Master of Arts in History

Website: https://twu.edu/history/graduate-programs/master-of-arts-in-history/

The Department of Social Science and Historical Studies' mission to provide global citizens with a multicultural view of the past resonates with graduate course offerings that emphasize the historical experiences of women, men, and children of varied races, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds.  In addition, the department’s graduate program in history challenges students to further develop critical and analytical thinking skills through close interaction with primary source materials and historiographic interpretation. 

We also have an M.A. in History with an Emphasis in Public History.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. ​Solid writing and compositional skills. The M.A. in History develops this skill by requiring students to engage in clear, persuasive, grammatically, and stylistically correct writing projects (primarily although not exclusively research papers).
  2. ​Evaluate new or contradictory points of view. The M.A. in History develops these skills by requiring students to take a class in Historiography/research and methods which demands that students critically analyze and interpret different historical narratives of events.
  3. Work independently on projects. The M.A. in History develops this skill by requiring all students to complete an independent, original piece of scholarship in the form of a Master's thesis or professional paper.

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours Required

30-39 semester credit hours (SCH) minimum with at least 21 SCH of course work in the major.

Students will take at least 9 SCH in U.S. history and 3 SCH in non-U.S. history. Students are encouraged to distribute the 9 U.S. history SCH across the following fields: 17th or 18th century US history, 19th century U.S. history, and U.S. history since 1900.

Thesis Option

Minimum of 30 semester credit hours, including 6 SCH for the thesis.

U.S. History
Choose three of the following9
Studies in 19th Century U.S
Women in Early America
Religion in an Atlantic World, 1450-1776
Seminar in Native American History
Seminar on Civil War and Reconstruction
Material Culture in Early America
Progressives
American Experience in World War II
Between the Wars
Women in Early America
U.S. Since 1945
Non-U.S. History
Choose one of the following3
Renaissance and Reformations
History of France
Seminar in Caribbean History
Slavery in the Americas
Seminar in European History
Special Topics (Can be used for any category depending on the subject.)
Electives
Nine SCH can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus9
Oral History Methodology
Methods in Public History
Independent Study
Internship
Internship
Seminar in Public History
Required Courses
HIST 5033Research Methods in History3
HIST 5983Thesis3
HIST 5993Thesis3
Total SCHs30

Professional Paper/Project Option

Minimum of 36 semester credit hours, including 3 SCH for the professional paper/project.

U.S. History
Choose three of the following9
Studies in 19th Century U.S
Women in Early America
Religion in an Atlantic World, 1450-1776
Seminar in Native American History
Seminar on Civil War and Reconstruction
Material Culture in Early America
Progressives
American Experience in World War II
Between the Wars
Women in Early America
U.S. Since 1945
Non-U.S. history
Choose one of the following3
Renaissance and Reformations
History of France
Seminar in Caribbean History
Slavery in the Americas
Seminar in European History
Special Topics (Can be used for any category depending on the subject.)
Electives
18 SCH can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus18
Oral History Methodology
Methods in Public History
Seminar in Public History
Independent Study
Independent Study
Internship
Internship
Required Courses
HIST 5033Research Methods in History3
HIST 5973Professional Paper/Project3
Total SCHs36

M.A. in History with Graduate Certificate in Political Science

Couples 21 semester credit hours (SCH) of graduate study in history with 18 SCH of graduate study in political science. Graduates of the certificate program write a professional paper/project and receive an M.A. in History but earn a certificate in political science and have enough graduate hours to teach in both history and political science in Texas community colleges.

Minimum of 39 semester credit hours, including 3 SCH for the professional paper/project.

U.S. History
Choose three of the following9
Studies in 19th Century U.S
Women in Early America
Religion in an Atlantic World, 1450-1776
Seminar in Native American History
Seminar on Civil War and Reconstruction
Material Culture in Early America
Progressives
American Experience in World War II
Between the Wars
Women in Early America
U.S. Since 1945
Non-U.S. history
Choose one of the following3
Renaissance and Reformations
History of France
Seminar in Caribbean History
Slavery in the Americas
Seminar in European History
Special Topics (Can be used for any category depending on the subject.)
Electives
One elective can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus3
Oral History Methodology
Methods in Public History
Seminar in Public History
Independent Study
Independent Study
Internship
Required Courses
HIST 5033Research Methods in History3
HIST 5973Professional Paper/Project3
Graduate Certificate in Political Science
POLS 5033Research Methods in Government3
U.S. Politics & Public Policy - Choose one of the following3
State and Local Politics
Seminar in American Politics
America's National Parks and Public Lands: History, Culture, and Law
Popular Culture and American Politics
Seminar in Public Policy
Global Politics & Theory - Choose one of the following3
Comparative Politics
Dilemmas in Immigration Policy
American International Relations
Seminar in Political Theory
Gender & Politics - Choose one of the following3
Law, Gender, and Sexuality
Leadership and Women
Women in Politics
Women of Color in Politics
Women, Elections, and Strategy
One elective can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus6
Special Topics (can be used for any category depending on the subject.)
Independent Study
Independent Study
Internship
Capstone written portfolio and oral defense
Total SCHs39

Minor

Optional. All minors must be approved by the student’s graduate committee and must include at least 6 semester credit hours.

Special Requirement

No grade lower than B can be counted toward meeting the minimum number of semester credit hours required.  Students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Political Science will complete and defend a portfolio that describes their course work and research in political science. 

Final Examination

An oral defense of the thesis or professional paper/project is required.