Master of Arts in History
Requirements for the General Master of Arts in History
For curious, budding scholars, Iowa State University's Department
of History offers a graduate program leading to a master's degree
in history. Because of the diversity of students and interests at
ISU, the department has constructed an M.A. program flexible enough
to service varied needs while maintaining rigorous expectations across
the program.
For students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree with the intent
of becoming teachers and researchers at the college level, the department
offers two different plans designed to facilitate transfer to Ph.D.
programs in history. The department also offers a separate plan for
students more concerned with upgrading their knowledge or with advancing
their position as educators. Although these plans and options vary,
the department holds all students to the same exacting standards of
knowledge and proficiency.
PREREQUISITES
Students must satisfy the following requirements before being admitted
to the Master's program:
-
Admission to the Graduate College
-
Completion of the general test of the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE)
-
21 semester credits or equivalent in history
OR approval of the Department.
-
For international students, a TOFEL score of
600 is required at the time of admission.
PRELIMINARIES
First semester of Residence:
All new students shall confer with the Chairman of the Department
during the registration period and then with the M.A. program Student
Coordinator.
Second semester of Residence:
Each student shall choose a tenure-line faculty member as their
major advisor
Program of Study Committee
Together they must select an advisory Program of Study (POS)
committee. This committee shall consist of at least three members,
including the student's advisor and one member who comes from
outside the Department of History.
Following consultation with the advisory committee, the student
must submit a Program of Study. The committee members coordinate
the examination procedures, and should come to a clear understanding
with the candidate well before oral examinations on the areas
to be examined. (See detailed descriptions of options under Plan
I and Plan II.) All history faculty on the committee participate
in the written examination, and all members of the committee participate
in the oral examination.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
While pursuing their course work, students must be mindful of the
following general requirements of their study:
-
Maximum course load: 15 credits
per semester; graduate assistants must take a lighter load
-
Grades: A student must maintain
a 'B' average in all work at the graduate level in order to remain
in good standing. Grades lower than a 'B' will be cause for departmental
review of the student's status.
-
Coursework: At least 30 credits
of acceptable work, at least 21 of which must be in history. (All
history credits included in the 30 credit minimum must be at the
graduate level [400, 500, and 600].) A history graduate student
may take any 400-level course except 490 and 495 for major graduate
credit; however, no more than 12 credits of 400-level history courses
may be used toward the minimum credits required for the degree as
listed on the Program of Study. No more than 6 credits of History
590, Special Topics, may be included in the minimum 30 credits submitted
for the degree.
DEGREE TRACKS
There are three plans for meeting requirements for the M.A. degree.
Plan I and Plan II are suggested for students hoping to apply in the
future to Ph.D. programs. The Ph.D.-track degrees emphasize field readings
and original research. Plan III is for students desiring a terminal
master's degree, and emphasizes field readings, with some research.
Please note: students wishing to pursue a terminal master's are
also allowed to pursue either Plan I or Plan II if they desire.
Plan I - Ph.D. Track
This option requires students to complete at least 24 credits of
course work and 6 credits of research (HIST 699) leading to a master's
thesis. As part of the course work, students must complete at least
6 credits in graduate seminars, 3 credits of which must be in a research
seminar.
Plan II - Ph.D. Track
This option requires students to complete at least 27 credits of
course work and 3 credits of research credits (HIST 699) in order
to extend one seminar paper into the equivalent of a publishable article.
As part of the course work, students must complete at least 12 credits
in graduate seminars, 6 credits of which must be in research seminars.
Plan III - Terminal Master's Degree
This Plan emphasizes field readings, with some research. This option
requires students to complete at least 36 credits of course work.
As part of the course work, students must complete at least 3 credits
in a graduate research seminar.
Graduate Seminars
Graduate seminars are defined as 500-level courses which fall into
one of two categories: 1) readings courses and proseminars; and 2)
research seminars.
EXAMINATIONS
Oral exam
Following completion of the research component, the student shall schedule
an oral defense before the advisory committee following rules and timelines
defined by the Graduate College. This will consist of a two-hour exam,
and the committee will award a "no pass," "weak pass,"
"pass," or "pass with distinction." Students who
fail the exam can retake it in the following semester, but a second
failure will result in dismissal from the program.
MINOR FIELD
A student may take a minor field, which will usually consist of 9 credits
of 400- and 500-level courses in a complementary discipline or combination
of disciplines. If all credits are taken in history, the student, in
consultation with the major professor, should select a distribution
of courses outside the major emphasis.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
- During the registration period of the first semester in residence,
students will confer with the Chairman of the Department and then
with the Graduate Student Coordinator.
- Early in the second semester of residence, students must select
a major professor and, in consultation with the major professor, a
Program of Study (POS) Committee
- Early in the second semester of residence, in consultation with
the POS Committee, the student must submit a Program of Study (POS)
- Early in the second semester of residence, students must select
topics for the seminars they expect to take, or their thesis topic,
depending on the program they pursue.
- By the end of the third semester in residence, the research tool
requirement should be fulfilled.
- By the middle of the semester preceding the semester of graduation,
a student must submit a diploma slip.
- Students in residence who submit applications for assistantships
shall do so by February 15.
DISMISSAL POLICY
Graduate students in the History Department's Master's Degree Program
may be dismissed for the following reasons:
- Failure to identify a major professor and committee of study within
twelve months of admission.
- Failure to file a Program of Study form within twelve months of
admission.
- Failure to maintain a B average.
- Inability to meet program requirements in a timely manner.
- Failure to complete the degree requirements in three years or five
summer sessions.
- The Master's Program Director of Graduate Education will notify
the student in writing of his or her deficiencies and meet to decide
the disposition of the case. The student will be notified in writing
of the outcome.
- Dismissals may be appealed to the Chair of the History Department,
who will notify the student in writing of the outcome.
- The dismissal of part-time students will be determined by the program
director in consultation with the program committee.
