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University of Wyoming

Master of Arts Program

Our Master of Arts Program (MA), has both a thesis and non-thesis option. We cover almost every part of the world and every time period, with particular strengths in U.S., the U.S. West, Native American, and European history. We welcome applicants from any walk in life, including teachers, international students, recent graduates with the BA, and non-traditional students.

Introduction to the Master of Arts in History - Purpose of Master's program

The University of Wyoming History Department offers Master of Arts (MA) degrees with two options, Plan A (Thesis) and Plan B (Non-Thesis). The degree is intended to offer a student with a bachelor's degree in history or comparable preparation a more advanced and intensive study in the discipline of history. Reasons for advanced study of history vary greatly, but among those frequently encountered are preparation for: the doctoral level in history, careers in private industry and government service, employment in publishing/media, and teaching at the community college level. Students, in consultation with their advisor and/or the Department Chair, should choose the degree option best suited to their needs and interests. History Department faculty work closely with students to accomplish their goals in the course of their program.

I. General Regulations

The History Department offers the Master of Arts degree with a thesis and a non-thesis option. Normally, the History Department requires 12 hours of undergraduate History courses as minimum preparation for admission. In addition to these regulations, the student should consult the Graduate Bulletin or review the regulations on-line. The rules under which the student enters remain those governing his/her program for the duration of the student's continued enrollment. Students must realize that they are responsible for meeting all deadlines and for fulfilling all requirements for the degree.

A. Application and Admissions

Applications for admission to the Graduate School may be made either in writing and mailed to:

University of Wyoming|
Graduate Admissions Office #3435
1000 East University Avenue
Laramie, WY, 82071

Or submitted online at the Graduate School website, www.uwyo.edu/uwgrad.

The Graduate School prefers to have U.S. Citizens apply on-line.

Acceptance or rejection of applicants for the graduate program is the responsibility of the History Department, acceptance requiring a two-thirds vote of the full-time faculty. To receive consideration for financial aid, all materials must be received by the History Department by the first Monday in February. In addition to the application, which is submitted to the Graduate School, applicants must submit the following documents directly to the department. Incomplete applications will not be considered for financial aid.

1. GRE Scores for the verbal and quantitative portions with a minimum combined score of 900, with neither score below 350. The History Department reserves the right to consider the analytical score as well.

2. 3 letters of recommendation that assess the student's academic and research abilities. Recommendation forms are available from the Graduate School website.

3. Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions and graduate programs.

4. A writing sample of 10 - 20 pages, typically either a portion of a senior thesis or an upper-level seminar paper.

5. A statement of purpose of 250 to 500 words, explaining the applicant's preparation, interests and plans.

B. Residency Requirements. The Master's Degree program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study. At least 6 hours must be taken on site at the Laramie campus. These hours may not include independent study, thesis research or graduate readings. Graduate students must complete their degree within six years, in accordance with Graduate School regulations.

C. Financial Support. When applicants submit their materials to the History Department, they should indicate their wish to be considered for financial support. As noted above, the History Department must have all application materials by the first Monday of February. Early application is encouraged. This aid comes in the form of Graduate Assistantships, in most cases Teaching Assistantships. Anyone receiving financial support must be registered as a full-time student and must be making acceptable progress towards degree completion. Renewal of assistantships for a second year is contingent on such progress. Support is not given for more than two years (Fall and Spring semesters only).

D. Academic Standing. A student shall complete the program with at least a 3.3 GPA. If at any time a student’s GPA falls below 3.3 he or she will be issued a warning by the department, and until the GPA is brought up to the 3.3 minimum necessary for completion of the program, that student will not be eligible for department awards, including GAships and Larson/McGee research funding. If a student earns grades of C or below in more than one course, he or she may be subject to dismissal from the program.

II. Graduate Student Programs of Study

A. Advisor and Program of Study

1. Incoming students will be assigned an initial advisor to direct the student's program. The student will communicate with that advisor prior to registration.

