Program Requirements

Core Courses

All students in our program must take the core course in History (HIS 501) and in Political Science (POS 504). The History core and the Political Science core will be offered each semester on an alternating year schedule. Students should register for the core courses as early in their course of study as possible.
 
Minimal Requirements for Maintaining Good Standing*

Students must earn a B or better in all graduate course work to be counted for credit. After receiving a grade of C in a course, the student will receive notification of academic probation. A second C will result in dismissal from the program.
 
Comprehensive Exams

Students must either sit for comprehensive exams or write a thesis following the successful completion of their coursework. Comprehensive exams generally take place on a Saturday in the latter half of the fall and spring semesters, and students must register for the exams in the semester during which they plan to sit for the exams. Students must write in response to three questions, each composed by a professor who has instructed the student at the graduate level. One of the three questions must be based on one of the core courses. Students should request comprehensive questions up to a year prior to the expected exam date to facilitate adequate preparation. Although the exam is closed book (no access to books, online resources, or notes), students are allowed to bring one sheet of paper (8 and 1/2 x 11) listing book titles and authors that reflect the scholarly literature to be discussed in response to the three questions. Students are encouraged to be in regular contact with those professors who will be writing and evaluating their comprehensive exams so that expectations about what constitutes a passing evaluation are clear. Students should also be developing an annotated bibliography of the relevant literature in those areas to be covered by the exams.

Thesis

If a student opts to write a thesis, the departmental faculty generally advises the student to identify a topic early in his or her program and work carefully and at length with members of the department who have the relevant expertise. Normally, the student will be expected to compose and defend a thesis proposal before the three members of his or her committee prior to being allowed to continue the thesis-writing process. Please consult the Graduate Catalog for complete information on the thesis option.

Independent Study

Students may earn up to 6 credits of independent study after completing 12 credit hours in residence. Students who wish to register for independent study credit must first draft a proposal detailing the topic in which the student wishes to do further reading. This proposal should be accompanied by a working bibliography of key relevant literature. The proposal and working bibliography should be presented at the time of the request to the faculty member with expertise in the proposed area of study. Requests for directed readings are at the discretion of the faculty member and must be approved by the Graduate Director.

Internships

Students may elect to do an internship for up to 6 credit hours in the final semester of study with the permission and under the supervision of the Graduate Director. In addition to successful completion of the duties directly associated with the internship, there will also be an academic component, generally directed and evaluated by the Graduate Director.

*For more complete information about program requirements, please consult the Graduate Catalog