MA in History

Program Overview

The Master's program in History at FIU offers three options: Report Option, Thesis Option, and Public History Option. Students can choose from five culture areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Graduates pursue careers in academia, government, and law. The program also offers an online option for the Report Option.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Department of History offers the Master's degree with coursework in five culture areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Master's students pursue successful professional careers or continue their education in a variety of academic disciplines. Past master's students have gone on to undertake PhDs at prestigious domestic and international institutions, have entered high-ranked law programs, or have taken appointments with government departments such as the DIA, FEMA, and the State Department.

Outline:

Students may pursue one of three options: the Report Option, Thesis Option, or Public History Option. A fully online MA is available for the Report Option. Students wishing to pursue the PhD in Atlantic History must make a separate application to the doctorate upon completing their master's. There are also several combined MA/PhD programs.

Report Option (available fully online):

• A total of 30 semester-hours of coursework are required.
• The course Historical Methods (HIS 6059)
• Students select their courses in consultation with the Graduate Program Director or appropriate Graduate Faculty member.
• All courses must be taken in the Department of History at FIU or otherwise in consultation with the graduate program director.
• Students must complete one two-semester research seminar (6 credits).
The paper produced in this seminar serves to satisfy the report option requirement so long as it is judged to be outstanding according to the department's criteria (currently a grade of A- or A on the paper).
• Students whose paper earns less than an A- must revise the paper produced in the seminar and submit it to the Graduate Committee for final approval.
• Students planning on graduating in the same semester as they present their report should communicate their deliberations to the supervising faculty member to ensure enough time for revisions if any are necessary.

Thesis Option:

• A total of 30 credit hours, including 6 credit hours of Thesis Research (HIS 6970).
• One two-semester research seminar (6 credits)
• The course Historical Methods (HIS 6059).
• 12 credits of course work in the chosen area of concentration.
• 3 elective credits with a comparative designation (HIS or WOH prefixes)
• Each student must form a Thesis Committee of three faculty members, including one Thesis Director, and defend their thesis proposal before registering for Thesis Research.
• The completed thesis must be successfully defended and formally approved by the committee.
• The degree candidate will prepare the thesis in accordance with the regulations stipulated in the university's Graduate Policies Manual.
The degree will be conferred after the approval of the final version of the thesis by the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs and its acceptance by University Graduate School.
• Students must demonstrate reading competence in a language other than English.
Language competency is assessed by the faculty of the Department of History as appropriate. Courses required to meet the language competency requirement do not count toward the degree. The language required differs depending upon the field of concentration. Students should consult their thesis director and the course catalog for details.

Public History Option:

• A total of 30 credit hours, of which 6 must be in a public history internship, are required.
• A minimum of one two-semester research seminar (6 credits).
• The course Historical Methods (HIS 6059).
• At least two of the following four courses: HIS 5067 (Public History Theory and Practice), HIS 5084 (History, Memory and the Public), ARH 5850 (Introduction to Museum Studies), ARH 5851 (Museum Ethics).
Other appropriate courses may be substituted with permission of the Graduate Program Director.
• The remaining elective courses should be selected in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.
• A public defense of internship portfolio.
• Students pursuing the Public History Option may also wish to earn the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies offered in Art and Art History.