HISTORY DEPARTMENT HOMEPAGE

Degree Requirements, M.A. in History

Degree requirements:

     The MA in History requires 32 graduate credits at the 700-level, with all graduate courses designated at four credits, for a total of eight courses. Students must take at least one course in each of four of the program's five areas of concentration, the Historical Methods course (HST 701), and the two thesis seminars (HST 798 and HST 799).

     Students with initial certification in Adolescence Education (social studies) who wish to obtain professional certification will complete a program of 36 credits. They will take HST 798 (4 credits) and HST 799 (4 credits). In addition, they will take EDS 691 Advanced Studies in Teaching Secondary School Social Studies (3 credits) and an independent study course (1 credit) in the Department of Education in the same semester in which they enroll in HST 799 (Thesis Tutorial Seminar). For further information about these certification requirements, consult the Office of Teacher Certification Services of the New York City Department of Education at 212.420.1830. For helpful and thorough information, also visit the NYSUT's Teacher Certification in New York State report.

Areas of concentration:

     History of Africa and the Middle East
     History of Asia
     History of Europe
     History of Latin America and the Caribbean
     History of the United States

Thesis:

     Students in their third semester will take the four-credit HST 798 (Preparation of Thesis Proposal Seminar) with an additional four-credit HST 799 (Thesis Tutorial Seminar) during the fourth semester.

a. In the preparation of a proposal seminar, thesis students will develop their topic, begin research, collect bibliography, and receive instruction in research methodology and historical writing. Students will write an historiographical essay, reviewing the broader historical literature of their subject and relating their own approach to the field. Students will work with a thesis director in their field from the department faculty.

b. The thesis director will continue to supervise the thesis student during the semester in the tutorial seminar. The thesis will be accepted in partial completion of the degree when it is approved by the thesis director , and the second and third readers, and is deposited in the department's archives.