Master of Arts in History - Beginning Fall 2008
The Master of Arts in History promotes a community of scholars dedicated to excellence in teaching, professional and community service, and research. It is designed for teachers seeking to strengthen their history content, for students planning their professional careers with a background in history, for individuals seeking career advancement or personal enrichment, and for students preparing for doctoral programs.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Master fields of historical knowledge and methodologies.
2. Develop advanced skills of critical analysis in writing and discussion, especially in evaluating sources and writing methods.
3. Strengthen history content for educators; and prepare for professional careers and admission to doctoral programs.
The Master of Arts in History can be completed within a single academic year (including summer) or through the course of four summers.
Degree Requirements
The 45 credit degree consists of the following course requirements:
HST 698 Methods, Research and Writing (5 credits)
Two Seminars:
One seminar in a primary field (4 credits)
One seminar in a secondary field (4 credits)
Five graduate courses in a primary field (20 credits)
Three graduate courses in a secondary field (12 credits)
A minimum of 23 credits are to be completed at the 600-level.
Up to 15 credit hours of relevant courses in other departments may be taken with prior approval from the History faculty.
As explained above, graduate students enrolled in the history department will complete coursework in a primary field (20 credits) and a secondary field (12 credits). The history department offers graduate courses in three fields: North American History, European History, and World (Latin American and Asian) History.
Research and writing are integral components of all graduate coursework at the 500 and 600 levels. In each of the two Seminars (HST 600), students will complete a research paper equivalent to an article-length publication. Topics courses (HST 610, 620, 630) emphasize historiography through extensive reading and analysis of secondary sources. Students enrolled in 500 level courses will complete equivalent graduate-level coursework emphasizing historiographic and/or primary source research in consultation with History faculty.
Students will be required to take comprehensive exams in their primary and secondary fields of study. Comprehensive exams will be based on completed course-work and will take place in the final quarter of enrollment in the program.
Admission
Requirements
Admission to the graduate program adheres to the guidelines laid down for general admission by the Graduate Studies program.
Students must hold a Bachelor’s degree in History or Social
Science with 28 credit hours in History of which 20 credit hours must be
upper-division, from an accredited
Students must have either a GPA of 3.00 or above for the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate study.
Students must be accepted into the program by the History Department faculty. The selection process for admission into the program is based on a qualitative evaluation of the student’s previous academic work and potential success in this professional field.
Students can enroll in graduate classes either through acceptance in the MA program or by permission of the instructor.
Students are also required to show proficiency in a second language in consultation with the History Department by passing an exam approved or administered by the department. Students can opt to take language courses in addition to their graduate courses with departmental approval.
Application
Procedures and Guidelines
To apply to the Master of Arts in History program, prospective students must apply for admission to both: 1) Graduate Studies at WOU; and 2) the Master of Arts in History Program. Applicants are only admitted into the Master of Arts in History program upon acceptance by both Graduate Studies at WOU and the History MA program. The dual-path application process can be completed by submitting the following:
1) An Application for Graduate Admission to WOU. Prospective students must submit an application for graduate admission and the nonrefundable and nontransferable $50 application fee directly to the Graduate Studies Office. Applicants also must supply to the Admissions Office sealed official transcripts from all non-WOU institutions attended. For complete instructions and guidelines, see the Application for Graduate Admission available online at http://www.wou.edu/provost/graduate/gradproc.php#adm or contact the Graduate Studies Office at 503-838-8492; email graduateoffice@wou.edu.
2) An Application to the Master of Arts in History program. Applicants must also submit directly to the Chair of the Department of History:
- A Statement of Purpose (In the Statement of Purpose, applicants should discuss how their undergraduate studies have prepared them for their graduate work in history. Applicants should also identify the specific fields and topics they wish to study and explain why. The statement should also include a discussion of how the applicants see the MA in History fitting into their academic and professional lives and why they feel WOU can help prepare them.)
- A writing sample (Applicants should submit a research paper or thesis. The writing sample should not include instructor’s comments or grade notations.)
- Three sealed letters of recommendation (At least two of the letters should be from individuals with whom you have worked in an academic setting and who can comment on your academic performance and writing. Applicants should provide each referee with a signed waiver form, to be included with the sealed letter. The waiver form is available at this link.)
- GRE scores (official or unofficial copy acceptable)
- Copies of all academic transcripts (official or unofficial acceptable)
Graduate Teaching
Assistantships (GTAs)
As GTA positions become available, the history faculty will award them on a competitive basis. Students wishing to be considered for these positions should include a completed GTA application form, available at this link. Application deadline for GTA positions is June 1, 2008.
Application Deadline
The Master of Arts in History program will begin fall
2008. Applications will be considered
beginning
For Additional
Information please contact:
Dr. David Doellinger
Associate Professor and Chair
Maaske 220
Department of History
(tel) 503-838-8254
(fax) 503-838-8635