This program is administered by the Office of Graduate Studies through the Faculty of History, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences.
The Master of Arts program in History accommodates a wide range of student aspirations, both professional and personal. With strong emphasis on the literature of history, research techniques, and writing skills, graduate study in history will benefit teachers, museum and archives personnel, prospective candidates for PhD degrees in history, and college graduates wishing to pursue the subject for intellectual enrichment.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the application materials requested by the University, the History Department requires that a writing sample and two letters of recommendation (preferably from individuals who can speak to the applicant's abilities, skills, and motivation) accompany each application. Applicants may submit an undergraduate paper (preferred) or a 500-word essay expressing what she or he wishes to accomplish in the program.
Candidates who have not completed at least 18 undergraduate semester credits in history may be required to enroll in additional courses to complete their preparation for graduate work.
Regular Admission Status
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
- GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 credit hours
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's abilities, skills, and motivation (letters from professors and supervisors preferred)
- Writing Sample: Applicants may submit an undergraduate paper (preferred) or a 500-word essay expressing what she or he wishes to accomplish in the program.
- 18 semester credit hours of combined upper and lower-division history courses. Applicants lacking the 18 hours might be required to complete leveling courses.
Conditional Admission Status
Applicants who do not meet the Regular admission requirements may be considered for Conditional admission. The Department will assign Conditional admission by determining if the applicant's letters and writing skills are suitable for success in the graduate program. Evaluation of materials is done on a case-by-case basis. If the applicant is conditionally admitted, they must then earn a "B" grade or better in the first 12 graduate hours.
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
- GPA below 3.0 - 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's abilities, skills, and motivation (letters from professors and supervisors preferred).
- Writing Sample: Applicants may submit an undergraduate paper (preferred) or a 500-word essay expressing what she or he wishes to accomplish in the program.
- 18 semester credit hours of combined upper and lower-division history courses. Applicants lacking the 18 hours might be required to complete leveling courses.
- OTHER EVIDENCE:
- Applicant's performance in upper-level history courses and other comparable upper-level courses that stress writing/analysis/research (such as English, Philosophy, and Political Science) will be used to evaluate an applicant's abilities. Grades of "B" or better reflect potential success in Graduate-level work.
Core Requirements
Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in History must complete 30 credits of graduate work, of which no more than two courses may be at the 4000-level (modified to meet graduate standards). They may choose between the thesis option and the non-thesis option.
Students who elect to write a thesis will complete:
- 24 credit hours of history
- 6 hours upon acceptance of a thesis.
Students who elect the non-thesis option will complete:
- 24 credit hours of history
- A maximum of 6 additional credits in history or an approved related field.
MA degree candidates who select the non-thesis option must pass an oral and a written examination. MA degree candidates who elect to write a thesis must pass an oral defense of their thesis. There is no general foreign language requirement for the master's degree in history. However, when mastery of a language is requisite to purposeful study, the demonstration of language skills may be required. For example, candidates writing a thesis on a topic in Latin American history must demonstrate the ability to comprehend written Spanish with reasonable accuracy.
Professional Certification Preparation
Students who desire teacher certification should consult the College of Education for requirements.
History Certificate
Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Program in History
The Graduate Certificate in History consists of 18-History graduate credit hours. Certificate students must complete 9-graduate hours in World History and 9-graduate hours in American History. Students on the certificate track must complete the required 18-graduate history hours at UT Permian Basin and earn a "B" or better in all courses. Certificate students are required to meet with the Graduate Program Head each semester.
Graduate credit earned for the Certificate can be counted towards the MA in History.
Accelerated Master's Program (AMP)
The History Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) allows academically qualified students to complete their Bachelor's and Master's degree in an accelerated timeline, graduating sooner than in traditional separate consecutive programs. Qualified undergraduate students will be able to complete a portion of the required graduate coursework for the History Master's degree while studying for their History bachelor's degree. Upon completion of all undergraduate degree requirements, the student is admitted to the History graduate program, where the remaining Master's degree requirements will be fulfilled.
History AMP Requirements
(In addition to general AMP requirements)
- Before joining the program, students must meet with their undergraduate History faculty advisor and the History graduate program head to determine eligibility and discuss their options. The Graduate Program Head/AMP Coordinator will serve as the advisor to AMP students. All AMP History students are required to meet with their advisor twice a semester for progress reports and registration.
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and 3.25 in the History undergraduate major is required at the time of application.
- A minimum graduate GPA of at least 3.0 must be maintained for continuation in the program.
- A student must have completed a minimum of 12 upper-level History hours. A student must have completed the General Education Requirements.
- Total combined credits for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees must be at least 150 credit hours (120 for bachelor's and 30 for the History master's).
- Hours per Degree
- Undergraduate degree: 120 hours [115 undergraduate hours + 6 shared graduate hours]
- Graduate degree: 30 [6 shared graduate hours completed as AMP + 30 hours completed after acceptance into the MA program]
History AMP Withdrawal and Dismissal Policies
(In addition for general AMP withdrawal and dismissal policies)
- A student may withdraw from the program at any time by informing the graduate program head/AMP Coordinator, their undergraduate advisor, Graduate Studies Office, and registrar in writing.
- An AMP History student who earns less than a 'B' (3.0) in a history graduate course will be placed on probation for one semester and is required to meet the AMP History Coordinator/Graduate Program Head. An AMP student who earns less than a 'B' a second time will be dismissed from the AMP program.