The Vanderbilt history program does not have predetermined fields of study. In consultation with their adviser and the director of graduate studies, students define a major field and two minor fields that meet their interests and needs. The major field is typically defined as a long-time span and either a regional or a national geographic framework (for example, Europe 1600–1789 or modern Germany). A large topical field such as legal history, economic history, the history of race and diaspora, modern medical history, or the Reformation may also be appropriate. One of the minor fields may be a subfield of the major field, defined by topic and/or geography. An example would be a major field on modern Latin America combined with a minor field on Brazil. The other minor field must be distant from the major field in terms of topic, chronology, and/or geography. Typically, this field will have theoretical, cross-cultural, and/or interdisciplinary components (e.g., comparative slavery, postcolonial theory and history, comparative nationalisms). This field may be primarily based in a department other than history or in an interdisciplinary program that trains students at the graduate level.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS
The Department of History does not accept external applications for a terminal master's degree. The M.A. can be earned in passing to the Ph.D. after successful completion of 30 formal, didactic hours and two research papers. The M.A. is also available to Vanderbilt undergraduates who enroll in Vanderbilt's 4+1 program. A manageable percentage of the 30 formal, didactic hours required for the M.A. is expected to be accomplished during the undergraduate career. Students interested in the 4 +1 program should discuss plans with the History DGS in their junior year.