| DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Chair: Clarence L. Mohr (460-6210)
Graduate Coordinator: Aaron Fogleman
Professors: Brandon, Holmes, Mohr, Thomason
Associate Professors: Chuang, Fogleman, Hannum, Houston, Macaluso, McKiven, Monheit,
Nigota, Rogers
Assistant Professor: Brown
UNDERGRADUATE
STUDIES
Knowledge and awareness of history and society are important ingredients of a liberal
education. The Department of History offers general courses for all students, a major and
a minor in history, and preparation for students who plan to continue study at the
graduate level, to teach history, or to enter related fields.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A
MAJOR IN HISTORY
A minimum of 36 semester hours in History, including HY 101, 102, 235, 236, one course in
African, or Asian, or Latin American History, and 21 semester hours of electives. These
electives must include a minimum of fifteen semester hours in courses numbered 300 or
above taken at this University, of which six semester hours must be in courses at the 400
level. Majors should seek as broad an acquaintance with the varieties of historical
experience as possible. A strong major program should include upper-level courses numbered
300 or above in the history of Europe, the United States, Latin America, and non-Western
societies.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A
MINOR IN HISTORY
A minimum of 21 semester hours in History. Students must complete a six hour sequence in
either Western Civilization (101 and 102) or US History (235 and 236) and 15 semester
hours of electives, of which nine semester hours must be taken in courses numbered 300 or
above at this University.
GRADUATE STUDIES
The Master of Arts degree in History is designed to meet the varied needs of students.
There are three study tracks or plans for completion of the degree: thesis, non-thesis,
and the M.A. in History with Class A Teaching Certification.
Normally, those who wish to enter a Ph.D. program, law
school, or certain positions in archives, government, and community college teaching
positions pursue the thesis option. Other students pursuing positions where a thesis is
not needed often study in the non-thesis track. Students who wish to teach in public
schools in Alabama, and who already hold a Class B Teaching Certificate, may pursue the
Class A Teaching Certification option.
Applications for admission are considered every semester,
in accordance with the guidelines established by the Graduate School. For further
information on the M.A. program, see the departmental booklet Graduate Program in History.
REQUIREMENTS FOR
ADMISSION
Students are admitted each semester. The following criteria supplement Graduate School
criteria (see Categories of Admission).
REGULAR ADMISSION
- At least twenty-one semester hours of college work in
history approved by the Graduate Committee of the Department of History.
- An average of "B" (3.0) or better in the junior-
and senior-level history courses presented in fulfillment of requirement 1.
PROVISIONAL ADMISSION
Applicants whose undergraduate preparation in history does not meet the Graduate History
Committee’s full approval may, at the discretion of the Committee and under the
regulations of the Graduate School, be admitted provisionally and may be required to make
up deficiencies in undergraduate course work in addition to fulfilling the regular degree
requirements listed below
To qualify for Regular Standing, a Provisional Admission
student must satisfy the general requirements of this Bulletin and achieve a grade of
"A" or "B" in nine consecutive semester hours of acceptable graduate
course work.
NON-DEGREE STUDENTS
Students holding baccalaureate degrees from accredited institutions of higher education
who are not interested in earning an M.A. degree, or who are not yet ready to apply for
Regular Admission may enroll in a Non-Degree status. A suitable background for the courses
to be taken is expected. Non-Degree students may enroll only in courses offered at
specific times and places. They may not enroll in directed studies courses.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
A limited number of assistantships and fellowships are awarded to incoming and returning
graduate students on a competitive basis. Assistantships include a tuition waiver and a
stipend, for which students are asked to work 20 hours a week, usually tutoring, editing,
or assisting in the University Archives.
Fellowships include a tuition waiver only, and do not
require any extra work load. Applications for each academic year are due in the department
no later than April 15, and must include the application form, official transcripts, GRE
General Test scores, and three letters of recommendation.
REQUIREMENTS FOR
DEGREE
All candidates for the Master of Arts degree in History, regardless of which of the three
tracks they are following, must complete the following requirements:
- A minimum of 33 credit hours with grade of "A" or
"B".
- A minimum of 20 credit hours completed at the University of
South Alabama.
- A maximum of 12 credit hours of 400-level courses and 12
credit hours of 400/500-level courses may be taken for credit. The combination of the two
may not exceed 18 credit hours.
- Take at least 21 credit hours at the 500 level, not all of
which must be history courses.
- Complete HY 530 American Historiography.
- Complete HY 540 Modern European Historiography.
- Complete one of the following research seminars: HY 581 or
586 (HY 546, 553 or 578 may be substituted, if a research paper is completed.)
- Choose two of the following fields and complete three
courses in each:
- American History to 1865
- United States History Since 1865
- Early Modern Europe
- Europe Since 1815
- Topical Fields or Area Studies
Note: A grade of "C" or below is not
considered a passing grade by the Department of History. Students receiving such a grade
in a required course must repeat the course.
The remaining requirements are dictated by the
track under which students choose to study:
Non-Thesis
- Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language.
- Complete comprehensive examinations in two fields, one in
American and one in European History (see list of fields above).
- Complete HY 597 Professional Studies: Directed Field
Research or HY 592 The Teaching of History
Thesis
- Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language.
- Complete a comprehensive examination in one field (see list
of fields on previous page) other than the thesis field.
- Complete six credit hours of HY 599 Thesis.
- Submit an approved thesis prospectus.
- Formally defend their thesis. (Students must be enrolled in
at least one hour of HY 599 when they defend.)
- Submit an approved thesis in accordance with Graduate
School regulations.
M.A. in History with Class A Teaching
Certification
This option is also know as the "Strength in Subject Matter Program." Only
students who hold a valid Class B Teaching Certificate are eligible. Normally this applies
to students with a B.A. in Education at a university or college in Alabama. Questions
regarding eligibility should be directed to the Dean’s Office of the College of
Education.
Students in this track may pursue the thesis or non-thesis
option. In either case they must meet all requirements outlined above, with the following
exceptions:
- Students are exempt from any foreign language requirement.
- A Survey of Special Education course (either SPE 400 or
500), if not previously completed.
Descriptions
of all History (HY) courses
College
of Arts and Sciences
|
