Master of Arts in History

Prerequisites

Admission to graduate status and to graduate courses requires completion of an undergraduate major in history or the permission of the department.

Admission

Admission to the graduate program in history requires the submission of a complete application to the WWU Graduate School. This application includes the following:

WWU Graduate School Application
Application fee: $60.00

Official transcripts (2 from each institution attended, unless applicant is a current or former WWU Student)
Three (3) letters of reference
A statement of purpose that tells members of the department about your goals and interests
A writing sample (a research paper or a similar example of your writing ability)
GRE scores

Important note: Applicants interested in being considered for a teaching assistantship should note their interest in the space provided on the WWU Graduate School Application.

Degree Options

Master of Arts in History Option I (Thesis): Basic Requirements

Hist 505 (4 cr.)
Hist 690a,b,c [thesis] (12 cr.)
A written thesis prospectus is a prerequisite for 690b registration
Three courses in a primary field and two in a secondary field
Elective courses (13 cr.)
45 total credits

Master of Arts in History Option II (Non-Thesis): Basic Requirements

Hist 505 (4 cr.)
Four reading seminars*(16 cr.)
Three courses in one field and three courses in another with no more than one 400 level course in each area (maximum 10 credits at the 400 level)
Submission of three revised graduate seminar papers to a committee of three department faculty no later than week seven of the final term of study. Proposed revisions to be arranged with that committee no later than week seven in the term prior to the final term of study.
48 total credits

Reading and Writing Seminars

Reading seminars revolve around reading and discussion of special topics; shorter written exercises such as exploratory or bibliographical essays may be assigned, but not major papers. Writing seminars are extensions of reading seminars in which students write major research papers based on previous preparation in a reading seminar.

Archives and Records Management

See the Archival Studies Program.

Language Requirement

The foreign language requirement may be met in one of two ways: by passing an examination approved or administered by the department; or by earning a B grade or higher in the last course of a second-year language program. Courses graded on a pass/no pass basis would not qualify for satisfying the language requirement. Tests and course work taken before entry into the graduate program may be counted if completed within five years of acceptance into the graduate program, or, where appropriate and with departmental permission, a demonstrated competence in mathematics, statistics, or appropriate computer programs/processes, as determined by adviser.