Thesis Option Main Campus - U.S., European, Global and Public History

This program is intended to serve graduate students who plan to continue their education at the doctoral level or who may pursue careers that otherwise require intensive training in research methods and historical writing. The thesis M.A. provides specialization in U.S., European, Global (Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Africa) and Public History.

1. The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate study, 24 of which must be in history. A maximum of six credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution. Grades on transfer work must be equivalent to “B” or better. At least 24 credit hours of graduate study must be completed in residence.
2. All students, whether taking the thesis option in Global, U.S, European or Public, must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of course work and an additional six credit hours of thesis credits. At least 18 credit hours of course work must be completed in courses open only to graduate students. Cross-listed courses will have additional requirements and different grading for graduate students.
3. Students must complete HST 500 , 12 credit hours in the area of concentration and nine credit hours of electives.
4. Six credit hours of coursework must be completed in research seminars open only to graduate students: HST 522 ; HST 542 ; HST 562 ; HST 564 ; HST 573 ; HST 593 ; HST 596 . One graduate seminar must be in the area of concentration. Students are limited to six credit hours of research seminars and colloquia open to graduates and upper-level undergraduates (cross-listed courses) (HST 518 ; HST 520 ; HST 525 ; HST 526 ; HST 527 ; HST 528 ; HST 529 ; HST 531 ; HST 533 ; HST 540 ; HST 548 ; HST 552 ; HST 554 ; HST 556 ; HST 558 ; HST 570 ; HST 577 ; HST 580 ; HST 581 ; HST 583 ; HST 585 ; HST 586 ; six credit hours of directed independent studies (HST 591 ) and six credit hours of courses in other departments.
5. Each student must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination that will be administered no earlier than during the final semester of enrollment in course work, and no later than the semester following the completion of course work.
6. Students must complete six credit hours of thesis (HST 599 ), and defend the thesis to the satisfaction of the thesis committee, prior to graduation.
7. Students must pass a competency examination demonstrating satisfactory reading knowledge of a foreign language.
8. The program must be completed within five years of the date of first registration for graduate study.

Non-Thesis Option Main Campus - U.S., European and Global History

The History Department also offers a non-thesis Master of Arts in History. The non-thesis M.A. is designed for students who intend to use their degree to teach at the secondary- or community-college level. The non-thesis M.A. provides specialization in U.S., European, and Global (Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Africa) history.

The non-thesis track requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate study, 24 of which must be in history. A maximum of six credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, at the discretion of the History Graduate Committee. Transfer credits will be awarded only for grades of “B” or better. At least 24 credit hours of graduate study must be completed in residence.

1. Students must complete HST 500, 12 credit hours in their area of concentration, and at least three credit hours each in fields outside of their specialization (3 credit hours each in U.S., European, Global or Public - depending on the student’s specialization - for a total of 9 credit hours). Rather than complete 6 credit hours of thesis research (HST 599), students must complete 6 additional credit hours of graduate level courses offered by the History Department. 
2. Six credit hours of coursework must be completed in research seminars open only to graduate students: HST 522 ; HST 542 ; HST 562 ; HST 564 ; HST 573 ; HST 593 ; HST 596 . One graduate seminar must be in the area of concentration. Students are limited to six credit hours of research seminars and colloquia open to graduates and upper-level undergraduates (cross-listed courses) (HST 518 ; HST 520 ; HST 525 ; HST 526 ; HST 527 ; HST 528 ; HST 529 ; HST 531 ; HST 533 ; HST 540 ; HST 548 ; HST 552 ; HST 554 ; HST 556 ; HST 558 ; HST 570 ; HST 577 ; HST 580 ; HST 581 ; HST 583 ; HST 585 ; HST 586 ); six credit hours of directed independent studies (HST 591 ) and six credit hours of courses in other departments.
3. Students must pass comprehensive examinations in their field, to be administered no earlier than the final semester of enrollment in course work.
4. The program must be completed within five years of the date of first registration for graduate study.

Public History Professional Track

The Public History Professional Track is a 30-credit-hour course of study meant to prepare historians for work in museums, historic sites, historic preservation agencies, business settings, and other organizations utilizing historical research and education. This course of study includes six credit hours of core courses, twelve credit hours of public history courses, six credit hours of history electives, three credit hours of internship, three credit hours of a capstone project, and the successful completion of comprehensive exams.

1. Students must take six credit hours of core courses: HST 500  and HST 570 . They will also complete twelve credit hours of public history courses (HST 571 ; HST 572 ; HST 573 ; HST 574 ; HST 575 ; HST 577 ; HST 580 ). Students will take six credit hours of history electives, chosen from any graduate-only non-public history seminar or colloquium offered by the History Department in European, U.S. or Global history (HST 522 ; HST 542 ; HST 562 ; HST 564 ; HST 573 ; HST 593 ; HST 596 ). Students will do an internship (HST 598 ). Finally, students will complete a three-credit Capstone Project HST 594 ), which is a semester-long student directed project completed in collaboration with a community partner that may be (but is not limited to) one of the following: grant proposal, program plan, interpretive plan, register nomination, web exhibition, visitor evaluation, social media plan, or research paper for an exhibit, program, or National Register nomination (40-50 pages).
2. Students must submit a capstone project proposal to a committee composed of two faculty members and one community partner member before the halfway mark of the semester previous to the semester in which the capstone project is to take place. Capstone project proposals must be approved by the committee in order for the project to proceed.
3. Students must pass comprehensive examinations in their field, to be administered at the end of the semester prior to the capstone project.

On-line Non-Thesis Option for Educators

The Department of History at UNCW offers a unique on-line M.A. for educators. The specific goals of the program are: (1) to provide advanced opportunities for the study of history; (2) to prepare historical educators by providing them with knowledge of the most current research practices and questions in relation to historical problems; (3) to develop the professional practices of history educators to reflect deep understandings of content.

1. The program requires 30 credit hours of graduate study. 24 of those credit hours will consist of on-line reading and discussion courses, taught during the fall and spring semesters. Students will take two eight-week courses per semester. The courses will cover United States, European, Global and systems-based histories (HST 520 ; HST 540 ; HST 560 ; HST 590 ).
2. Six credit hours will result from two on-campus institutes held during two consecutives summers (HST 591 ). The first summer institute (held during UNCW Summer Session II) will focus on a local topic and will provide students with information and teaching materials for integrating local history into their classrooms. Students will create a three-session lesson plan oriented around a local site visit, and present one of those lessons to faculty and peers. Students will also produce an essay on the integration of local or regional history into the classroom experience. During the second institute, students will write a comprehensive historiographical essay and take a comprehensive exam.
3. Reading and discussion courses will cover U.S., European, Global and “systems-based” histories (such as Atlantic World, economic history, and modern imperialism and colonialism). Emphasis will be placed on content, historiographical context and current research questions in these fields.
4. Students will take comprehensive exams of materials covered in the on-line courses. Those exams will take place at the beginning of the second summer institute, following a week-long review of materials with faculty.