2. By the end of the first semester, the student will confirm the original assigned advisor, or select a different advisor, and submit a projected Program of Study to the Graduate School after approval by the student’s advisor and the Department Chair.

3. Fields of Study. To help provide coherence for the student's program, each degree option requires fields of study. Each student will devise the fields in consultation with the advisor. Fields may have a geographic, thematic, and/or chronological focus.

4. The student may change advisors at any time, provided the new advisor agrees. Any tenured or tenure-track history faculty member may serve as thesis advisor according to the regulations of the Graduate School. The procedure for changing advisors follows.

a. Student should discuss the change with the current advisor, who will inform the Department Chair.

b. The Department Chair will confirm that the selected advisor is willing to serve in this capacity.

c. The Department Chair will confirm the student's new advisor.

B. Graduate Committee

1. By the third semester of their program, all students, in consultation with their advisors, will select a committee of at least three members for the thesis/paper defense.

2. This committee will consist of a minimum of three members, including the student's advisor, who is chair of the committee, a second member from History, and a third Graduate faculty member from an outside department. Additional members may be added to the committee.

a. The student and the advisor will determine the composition of the thesis committee.

b. Once the thesis committee is determined, the advisor notifies the History Department Chair, who in turn notifies the Graduate School.

c. The Graduate School assigns the student's committee, but normally it follows the recommendation of the Department Chair.

III. Degree Requirements for Master of Arts Degrees (Plan A and Plan B)

A. Course Requirements - Candidates for the MA in history are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours.

For Plan A option, this will include:

1. History 5880, normally in the Fall semester of the first year.

2. 9 hours of course work in the history major field.

3. 6 hours of course work in a second field of history or in a cognate discipline.

4. 4 hours of thesis credit.

5. Foreign language requirement: Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a language appropriate to their research. The language requirement may be met by either of the following options:

a. Passing a language exam administered by the History Department in conjunction with the Modern and Classical Languages Department.

b. Completing the equivalent of the fourth semester of a language as offered at the University of Wyoming. All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better (may be taken pass/fail).

6. In the spring semester of the first year (typically in early February, as scheduled by the Department Chair), the student will publicly defend his/her thesis proposal. This should include presentation of a written research prospectus and bibliography as well as an oral articulation of the research project.

For Plan B option, this will include:

1. History 5880, normally in the Fall semester.

2. 9 hours of coursework in the history major field.

3. 6 hours of course work in a second field of history or in a cognate discipline.

4. Foreign language requirement: Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a language appropriate to their research. The language requirement may be meet by either of the following options:

a. Passing a language exam administered by the History Department in conjunction with the Modern and Classical Languages Department.

b. Completion of the equivalent of the fourth semester of a language as offered at the University of Wyoming. All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better (may be taken pass/fail).

5. In the spring semester of the first year (typically in early February, as scheduled by the Department Chair), the student will publicly defend his/her plan-B paper proposal (for one of the two required papers). This should include presentation of a written research prospectus and bibliography as well as an oral articulation of the research project.

B. Required Papers

1. Plan A (Thesis Option)

a. A thesis must be prepared in accordance with Graduate School regulations and History style requirements.

b. The topic will be selected with the consultation and approval of the advisor.

c. A thesis is an extended exercise in writing history and shall include primary sources, secondary sources, and a historiographical component.

d. The student must defend the thesis in an oral examination(s) conducted by the student's committee.

e. The thesis must be defended in time to comply with Graduate School deadlines.

2. Plan B (Non-Thesis Option)

a. The student will write two (2) substantial papers, one each in the major and minor history fields. They may be an expanded version of papers written for classes used to fulfill course requirements. The committee will approve the written work.

b. Students will defend their written work in an oral examination conducted by the student's committee.

c. The written work must be defended in time to comply with Graduate School deadlines.

Updated Jan. 22, 2007