Master of Arts Degree in History

Admission Requirements

Apply Now! / Certificate in Public History Admissions

Before applying to the History Graduate Program and/or for a Graduate Assistantship in the Department of History, please contact Dr. Alan Downs

Application Deadlines can be found here: https://cah.georgiasouthern.edu/history/gradprogram/

REGULAR ADMISSION:

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in history must have:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or its equivalent from a foreign university
• An undergraduate major in history, or at least 15 semester hours (or the quarter-system equivalent) of history and a total of 30 hours in the social sciences and humanities
• A 3.0 cumulative grade point average or higher on all undergraduate work, with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in history and no grade in history lower than a “C.”
• NOTE: Submitting GRE scores is optional at this time, please contact the program with any questions.
• Two letters of recommendation by individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s potential for successful graduate study.
• A statement of purpose (approximately 250 words) outlining the applicant’s interest in graduate study in history.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION:

Non-traditional students and applicants not meeting the above requirements may be considered for Provisional (Probationary) admission as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Program of Study (33 hrs.)

Combined M.A. and Certificate in Public History Program of Study

The department offers thesis and non-thesis options and a concentration in public history.

The degree candidate for a Master of Arts in History will take  27 credits of course work (out of a total of 33), which includes the following:

*One seminar must be outside the candidate’s field of concentration. A seminar in Public History meets this requirement.

*At least one seminar must be outside the candidate’s field of concentration. A seminar in Public History  meets this requirement.

** As part of this course the candidate will produce an article-length paper (approximately 10,000 words) that is defended orally before a committee.

Students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Public History simultaneously with the Non-Thesis Option substitute HIST 7900 Non-Thesis Project in Public History.

*Students who enter the MA program with a concentration in Public History after having completed the Graduate Certificate in Public History will substitute an additional Reading Seminar for Research Prospectus.

**Internships are 150 hours.

***This course concludes with a 6,000 – 10,000 word technical report on the final project that is defended orally before a committee. With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies this course may be completed simultaneously with the Professional Internship in History.

****One seminar must be outside the candidate’s field of concentration.

Other Program Requirements

• The student must also pass a reading-knowledge examination in an appropriate foreign language. (Prior completion of coursework in a foreign language through the fourth semester at the intermediate level with a grade of C or better shall exempt students from the foreign language exam.)
• The student must also pass an oral defense of either the thesis, the non-thesis project, or the non-thesis project in public history.
• Two elective course may be taken outside the Department of History.

General Requirements

• The College of Graduate Studies limits independent study to 6 credits.

Advisement

College of Arts and Humanities

Department of History Director of Graduate Studies Georgia Southern University P.O. Box 8054

Statesboro, GA 30460 phone 912-478-4478 fax 912-478-0377

website: https://cah.georgiasouthern.edu/history/

Possible Two-Year Degree Plan for M.A.

Suggested Plan for combined M.A. and Certificate / Graduate Certificate in Public History

This plan should serve as a suggestion only. Please see the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for complete details. Please be aware that available History courses are scheduled in advance and are subject to change. Every effort will be made to accommodate the needs of our History graduate students.

SUGGESTED CALENDAR FOR HISTORY M.A.

This plan should serve as a suggestion only.  Please be aware that available History courses are scheduled in advance and are subject to change. Every effort will be made to accommodate the needs of our History graduate students.

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)
• HIST 7630 The Historian’s Craft
• HIST 7631, 7633, or 7635 History Reading Seminar (in-field or out-of-field, as needed**)
• HIST Elective at the 5000 level or above*

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)
• HIST 7631, 7633, or 7635 History Reading Seminar (in-field or out-of-field, as needed**)
• HIST Elective at the 5000 level or above*
• HIST 7838 Research Prospectus
>Submit Masters Program of Study Form to College of Graduate Studies (COGS)

OPTION (SUMMER)
• HIST Elective* and/or satisfy Foreign Language Requirement

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)
• HIST Elective at the 5000 level or above*
• HIST 7631, 7633, or 7635 History Reading Seminar (in-field or out-of-field, as needed**)
• HIST 7999 Thesis (Thesis Option) or HIST 7631, 7633, or 7635 History Reading Seminar (Non-Thesis Option)
>Submit Masters Program of Study Form to COGS (if not done so)
>Submit Thesis Committee Membership Approval Form to COGS (Thesis Option)
>Satisfy Foreign Language Requirement
>Apply for Graduation in Spring

FOURTH SEMESTER (SPRING)
• HIST Elective (if still needed)*
• HIST Elective (if still needed)*
• HIST 7999 Thesis (Thesis Option) or HIST 7990 Non-Thesis Project (Non-Thesis Option)***
>Satisfy Foreign Language Requirement (if still needed)
>Submit Portfolio Completion Report Form to COGS
>Thesis Defense (Thesis Option) or Non-Thesis Project Defense (Non-Thesis Option) by stated COGS deadline
>Submit Electronic Thesis per COGS guidelines to COGS by stated deadlines (Thesis Option)

OPTION (SUMMER)
• Continue HIST 7999 Thesis or HIST 7990 Non-Thesis Project, if needed
>Thesis Defense (Thesis Option) or Non-Thesis Project Defense (Non-Thesis Option)
>Submit Electronic Thesis per COGS guidelines to COGS by stated deadlines (Thesis Option)

*Two elective courses may be taken outside the Department of History. For candidates pursuing the Thesis Option, HIST 7631, 7633, or 7635 Readings Seminar may be taken as an elective after completing the required three seminars. A seminar in Public History also meets this option. A maximum of two HIST 7831 Independent Study in History courses (requires permission of instructor) may be taken as electives.

**One seminar must be outside the candidate’s field of concentration. A seminar in Public History meets this requirement.

***Candidates pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Public History simultaneously with the Non-Thesis Option substitute HIST 7900 Non-Thesis Project in Public History.

Certificate in Public History

Admission Requirements for Certificate Only

Public History is a growing field that focuses on the practical application of academic knowledge through museums, federal and state historic sites, media productions, the Internet, popular publishing, and other public venues. These programs provide an alternative career path to traditional teaching and have become increasingly popular during the struggling academic job market of the last decade. The Department of History at Georgia Southern University is adding a Graduate Certificate in Public History to its existing Master of Arts program beginning in the fall of 2013. In addition to currently enrolled students, the certificate will be offered as a credential to qualified individuals holding a bachelor’s degree who are not pursuing an advanced degree.

• Admissions Requirements
• Program of Study (combined MA and certificate)
• Public History Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements
• Two Year Plan of Study Public History Graduate MA Plus Certificate
• Certificate Only Program
• Public History Student Activities