College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of History
To receive a Master of Arts (MA) degree, students must demonstrate reading competency in a foreign language. In History, the MA is considered the research degree. Students planning to continue on for a doctorate should be aware that many doctoral programs in history require that students pass written proficiency exams in two or more languages.
Students may demonstrate current competence through any one of three methods:
- successful completion of two years (four semesters) of foreign language at the undergraduate level (either as an undergraduate or as a graduate student),
- passing the USU-administered language exam by showing proficiency at least up to a second-semester, second-year level of language classes,
- or taking a 3000- or 4000-level language course with a grade of C or higher.
Degree Programs and Additional Requirements
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of B- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
The Program of Study for a master’s degree must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.
Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.
The History MA degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
At least 24-semester credits for the History MA degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.
Plan A: Master of Arts Degree (Thesis-HISTORY)
The Plan A option for a master’s degree requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. The thesis option should be taken by anyone intending to do research or enter another program for the doctoral degree.
The program consists of 30 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students are required to take the following courses:
The remainder (15 credits) of the 30 credits may be taken as electives in history. Students may complete one course relevant to the degree outside the department. Students may apply a maximum of 4 internship credits earned toward the total credits required for the program. Students interested in public history should also take HIST 6020 .
Students may count one undergraduate History course toward their graduate degree. Students must request approval from the faculty member teaching the course, and in consultation with the faculty member, create an additional assignment to earn graduate credit.
Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies
- Supervisory Committee
- SGS and library review and approval
- Record of Examination
- Appointment for Examination
- Thesis/Project Approval
- Program of Study
Successful defense and submission of the thesis or dissertation to the library.
Plan B: Master of Arts Degree (Nonthesis-HISTORY)
A nonthesis master’s program can lead a student toward many career paths and is especially suited to those interested in public history. Students completing the Plan B program do not write a full-length thesis. Instead, Plan B students write a research paper of approximately 30 pages in length or develop a digital or physical public history exhibit, or another public history project (such as an annotated translation or series of lesson plans), and submit a portfolio of their graduate writing, which includes two additional and distinct pieces of writing.
The program consists of 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students are required to take the following courses:
The remainder (18 credits) of the 30 credits may be taken as electives in history. Students may complete one course relevant to the degree outside the department. Students may apply a maximum of 4 internship credits earned toward the total credits required for the program. Students interested in public history should also take HIST 6020 .
Students may count one undergraduate History course toward their graduate degree. Students must request approval from the faculty member teaching the course, and in consultation with the faculty member, create an additional assignment to earn graduate credit.
Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies
- Supervisory Committee
- Library review and approval
- Record of Examination
- Appointment for Examination
- Thesis/Project Approval
- Program of Study
Successful defense and submission of the Plan B project to the library.
Additional Information
Upon arrival at USU, students are urged to meet with the departmental graduate advisor, who will direct them to one or more faculty members with similar interests. Through consultations with the graduate and faculty advisor, the first-year student will form a thesis or project committee and formulate a course of study. By the end of the first year, students will have submitted to their committees a proposal for the thesis or project, which they will write under the close supervision of the committee members. The oral defense usually takes place in the spring semester of the second year.
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