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Columbia Campus    
2019-2020 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
 
  Nov 21, 2024
 
2019-2020 Graduate Studies Bulletin

History, M.A.



Learning Outcomes

  • Students demonstrate excellence with a grade of B+ or above in HIST 700. 
  • Students successfully complete HIST 720 with a grade of B+ or above. 
  • Students successfully defend their MA thesis and are prepared for graduation. 

Degree Requirements (30 Hours)

The M.A. in History is offered in the following fields:

  • Ancient world
  • Medieval world
  • Early modern Europe
  • Modern Europe
  • History of culture, identity, and economic development
  • History of science, technology, and environment
  • Middle East
  • East Asia
  • Latin America
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • U.S. to 1877
  • U.S. since 1789.

Candidates for the M.A. degree shall file a program of study during their first semester of study and in no case later than 12 months after entering the program.

Candidates for the M.A. in History take a minimum of 30 semester hours, of which not more than 6 hours are for the thesis.

Credit hours shall be distributed as follows:

Required Introductory Course (3 Hours)


Required of all entering M.A. students.

800-level Research Seminar (3 Hours)


At least one is required.

Additional Coursework in a Second Field (9 Hours)


Thesis Preparation (3 Hours)


Additional Information


A reading knowledge of one foreign language or competence in an appropriate methodology is required. Choice of the latter must be approved by the Graduate Committee.

The M.A. thesis will be an expanded version of the student’s 800-level research seminar paper, revised to the standard of a potentially publishable article-length essay. Normally, students will submit the thesis in the semester after completion of the 800-level research seminar paper, but students who complete their 800-level seminar in their first year may petition the Graduate Committee to submit their thesis during their final semester in the M.A. program. The thesis must be submitted in accordance with the regulations of The Graduate School.

Following successful completion of an 800-level research seminar, students will take an oral comprehensive examination on their thesis. In this examination, students will be asked to place their thesis in historiographic perspective. Normally, students will take the comprehensive examination in the semester after they complete an 800-level seminar. However, students who complete an 800-level seminar in their first year may petition the Graduate Committee to take their M.A. examination during their final semester in the program.