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."
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
This 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.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. History | 9 | |
| Choose three of the following | ||
| 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 | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following | ||
| 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 | 9 | |
| 9 SCH can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus | ||
| Oral History Methodology | ||
| Methods in Public History | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship | ||
or HIST 5936 | Internship | |
| Seminar in Public History | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| HIST 5033 | Research Methods in History | 3 |
| HIST 5983 | Thesis | 3 |
| HIST 5993 | Thesis | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 30 | |
Professional Paper Option
Minimum of 36 semester credit hours, including 3 SCH for the professional paper.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. History | 9 | |
| Choose three of the following | ||
| 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 | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following | ||
| 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 | |
| 18 SCH can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus | ||
| Oral History Methodology | ||
| Methods in Public History | ||
| Seminar in Public History | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship | ||
or HIST 5936 | Internship | |
| Required Courses | ||
| HIST 5033 | Research Methods in History | 3 |
| HIST 5973 | Professional Paper | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 36 | |
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 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.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. History | 9 | |
| Choose three of the following | ||
| 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 | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following | ||
| 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 | 3 | |
| One elective can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus | ||
| Oral History Methodology | ||
| Methods in Public History | ||
| Seminar in Public History | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| HIST 5033 | Research Methods in History | 3 |
| HIST 5973 | Professional Paper | 3 |
| Graduate Certificate in Political Science | ||
| POLS 5033 | Research Methods in Government | 3 |
| Global/Comparative Politics - Choose one of the following | 3 | |
| Comparative Politics | ||
| American International Relations | ||
| Political Theory | 3 | |
| Seminar in Political Theory | ||
| Public Policy - Choose one of the following | 3 | |
| American National Defense Policy | ||
| The Presidency and Public Policy | ||
| Rights, Race, and Social Justice | ||
| U.S. Politics, Law, and Government - Choose one of the following | 3 | |
| Issues in Constitutional Law | ||
| Law, Gender, and Sexuality | ||
| Leadership and Women | ||
| Women in Politics | ||
| Women, Elections, and Strategy | ||
| Problems in the Legislative Process | ||
| Vietnam War: Culture, History, and Law | ||
| Women As Citizens | ||
| Special Topics (can be used for any category depending on the subject.) | ||
| One elective can be chosen from any of the classes listed above plus | 3 | |
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship | ||
| Capstone written portfolio and oral defense | ||
| Total SCHs | 39 | |
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 is required.
