History M.A.

View information for the Department of History .

Master’s Degree programs

Master of Arts - for persons interested in pursuing the study of history for college teaching or for other purposes. Students who plan to study for the Ph.D. are advised to learn to read one foreign language and advised to complete a master’s thesis.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. advanced skills in critical thinking and analysis
2. the ability to locate secondary and primary historical sources in all forms
3. the ability to analyze primary sources, understanding the importance of historical context
4. effective written and oral communication skills
5. the ability to cite sources properly
6. the ability to perceive any given event from more than one cultural viewpoint

Requirements for Admission

A.  For students who have majored in History, the following are required:

1. A Bachelor of Arts degree in History.
2. Completion of a senior thesis.
3. An overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in their history major.
4. Two professional letters of recommendation.  These letters are not required if the student has completed 15 or more units of upper-division History at Stanislaus State.

Students who meet these requirements and are granted admission to the program after review by the History Graduate Committee will be admitted under Conditional Classified Status.

B.  Students who have not majored in History, but who have completed a minimum of four upper-division history courses, including a senior thesis course, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 in those courses, may also be considered for admission under Conditional Classified status if they meet the following requirements:

1. A Bachelor of Arts degree in a field closely related to history.
2. An overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in their major.
3. Two professional letters of recommendation.

C.  Students who have not majored in History, or who have not completed a minimum of four upper-division history courses, including a senior thesis course, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 in those courses, may be considered for admission under Provisional Status in the program at the discretion of the History Graduate Committee if they meet the following requirements:

1. A Bachelor of Arts degree in a field closely related to history.
2. An overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in their major.
3. Two professional letters of recommendation.

D.  Students who otherwise meet the requirements for admission but have an overall G.P.A. and/or a G.P.A. in their major of less than 3.0 but at least 2.9 may be considered for admission under Provisional Status.

E.  Students who are admitted under Provisional Status must meet the following requirements within one year before they can be advanced to Conditional Classified Status:

1. Complete three 4000-level history courses at Stanislaus State, including completing the extra work required of graduate students in these courses, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher.  Students will receive graduate credit for these courses if they are advanced to Conditional Classified Status.
2. Completed Senior Seminar if they have not already completed this course prior to admission.

Progression toward Degree

1. Upon admittance, students will be assigned an adviser, usually the Chair of the Graduate Committee.
2. Unless admitted under “Provisional” status, students begin with “Conditionally Classified” status.
3. After completing 10 units of history or other preapproved courses with a 3.0 G.P.A. or higher, assuming all other prerequisites have been met, the student will be evaluated for “Classified” status.
4. Pending completion of all classes counting toward the M.A., minus the thesis (if the student chooses the thesis option), each student must write a letter to the Chair of the Graduate Committee announcing his/her readiness to take comprehensive exams.
5. Students must take their comprehensive exams within one calendar year of completing their coursework, minus the thesis, during the times specified by the department.
6. Upon completing all requirements for the M.A., the student achieves “Candidacy” status and is eligible for graduation.
7. The maximum period for completion of the M.A., including coursework taken under provisional status that is counted toward the degree, is seven years.

Degree Requirements

1. Thirty units are required, of which 24 units are to be taken in courses offered by Stanislaus State.  If the thesis option is chosen, up to 6 of the 30 units may be thesis units.
2. A minimum of 21 of the 30 units must be at the 5000 level.  The remaining units may be at the 4000 level or the 5000 level.
3. No coursework graded below B- “Credit/No Credit” courses may fulfill any M.A. requirement, with the exception of thesis units, which are always “Credit/No Credit” units.
4. A comprehensive written examination is required of all candidates and will cover all work taken in the program. In addition, if the thesis option is chosen, an oral defense of the thesis is required.
5. Students not choosing the thesis option must submit at least two substantial papers, written during graduate classes, for his/her file prior to graduation.
6. In the papers, examination, and thesis, the student is expected to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter and its historiography, as well as competence in the following three skills: ability to conduct research, analytical ability, and ability to communicate clearly.