Academic Programs Catalog

The Master of Arts degree program in history is designed for students who desire a general course of advanced study in the field.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission 

Admission to graduate study in the Department of History is primarily to the doctoral program. However, under certain circumstances, the department will consider applications for admission to the Master of Arts in History from students who wish to earn a master’s degree in preparation for a career in a supporting discipline or profession that does not require a Ph.D. Please consult with the Departmental Graduate Studies Director if you wish to apply for the Master of Arts in History.

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in history, an applicant must:

1. Have an official transcript forwarded from the applicant’s undergraduate institution(s) that verifies conferral of a baccalaureate degree.
2. Have the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test forwarded to the department.
3. Submit a writing sample to the department that the applicant considers to be a fair representation of the applicant’s ability to conduct scholarly research and produce academic writing.
4. Submit a statement (500-1000 words) that clearly indicates the primary field of intended study and addresses the applicant’s goals in pursuing a Master of Arts degree in History.
5. Have at least two individuals, preferably scholars with whom the applicant has had course work or other professional contact, submit letters of recommendation to the department.

An international applicant is required to have fulfilled the university's English language proficiency requirement as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog in one of the following three ways:

1. Have a  total score of 580 (paper version) or 237 (computer version) or 100 (Internet version) or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language with no subscore below 55 (paper version) or 21 (computer version).
2. Have an average score of 85 or higher on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery with no subscore below 83.
3. Have an average score of 85 or higher on the Michigan State University English Language Center Test with no subscore below 83.

Guidance Committee

Before completing 8 credits in history courses, the student, with the assistance of the Graduate Director, must constitute a guidance committee of at least two faculty members in the Department of History who represent different fields of history.  Until the student's guidance committee has been established, the student's program of study must be approved by the Graduate Director.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in History

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under either Plan A or Plan B.  The student's program of study must be approved by the student's guidance committee.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B

1. Complete HST 803 Seminar in Methodology of Historical Research (3 credits).
2. Complete at least 15 credits in 800-900 level history courses including one 3 credit course in historiography relevant to the student’s program of study.
3. Competency in a foreign language. Credits in courses in foreign language may not be counted toward the requirements for the Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy in History degree programs.

Additional Requirements for Plan A

1. Complete 6 credits of HST 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
2. Pass a final oral examination that covers the student’s program of study and thesis.

1. Pass a certifying examination, consisting of three parts, one testing the major area and two tests in each of the student’s minor areas.

The program leading to the doctoral degree with a major in history is designed to provide wide knowledge in several fields of history, specialized competence in a limited area, and research techniques that will prepare the student for a career in teaching, research, government service, private industry, and other areas of professional historical activity.
The following primary fields of study are available to doctoral students in the department:

• African–American history
• African history
• American history
• Comparative Black history
• East Asian history
• European history
• Latin American and Caribbean history
• Science and medicine
• Women and gender history

The department recognizes the high importance of developing among its doctoral candidates a proficiency in college teaching. To the limit of its resources, it undertakes to provide experience in teaching in the form of graduate assistantships, along with organized discussions of the ends and means of the teaching career.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below. 

Admission 

Students are admitted to the program for fall semester only.  The department must receive all application materials by December 1.  Decisions on admission are announced by late February. In making admissions decisions, the department considers the competencies of the faculty and the needs of students and the profession.

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in history, an applicant must:

1. Have an official transcript forwarded from the applicant’s undergraduate institution(s) that verifies conferral of a baccalaureate degree. If the applicant completed graduate course work or a graduate degree, official transcript(s) reflecting that work must also be submitted.
2. Submit a writing sample to the department that the applicant considers to be a fair representation of the applicant’s ability to conduct scholarly research and produce academic writing.
3. Submit a statement (500-1000 words) that clearly indicates the primary field of intended study, the faculty members with whom the applicant would like to work, and the reasons for choosing the field and faculty.
4. Submit a personal statement (500-1000 words) that addresses the applicant’s background as well as his or her goals in pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in History.
5. Have at least three individuals, preferably scholars with whom the applicant has had course work or other professional contact, submit letters of recommendation to the department.

An international applicant is required to have fulfilled the university's English language proficiency requirement as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog in one of the following three ways:

1. Have a total score of 580 (paper version) or 237 (computer version) or 100 (Internet version) or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language with no subscore below 55 (paper version) or 21 (computer version).
2. Have an average score of 85 or higher on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery with no subscore below 83.
3. Have an average score of 85 or higher on the Michigan State University English Language Center Test with no subscore below 83.

In rare instances, exceptional applicants whose English proficiency does not meet the minimum requirements at the time of application, will be admitted provisionally, with the understanding that the applicant must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency before admission and funding can be extended. Typically, the cutoff date to do so for fall semester is in early June.

Applicants for doctoral study should understand that the department can offer no assurance that all of the areas of professional specialization will be available to students at any particular time. It is essential that persons with specific, clearly defined academic interests communicate with the Graduate Director before making firm plans to enroll in the doctoral program.

Guidance Committee

Students entering the doctoral program will be guided by the graduate director in the selection of courses for the first year. By the end of the second semester, students should choose their major professor and their guidance committee. The committee shall consist of at least four members: two represent the student’s major field, one of whom shall chair the student’s guidance committee and direct the dissertation. In addition, two faculty members, one from each of the student’s chosen two minor fields, will serve on the committee.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in History

The student must:

The Graduate Certificate in American Studies, which is administered by the Department of History, is designed for students who wish to study the culture, history, and civilization of the United States from an inter– and multidisciplinary perspective. Students may pursue the program to complement disciplinary master’s or doctoral degree programs such as English, History, Anthropology, African American and African Studies, Chicano/Latino Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre, Music, or History of Art.  Students who are enrolled in the program explore the techniques, materials, and perspectives of American studies, American history, and American literature, as well as other related disciplines or thematic units.

The certificate is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs at Michigan State University. Students must meet the requirements of the certificate specified below, in addition to the requirements for the student’s primary degree program.

The student's program of study must be approved the Graduate Chairperson in the Department of History.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in American Studies    

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits, of which 6 credits must come from units other than the student’s primary degree program. Students pursuing a dual degree, 6 credits must come from units other than the student’s two degree programs.