DEPARTMENT
OF HISTORY
Master of Arts in History
To be considered for admission to the graduate program, every student must comply with the following four requirements:
1. Complete 21 semester hours of work in history, including a course on historical research, with a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).The History Graduate Program Committee may choose to admit provisionally any student who does not meet all of the above requirements, with the understandings that all conditions for unconditional admission must be met before HIST 8010 or 9100 courses may be taken.
2. Earn an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale).
3. Submit an essay of 250-500 words describing his or her interests in history and why he or she wishes to earn an M.A. degree.
4. Have 2 letters of recommendation sent to the chair of the History Graduate Program Committee (Michael L. Tate). [Requirement 4 is waived for any student who has earned a B.A. or B.S. in history at UNO with an entire undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better.]
Students who have no undergraduate course in historical research and writing must take HIST 3930 (Historical Research) during the first two semesters of their enrollment. This course, required of all undergraduate history majors at UNO seeks to develop two skills essential to all historians: the ability to write clearly and to do critical and thorough research. Students who lack these skills may anticipate serious problems in their studies.
Interpretation of this requirement rests with the History Graduate Program Committee. Students who believe that they have taken a comparable course or have acquired equivalent skills, should submit examples of their work, which will enable the Graduate Program Committee to assess their proficiency.
Every prospective student must obtain from the department of history the handout 'Graduate Study in History.' This handout presents information important to all students taking graduate work in history. All students are expected to be thoroughly familiar with the handout and departmental policies.
For further information and applications, please see:
Michael L. Tate, Professor of History & Native American Studies
Chair of Graduate Studies, 287U ASH, 402-554-2594
M.A. Program with Thesis
The 30-hour program includes 6 hours of thesis credit plus 24 credit hours in graduate courses. This program is especially recommended for students who wish to continue work toward a Ph.D. and offers three options:
1. 24 hours of graduate courses in history, 9 of which must be in HIST 9100. At least three of the remaining 15 hours must be in HIST 9100 or HIST 8010. No student's program may include more than 6 hours of HIST 8010.Before completing 12 hours of graduate work, every student must investigate a prospective thesis topic, determine if adequate sources are available, and ascertain which faculty member will direct it. On or before completion of those 12 hours, the student must submit a thesis proposal of 6-10 pages in which he or she describes the tentative topical and chronological scope of the subject and provides a research plan and a bibliography of essential primary and secondary material. This proposal must be prepared in consultation with the prospective thesis director.
2. 15 hours of approved graduate courses in history, including 9 hours of HIST 9100, plus 9 approved hours of graduate course work in a related field that will constitute a minor. Permission to take a graduate minor must be obtained from the student's advisor. The department in which the minor is planned must be consulted to determine the student's eligibility to do graduate work in that department. At least 12 of the total 23 hours must be in courses open only to graduate students.
3. 15 hours of approved graduate courses in history including 9 hours of HIST 9100, plus 9 approved hours of graduate work in ethnic, gender, urban, regional or other approved thematic study from two or more departments other than the history department. Permission to take a thematic studies program must be obtained from the student's advisor and approved by the History Graduate Program Committee. At least twelve of the total of 24 hours must be in courses open only to graduate students.
M.A. Program without Thesis
The 36-hour program offers two options:
1. 36 hours of graduate courses in history, at least half of which must be in courses open only to graduate students. No student's program may include more than 6 hours of HIST 8010.All students electing the non-thesis 36-hour program are required to take a comprehensive examination, details of which may be obtained from the History Graduate Program Committee.
2. 27 hours of history graduate courses, including at least 9 hours of HIST 9100, plus 9 hours of graduate course work in a related field that will constitute a minor. Permission to take such a minor will be obtained from the student's advisor. The department in which the minor is planned must be consulted to determine the student's eligibility to do graduate work in that department. At least 18 of the total of 36 hours must be in courses open only to graduate students. No student's program may include more than 6 hours of HIST 8010.
Graduate Minor in History
To earn a graduate minor in history, a student must complete 9 hours of graduate level history courses with the grade of a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better.
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