Master of Arts Program in History
The department of Geography, Sociology, History, African American Studies, and Anthropology offers graduate study in African, European, United States and African-American history, Ancient history and the History of Religion.
Opportunities
The degree of Master of Arts in history is a multipurpose degree designed to prepare students for more effective teaching of history as in-service teachers who may wish to attain supervisory positions or employment at the community college level. It also provides excellent preparation for those wishing careers in research and publishing, the legal field, public administration, the diplomatic field, library science or museum work. The degree offers solid background and training for students wishing to pursue the doctorate.
Eligibility & Admission
Conditional Admission
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required for full admission and 2.75-2.99 for conditional admission. The GPA is calculated by the Graduate Studies Office on the basis of the last sixty (60) hours of academic work. Additionally, students are expected to have completed 24 credit hours of history, including survey work with a “B” average.
Students with inadequate background in history are required to fulfill certain prerequisites. Those with less than a “B” average ordinarily must complete nine (9) hours of 5300-level courses specified by the graduate advisor with a “B” average to gain full admission to the program. It is the student’s responsibility to confer with the advisor and to notify Graduate Studies when the conditions have been met.
A minimum of half of the courses applied to the satisfaction of Master’s degree requirements must be at the 5400-level.
Graduate-at-Large
Students with low undergraduate G.P.A.s who desire admission to the graduate program are allowed to take up to12 hours of history courses as a Graduate-at-Large at Chicago State University to raise their G.P.A. The Graduate School will then reevaluate credits for admission.
Application Process
The application process formally begins with the College of Graduate Studies, located on the 4th floor of the University Library and normally takes approximately two months. Actual admission dates are determined by the deadline application dates set by Graduate Studies, March 15th for the fall semester and October 15th for the Spring semester. The Department may receive applications sent by Graduate Studies although the department evaluation sheet may bear a different date of decision than the actual date set by Graduate Studies.
It is a good plan for students interested in the program to schedule a conference with the History Graduate Advisor and to bring in an unofficial transcript. The prospective applicant can then be informed of his status with regard to eligibility, if any prerequisite courses are needed or if immediate application is recommended.
FIELDS OF STUDY: Major and Minor Fields
Areas for major and minor study include
African History | U.S. History | European History |
African American History |
Labor/Working-Class History |
Ancient History |
Intellectual & Cultural History | History of Religion | Gender History |
Graduate Courses in History
There are two types of courses offered in our department: advanced lecture-discussion courses (5300-level) designed to acquaint the student with the literature and problems of a selected field, and research seminars (5400-level) in which intensive research on a particular historical topic provides experience in historical methodology and in the use of primary and secondary source materials.
Program
In the first year of the program students should decide whether to write a traditional M.A. thesis or do an M.A. Capstone Project.
1. M.A. Thesis
Recommended for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in History or other post-graduate work.
2. M.A. Capstone Project
Recommended for graduate students who are pursuing an Master of Arts in History as a terminal degree and do not plan on pursuing a Ph.D. in History.
Courses Taken Outside the Department
Students may take a maximum of 3 hours of course credit in graduate-level cognate courses from another department at Chicago State University with the approval of the Department Graduate Committee.
Courses Taken Outside the University
Students may take a maximum of 3 hours of course credit in graduate-level courses from another university with the approval of the Department Graduate Committee.
SAMPLE CURRICULUM (2-year program/full-time)
M.A. Thesis Program (30 hours)
Semester 1: Fall ..........................9hrs |
Semester 2: Spring ...........................9hrs |
Semester 3: Summer |
HIST 5400 (sem.1) ......................3 hrs |
HIST 54xx (Sem.2) ......................3 hrs. |
Optional |
Elective 1 .......3 hrs. | Elective 3 ........3 hrs. | |
Elective 2 .......3 hrs. | Elective 4........3 hrs. | |
Choose thesis major field | Choose thesis advisor | |
Semester 4: Fall ......................6 hrs |
Semester 5: Spring ...........................6 hrs |
Semester 6: Summer |
HIST 54xx (sem. 3) ....................3 hrs. |
HIST 54xx (dir. reading seminar) .........................3 hrs. |
|
Elective 5 ........3 hrs | HIST 5499 (thesis/seminar 5) | |
Thesis Defense Oral |
M.A. Capstone Project & Exam (30 hrs)
Semester 1: Fall ..........................9hrs |
Semester 2: Spring ...........................9hrs |
Semester 3: Summer |
HIST 5400 (sem. 1) .......................3 hrs |
HIST 54xx (Sem. 2) .........................3hrs |
Elective......... 3 hrs |
Elective 1 ...... 3 hrs | Elective 3 ....... 3hrs | |
Elective 2 ..... 3 hrs |
Elective 4 ....... 3hrs |
|
Choose major & minor fields | Choose field advisors & reading lists | |
Semester 4: Fall ..........................6hrs |
Semester 5: Spring ..............................6hrs |
Semester 6: Summer |
HIST 54xx (Sem. 3) .........................3 hrs |
HIST 54xx (Sem. 4) ............................3 hrs |
|
Elective 5 | HIST 5410 Advanced Readings in Historiography.... 3 hrs | |
*Written & Oral Exams |
*Written & Oral Exams
Major and Minor field exams are written and oral. The examination period is in October or March. Students apply to take the major and minor field exams in advance of the date the examination is to be taken.
Assessment
Through a structured program of required courses and electives and consistent monitoring of students’ progress, the following goals should be attained. Note the courses, which assist the student listed under each goal;
Courses: any 5400-level electives applicable to the degree and content seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491.
Courses: any 5400-level electives applicable to the degree and content seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, also 5405
Courses: any 5400-level electives requiring bibliographical work and research, any of the seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499
Courses: any 5400-level electives with a research component, 5400, any of the seminars, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499
Courses: any 5400-level electives with a research component, primarily 5400, 5405, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499
Courses: any 5400-level electives, 5400, 5405, 5470-5471-5472, 5480-5481-5482, 5490-5491, 5499
The major evaluation instrument is the master’s final examination (supra) Additional criteria to measure student outcomes are course projects and seminar research papers as explained in syllabi, also a thesis, if chosen, which must conform to designated standards.
Throughout their graduate careers, students will be involved in additional ways with the assessment process. They will learn more about it in orientation sessions and discussions, and they will participate in periodic surveys and questionnaires, especially one given upon graduation.
In order to enhance student learning, the Master of Arts Program in History will be modified as assessment outcomes indicate.
The History Master’s program is assessed using a uniform plan.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Ann Kuzdale, Graduate Advisor
Department of History, Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628
OFFICE: SCI. 247
PHONE: (773) 995-2252
EMAIL: akuzdale@csu.edu
Material on general Graduate Program rules, policies and procedures in the Graduate Catalog can be downloaded at the web site at www.csu.edu. The Graduate Studies office is located on the second floor of the Cook Administration Building, Rm 200 (773) 995-2404.