Faculty Towers, 304F
(661) 664-3079
(661) 665-6906 (fax)
email: jstenehjem@csub.edu
http://www.csub.edu/GradStudies/Hist.html

Program Coordinator: Oliver Rink
Faculty Towers, 301D
(661) 664-2170
email: orink@csub.edu

Pursuing a graduate degree in History is enriching both personally and professionally, equipping the individual with a deeper understanding of the past as well as providing an appreciation of the complexities of the present. Students completing the MA degree program will be better prepared for careers in public relations, journalism, law, politics, the civil service, and teaching.

Program Description

Pursuing a graduate degree in history should be enriching both personally and professionally, equipping the individual with a deeper understanding of the past as well as providing an appreciation of the complexities of the present. From a professional perspective it opens the door to a number of careers. An MA degree in history is usually a requirement for teaching at community colleges, and it provides an excellent foundation for teaching the history/social science framework at the high school level. Students completing the MA program will have developed critical, analytical, and writing skills which are of value in various fields. They will have received what is widely considered an excellent preparation for careers in public relations, journalism, law, politics, and the civil service. For those considering pursuing a Ph.D. in history, and eventually teaching at the university level, the MA program gives students a taste of what is involved and prepares them for doctoral work. Although the program does not require knowledge of a foreign language, students are strongly encouraged to develop a reading ability in a language other than English.

Admission

Persons seeking an MA in History must first apply for graduate study to the university Office of Admissions. Admission to graduate study by the university does not constitute acceptance in the History MA Program. It does, however, permit students to take courses as unclassified graduate students and to begin the process leading to classification (see "Classification" below).

Upon admission to the university students must immediately notify the History Department Graduate Coordinator of their intention to pursue the MA degree. The Graduate Coordinator will familiarize the student with the requirements and timetable of the MA Program. It is the student’s responsibility in consultation with the appropriate faculty members to choose a graduate mentor, a track, fields of study, and to organize a thesis or examination committee.

Selection of the Faculty Mentor -- Selection of a graduate mentor is an important first step in the MA program. The mentor will ordinarily represent the primary field of study in the exam track and the specialist reader in the thesis track (see "Program Tracks" below). The mentor advises and guides students during the period of graduate study, and responds to any misgivings students may have while in the program. Students have a responsibility to schedule meetings at least twice a term with their mentor. Since this relationship is crucial in helping students get through graduate school, they need to choose a member of the department with whom they can have a close rapport and whose specialty is nearest their own scholarly interests.

Classification -- Classified standing is accorded to graduate students in history when they have satisfied the following criteria.

1. Submission to the Department Graduate Committee of an application for classification.

 
2. Completion of an undergraduate history major or its equivalent. (Note: the History Department may require an unclassified student to take undergraduate history courses if, in the opinion of the Graduate Coordinator and Department Graduate Committee, such work is necessary to prepare the student for graduate work in history. This is most likely to be the case when students hold degrees in disciplines other than history.)

 
3. A 3.0 grade point average for the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) of undergraduate study and a 3.25 grade point average in all upper division and graduate history courses.

 
4. Completion of a minimum of 15 quarter units in graduate residence, 10 of which must be earned in HIST 501 and HIST 503. The remaining 5 units may be earned in a 500 level graduate course or a 400 level course taken for graduate credit. (Note: no more than 15 units of credit taken prior to advancement to classified standing may be applied to the 46 to 50 unit total required for the MA)

 
5. Submission of a paper written for a graduate course.

 
6. Successful completion of History 300 or its equivalent. Students may waive this requirement by passing the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement Examine administered by the English Department.

Examination Track -- Students interested in teaching at the high school or community college level are advised to follow this track. It is generally completed faster than the thesis track and provides students with a broad base of knowledge and bibliography which will be of significant value to them when they are preparing courses in their teaching career.

Students select the examination track at the time of application for classification. Students must designate one primary field and two secondary fields. Any field listed in the following section may serve as a secondary field but only those marked "P" may serve as primary fields.

Examination Fields

• American History Colonial to Reconstruction (P)
• American History Since Reconstruction (P)
• Ancient Mediterranean
• Early Modern Europe
• Latin American
• Medieval Europe
• Modern China
• Modern Europe Since 1789 (P)

Written Examinations -- Students are required to take a three-hour examination in the primary field and a two-hour examination in each of the secondary fields. The exams are scheduled over several days and offered twice a year in the Fall and Spring Quarters. (Note: No student shall be permitted to take an examination in a field in which he or she has not had formal course work.) Any failed examination may be repeated once.

Oral Examination -- After passing each of the written examinations, students will undergo an oral examination. The examination will last 90 minutes. The faculty member responsible for the primary field will preside. The oral examination may be repeated once.

Thesis Track -- Students are reminded that a good master’s thesis is a significant piece of written work usually requiring research in primary sources. Since primary sources are scarce on this campus, the choice of thesis topics is severely limited, and students need to assure the Department Graduate Committee that source material necessary to the topic is available. The thesis topic should be selected at the time of classification in order to insure the maximum amount of time for completion.

Course Work -- Since department graduate offerings are designed with the examination track student in mind, it is expected that thesis track students will earn many of the required units in independent studies courses. Such courses shall be specifically designed in consultation with the mentor to emphasize research techniques and to prepare the student for writing the thesis.

Thesis Proposal -- Students should meet with their mentors and discuss in detail their subject, hypothesis, and sources before submission of the thesis proposal. The thesis proposal, accompanied by chapter descriptions and a bibliography, shall be submitted to their mentor no later than one quarter before enrolling in HIST 697. The names of the thesis committee members should be submitted at the same time.

Thesis Committee -- The thesis committee shall consist of three faculty readers: the mentor or specialist reader and two others. If the thesis topic involves expertise in another discipline, one reader may be chosen from that discipline with the approval of the mentor and the Department Graduate Committee. The thesis committee will judge whether or not the thesis is a sound piece of research and insure that it meets the standards of the profession in terms of originality, scholarship, and written English.
 

COURSE DISCRIPTIONS

The development of history as a distinct discipline, and the themes and approaches used by historians.

HIST 503 Historical Research Methods (5)

Introduction and practice in the use of primary sources, including review of various historical methodologies and techniques of research design. Students will gain experience in the development of research proposals and in the use and verification of different types of historical evidence.

HIST 525 Reading Seminar in European History (5)

Reading in selected topics to be announced each quarter. May be repeated if subject matter is different.

HIST 535 Reading Seminar in Asian History (5)

Reading in selected topics to be announced each quarter. May be repeated if subject matter is different.

HIST 555 Reading Seminar in American History (5)

Reading in selected topics to be announced each quarter. May be repeated if subject matter is different.

HIST 565 Reading Seminar in Mexican History and Chicano History (5)

Reading in selected topics to be announced each quarter. Special emphasis on materials suitable for prospective teachers. May be repeated if topic is different.

HIST 602 Research Seminar in European History (5)

Research in selected topics to be announced each quarter. May be repeated if subject matter is different.

HIST 608 Research Seminar in American History (5)

Research in selected topics to be announced each quarter. May be repeated if subject matter is different.

HIST 697 Master’s Thesis (1-5)

May be repeated to a maximum of 5 quarter units.

HIST 698 Comprehensive Examination (1-5)

May be repeated to a maximum of 5 quarter units.

HIST 699 Individual Study (1-5)

Admission with consent of department chair.