Basic Outline of Completing a Graduate Degree in History
The Process of Completing a Master’s Degree. Section A below is an example for a full time student on the Thesis or Public History Track. Those on the Educator track are part time with a different schedule in Section B below.
Section A — Full Time Thesis or Public History track
Year 1
Fall First semester: take History 500 and complete “Program Development form” (ideally in the week before the start of the semester). You do not need to form your committee during the first semester. Think about and develop a topic or theme for your thesis/project. Also take History 502 and History 585 (Highly recommended). Get your bearings and get to know your “cohort.” There will be activities in furtherance of this.
Winter Break – Take a break – you won’t get one again.
Spring Second semester: take History 501 and organize your Supervisory Committee and write Thesis/Project/Portfolio proposal. Plan on what research you might do over the summer. Fill out the Application for Supervisory Committee form. Apply for travel funds to travel for research. Begin writing a little. Complete thesis/project/portfolio discussion form.
Summer: Do primary source research.
Year 2
Fall Third semester – Complete coursework and begin serious writing of your thesis/project.
Winter Break: Complete the Application to Candidacy form after your classes are complete. Upon successful completion of classes you become a “Master’s candidate.” You will probably need to work over the winter break if you want to graduate in the spring semester.
Spring Fourth semester: Apply to graduate!!! Don’t forget that!!! Complete thesis/project. Thesis students notify the Graduate College of your defense date at least two weeks in advance. All students defend Thesis/Project/Portfolio and fill out the Defense form. Thesis students upload their thesis and paperwork to Grad College (several forms).
Section B — Educator Track
Year 1
Fall
History 503 (3 cr) History for Advanced Secondary Educators:
This class sets the tone for your entire time here. Crafted by a veteran secondary educator and professor, this class asks students to think about new ideas in teaching. All incoming students in the Educator Track will take this course together. In fact, as you progress through the program you will interact with your cohort quite often allowing you to develop a support network with fellow students.
History 504 Master Teacher Practicum Lab (1 cr)
The Practicum lab is a course that will be facilitated by a master teacher with vast experience as a secondary educator. This lab gathers together students from your cohort, as well as others, and works to get the new ideas and information learned in classes into practical use in the classroom in real time – classes you may be teaching at that moment. Entire class is on zoom
Spring
History 500 (3 cr) The Nature of History:
Here also the entire cohort you are a part of takes this class together. This class delves into the complex nature of historical causation and will begin the student process of undergoing graduate level research into a field of the student’s choice by looking at the historiography of that subject. Entire class is on zoom.
History 504 (1 cr) Master Teacher Practicum Lab
Summer
History 501 (3 cr) Practice of History:
This class works off of the historiographical work in History 500 and guides you into writing a serious graduate level research paper on your topic based upon primary sources. Entire class is on zoom.
History 504 (1 cr) Master Teacher Practicum Lab
Year 2
Fall
History 58x elective (3 cr):
Now you will begin taking elective classes. We will have several to choose from. This is where you may begin remotely zooming in to in person classes
History 504 (1 cr) Master Teacher Practicum Lab:
Spring
History 58x elective (3 cr)
History 504 Master Teacher Practicum Lab (1 cr)
Summer
History 58x elective (3 cr)
History 504 Master Teacher Practicum Lab (1 cr)
Year 3
Fall
History 595 Readings and Conference elective (3 cr)
This class is an option that allows for a readings and conference with one faculty member. The student reads a selection of books on a narrower subject area of interest and discussed the material with a faculty member once every week or two.
History 504 Master Teacher Practicum Lab(1 cr)
Spring
History 58x elective (3 cr)
History 504 Master Teacher Practicum Lab (1 cr)
Summer
History 592 Portfolio (1 cr):
This class, is the culmination project and asks you to put together what you have learned over three years into a professional portfolio. It is the capstone class for the degree and is where you will show off and be proud of what you have done.
Graduate Total
33 Credits