HIST500: The Nature of History (3-0-3)(F). Analysis of what historians do and how the discipline has developed over time. Examines the major controversies over method and interpretation. Oral and written participation and a major paper are required. PREREQ: Admission to History graduate program or PERM/INST or PERM/GRAD COORD.
HIST501: The Practice of History (3-0-3)(S). Historical research methods course focusing on critical analyses of historical sources and scholarship. Emphasis placed upon honing research, writing, and other professional skills. In addition to evaluating published historical scholarship, students will design and conduct an original, article-length historical research project based on primary and secondary sources and engage in critical peer review of their peers’ work. PREREQ: Admitted to History MA.
HIST502: Public History in Theory and Practice (3-0-3)(F). Examines different modes of publicly-oriented and -engaged historical research, analysis, and narrative generally referred to as “public history,” explores conceptual and practical challenges and opportunities within public history, and introduces a variety of careers and vocations in public history. PREREQ: Admitted to History MA.
HIST503: Methods of Teaching History (3-0-3)(S/SU). Explores pedagogical practices focusing on selected applications. Emphasizes integrating historical thinking skills with content, demonstrated through submitted lesson plans. PREREQ: Admitted to History graduate program.
HIST504: Practicum Lab. This course is taken by all Educator Track students at one credit per semester. This class is instructed by a working master teacher in Idaho who helps integrate regular graduate course learning into secondary education classes.
HIST580: Selected Topics: Graduate Seminar Eastern Hemisphere History (3-0-3)(F/S/SU). Critical analyses of source materials and historical scholarship on topics of restricted scope in the Eastern Hemisphere (Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East). Emphases placed upon student reports, class discussions, individual research on relevant topics, and the writing of historical papers. May be repeated for credit. PREREQ: Admitted to History MA.
HIST581: Selected Topics: Graduate Seminar in Western Hemisphere History (3-0-3)(F/S/SU). Critical analyses of source materials and historical scholarship on topics of restricted scope in Western Hemisphere history (Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the United States). Emphases placed upon student reports, class discussions, individual research on relevant topics, and the writing of historical papers. May be repeated for credit. PREREQ: Admitted to History MA.
HIST582: Selected Topics: Graduate Seminar in Global/Transnational History (3-0-3)(F/S/SU). Critical analyses of source materials and historical scholarship on topics of restricted scope in global or transnational history. Emphases placed upon student reports, class discussions, individual research on relevant topics, and the writing of historical papers. May be repeated for credit. PREREQ: Admitted to History MA.
HIST585: Selected Topics: Themes in History (3-0-3)(F/S/SU). Critical analyses of historical scholarship and source materials on a selected topic in history. Emphases placed upon analyzing scholarship, class discussion, and the nature of historical research. Intensive reading and writing. May be repeated for credit. COREQ: HIST500 or Admission to History graduate program or PERM/INST
HIST590: Internships are available, and can be of immense value, depending upon your track and your field of study. See the internship coordinator if you are interested. MA students may take up to 9 and Public History students may take up to 12 credits in internships. You may register for internship credit until the sixth week of the semester.
HIST591: Project / 592: Portfolio / 593:Thesis — While working on your thesis, portfolio or project, you will sign up for three-to-six thesis, portfolio or project credits. A student will enroll for these credits only after having successfully defended a project/portfolio/thesis prospectus (see below). There is no class time or coursework involved in these credits. When you finish your thesis, portfolio or project, you will receive a grade of pass or fail for these credits. Prior to taking these credits, you must fill out and submit the “Application for Graduate Thesis/Portfolio/Project” when signing up for their respective credits. Know that you must be registered for at least one of these types of credits during the semester in which you hope to graduate.
HIST594: Workshops focus on particular and limited themes and methodological approaches to history. They are run in seminar style. In the past, workshops have been offered on oral history, archives, and other similar topics.
HIST595: Readings and Conference. The Graduate College describes this class as the conduct of topical research, assigned readings or literature review. The faculty advisor and the student prepare and sign an agreement describing the amount and type of work to be accomplished. As practiced in the History Department, this class will have you read extensively on a topic and discuss the readings weekly or biweekly with the professor. This course enables you to work on themes/topics that are not ordinarily covered by regular departmental course offerings. Feel free to approach a member of the department about arranging a Readings and Conference; you and the professor will fill out the appropriate contract form. Please be aware that in any given semester, a professor, depending on his/her workload, may not be able to offer such a course.
HIST596: Independent Study. The Graduate College describes this class as advanced study of a specialized topic; design and completion of a project may be included in the study. The student works with a high degree of independence to meet well defined goals under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty. History 596 may not be used for work on your thesis. As practiced by the History Department this course is directed research with a member of the department and you will complete a significant research paper based upon primary sources in the 40-50 page range. It also requires you to complete a contract, and also is subject to the availability of the professor you wish to work with.
Courses outside of history
If you wish to incorporate related courses from an outside field into your program of study, you may take up to nine credits in that field. Consult with your advisor or supervisory committee chair. You will have to discuss it with the instructor of the class first in order to get permission to attend.