment industry historical consultant.
Course Requirements. A student in this plan must successfully complete at least 36 hours of graduate work to receive the terminal Master of Arts degree. A minimum of 24 hours must be taken in the Department of History and at least 3 hours must be taken at the 6000-level. No more than 6 hours may be taken at the 7000-level. Students must complete HIST 5304. Students are also required to select at least two, and no more than three, focus areas (either geographic and/or from the thematic fields list produced by the department). For the three-field concentration, students are required to complete a minimum of 9 hours in each field. For the two-field concentration, 15 hours are required in one field, and 12 hours in the other field. The remaining 6 elective hours toward the degree can be used either to intensify work in an already selected focus area or pursue an appropriate minor in another department. Within this framework, students are strongly advised to plan their programs with the advice and consent of the Graduate Program Coordinator, the Director of Graduate Studies, and their primary faculty advisor (Committee Chair). The student will select a Committee Chair by the second semester of coursework and, in conjunction with the Chair, select one department faculty member for each focus area chosen.
Foreign Language Requirement. No language is required for the terminal Master of Arts option
Comprehensive Examinations. M.A. non-thesis concentration students who have completed their required coursework will take comprehensive examinations in their chosen focus areas administered by their committee members. Students can take the exams in the semester they complete their coursework. In the comprehensive examinations, the student is expected to demonstrate a high level of factual knowledge, an insight into problems of meaning and interpretation, and a command of the historiography and literature of the fields selected.