2022-2023 Academic Catalog

Offered in: Chicago

The Department of History offers two programs, the MA in History and the joint MA in History and Certificate in Archives and Cultural Heritage Resources and Services.

The MA program in History serves students who seek to teach history in a secondary school or community college; to prepare for a PhD degree; or to prepare for government positions or other careers requiring advanced study of history. The program offers instruction in the following fields: United States history to 1877, United States history since 1877, early modern European history, modern European history, African American history and Atlantic World history.

In addition to obtaining an MA degree in History, students may also pursue a Certificate in Archives and Cultural Heritage Resources and Services, offered in conjunction with Dominican University. The Certificate in Archives and Cultural Heritage Resources and Services offers courses related to archives and cultural heritage collection processing and management, community archives development and management, digital archives or collections development and maintenance, cultural heritage documentation and preservation, historical records curation, and electronic records systems development and management. The certificate also offers fieldwork that provides students with the opportunity to work with professional archivists in community archives, historical societies, corporations and other institutions.

Admission

Additional information about history-specific graduate application requirements and deadlines, funding, as well as graduate advising, is available here (scroll to bottom of linked page for admission requirements). Students may visit the Graduate Admission web pages to begin the application process for admission to the MA program in History. In addition to undergraduate transcripts and a completed application form, students must write an essay response to a question furnished through the Graduate Admission office and supply the names of two references from academics or others with knowledge of the applicant's ability to undertake graduate-level work in History. All application materials should be sent to the Graduate Admission office.

Requirements

Students may choose one of two options toward the MA degree in History. The first, the thesis option, requires 30 hours of course work plus 3 credit hours of the thesis course for a total of 33 hours.  The second, the non-thesis option, requires 36 credit hours of course work. A fuller explanation of these two options may be found below. Students must take at least half of their coursework in 400-level-only classes, as stipulated above.

At all stages, particularly before applying for graduation, students are responsible for checking on their progress toward fulfillment of degree requirements. Students must earn grades of B- or better in all course work, and they must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to continue in the program. Students receiving two grades of C+ or lower will be unable to continue in the program.

There is no formal foreign language requirement; however, competence in a foreign language is recommended for students choosing a field outside US history. Graduate students should also be aware that most doctoral programs require competence in one or more foreign languages.

Reading seminars and research seminars

MA students must take two readings seminars, but may enroll in more than two provided they do not repeat a course. These seminars will be offered in the following fields: US History before 1877; US History since 1877; African American History; Early Modern European History; Modern European History; and Atlantic World History. Students should consult with the graduate advisor to plan their course of study and choose their reading seminars. The graduate research seminar, HIST 450 GRADUATE SEMINAR, is offered during the spring semester and enables students to conduct research on a topic related to the above fields.

Thesis Option

Students who opt to write a thesis must complete 33 credit hours of course work, of which at least 24 credit hours must be taken in History at Roosevelt. In addition to HIST 450 GRADUATE SEMINAR and two graduate reading seminars, students take seven 400-level electives, at least two of which must be in 400-level-only classes. The two 400-only electives may include additional sections of the readings class, the seminar, or 400-level courses designated only for graduate students. They may also include HIST 484 INTERNSHIP IN HISTORY or HIST 485 INTERNSHIP IN TEACHING HISTORY. Students taking multiple sections of the readings courses or seminar may not repeat the same topic.

A seminar paper acceptable to the program is generally written in conjunction with HIST 450 GRADUATE SEMINAR to demonstrate command of historical method and interpretation. Students who have selected this option must write a thesis (HIST 490 THESIS) that conforms to university regulations and is acceptable to the program. A thesis topic should be selected early and consent of two faculty sponsors secured.

A student who has not completed a thesis must maintain continued registration during fall and spring semesters until completion of the thesis by registering for the appropriate zero-credit course (HIST 490Y MASTERS THESIS COMPLETION). Students who have not maintained continuous registration for the thesis will be required to register for all intervening fall and spring semesters prior to graduation.

Non-Thesis Option

Students who select the non-thesis option must complete 36 credit hours of course work, of which at least 27 credit hours must be taken at Roosevelt. In addition to HIST 450 GRADUATE SEMINAR and two graduate reading seminars, students must take nine 400-level electives, at least three of which must be in 400-level-only classes. The 400-only electives may include additional sections of the readings class, the seminar, or 400-level courses designated only for graduate students. They may also include HIST 484 INTERNSHIP IN HISTORY or HIST 485 INTERNSHIP IN TEACHING HISTORY. Students taking multiple sections of the readings courses or seminar may not repeat the same topic.

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. Students receiving two grades of C+ or lower will be unable to continue in the program. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

Non-Thesis Track

¹

 Choose from HIST 428A, HIST 428B, HIST 429A, HIST 429B, HIST 436 or HIST 438.

Thesis Track 

¹

 Choose from HIST 428A, HIST 428B, HIST 429A, HIST 429B, HIST 436 or HIST 438.