2013-2014 Academic Catalog

Apr 19, 2024

2013-2014 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in History, BA/MA

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Overview

The M.A. in History provides the highly-motivated student with an opportunity to work intensively under the direction of one or two faculty members. During the senior year, honors students enroll in upper-level undergraduate courses that include graduate students. As M.A. students, they work in a graduate seminar with Ph.D. students in upper-level undergraduate courses. M.A. students also participate in individually-designed tutorials under the direction of a faculty advisor. By undertaking intensive research in primary sources in the undergraduate honors program, students are prepared to complete the Master’s degree no later than August of their fifth year.

Departmental eligibility requirements

The M.A. in history is open only to history undergraduate majors who successfully complete the honors program in history.

Program of study

In the senior year, students take eight courses, three of which are in the Honors Program: one directed readings course (HIST 299) in the general area of the student’s research, and two Honors Thesis courses (HIST 297), one each semester, in which the student conducts research in primary sources and completes an honors thesis (followed by an oral defense with the thesis advisor and one other department faculty member). Othe five remaining courses, the student would typically take several other history courses, mostly at the 200 level and related to the student’s area of specialization.

Option 1:

The traditional master’s thesis, which is usually done over two semesters (one thesis research course each semester) often with the writing being completed after the academic year is finished. While this is recommended for those students who intend to continue on in a Ph.D. program, it is difficult to complete all the required course work and a master’s thesis within one academic year.

Option 2:

One research paper in each semester (either from a graduate seminar or a directed research course. The two research papers are usually revised (on the advice of one or more faculty members) and then submitted to the director of graduate studies who, with one or more other faculty members, determine that the two research papers are the equivalent in research experience to the traditional master’s thesis.

Program advisor

(Signature Required on Application: Part 1)
Professor Drew McCoy
History Department
Jefferson Academic Center
508-793-7288
History@clarku.edu

Advice for students

The most important advice for students wishing to enter the B.A./M.A. program in history is that they need to acquire the necessary research and writing skills as an undergraduate in order to complete the rigorous research requirements for the master’s degree within one year. The student ideally should decide by the sophomore year to become a History major, and should take History 120, Writing History, in the second semester of the sophomore year. Then in the junior year, the student should take several 200-level history courses, and at least one seminar, in preparation for the honors program in History in the senior year. Students must take a seminar in advance of undertaking honors. The honors program, with three courses in the senior year, two of which are devoted to research and writing the honors thesis, provides excellent training for the rigors of graduate-level work in the fifth year.