History, MA
Introduction
Please click here to see the History department's information.
The master of arts in history requires 36 semester hours (12 courses). Students applying for admission to the program should have some background in history, though not necessarily a BA in the subject. The department encourages applications from individuals of any age interested in continuing or resuming their education. Graduate students in history develop skills in critical thinking, writing and independent research. Our program prepares students for a wide variety of professions, including teaching, government service, museum and archive management, and historic preservation, as well as further degree work in history, law, librarianship and business. The department expects that students graduating with an MA in history will master the following general skills for their degrees:
- The ability to pursue independent historical research projects
- The ability to analyze historiographical arguments
- The ability to analyze primary documents and develop arguments from them
- The ability to create bibliographies using archival, library, and Internet resources
- The ability to write in a variety of formats, including historiographical essays, book reviews, and research papers
Students will also master knowledge of the basic historical content of both their major and minor fields, and an understanding of the historiographies and historical methods in their major and minor fields.
Graduate Advising
Early in their first semester, students should contact the history department graduate advisor to discuss their path through the program and to receive advice regarding the selection of major and minor fields.
Degree Tracking Responsibility
Although faculty will provide reasonable guidance, it is up to students to monitor their own progress through the program in consultation with the graduate advisor and their major and minor advisors; this includes knowledge and understanding of application and graduate deadlines, degree requirements, comprehensive exam expectations and processes, thesis guidelines, etc.
Major Fields, Minor Fields, and Concentrations
The MA in history seeks to provide students with a balance of breadth and depth in the study of history. Major fields are broad areas of study within which students gain a general picture of historical processes. Concentrations provide focus for developing expertise within the major, either regionally or thematically. Minor fields provide a complementary or comparative area and must sit outside the major field.
Advisors and students together will work out Plans of Study, which indicate the courses students intend to take to meet their requirements, based on their selection of major and minor fields. Students should make every effort to enroll in courses that best fit their major field, major concentration and minor field.
The department has core readings for the Public History and US History fields. Students will draw on these readings for their comprehensive exams. Students working in all fields will coordinate their readings with their major and minor advisors.
Major Field Concentrations
Students work with advisors to select one of the major field concentrations listed below. Concentrations provide thematic or regional focus to a broad geographical or methodological major (e.g. for the global history major, students could concentrate on trade, borders, imperialism, etc.. or any of the areas of regional expertise of our faculty). Readings for the major field concentration are in addition to the core reading list. Note that students may select their concentrations and the options for minors from the same lists.
Minor Fields
Students can define their minor field as a specialization within one of the four major fields or as topics from the list of concentrations. Note that students may select their concentrations and the options for minors from the same lists.
Choosing Advisors and Fields of Study
All history MA candidates choose a major field and a minor field. Students will take courses in these fields and will be tested in these fields. After consulting with the graduate advisor, students are responsible for securing two field advisors, one to oversee their progress in the major field, the other to oversee their minor field. All students should have chosen their fields and advisors by the end of the semester in which they have complete 12 credit hours. Students will also need a third advisor for the comprehensive examinations. This third advisor is typically in their major field and students should always consult with them during preparation for the examinations.
These program requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their program advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
Graduate Education Policies and Procedures apply to this program.
Program Requirements
- Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits from approved courses.
- Students must complete all credits for the degree at the graduate (5000 or higher) level, with a minimum of 18 credits at the 6000 level.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of B- (2.7) in all major courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 3.0. Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as P+/P/F or S/U.
- All credits for the degree must be completed with CU Denver faculty. A maximum of 12 credits of relevant graduate work may be transferred from another university with the program director's approval.
Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations
- With approval from the graduate advisor and the appropriate faculty, students may transfer up to nine graduate-level credits accrued before enrollment in the CU Denver MA history degree program, provided that they earned a grade of B+ or better in these courses. Students must submit a syllabus for each course they wish to transfer, and faculty may require students to complete additional assignments to meet the expectations of the department. The department will not accept transfer of courses comparable to HIST 6013, Introduction to the Professional Study of History.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following General History required courses: | 9 | |
| Introduction to the Professional Study of History | ||
| Readings: Special Subjects in History | ||
| Seminar: Special Subjects in History | ||
| Complete 12 credit hours of graduate level HIST courses covering approaches and themes in a focused major field, with a minimum of 3 credit hours at the 6000-level. These courses familiarize students with the field in a broad sense. 1 | 12 | |
| Students must select their major fields from the following groups. | ||
| Complete six elective credit hours of graduate level HIST courses. | 6 | |
| Students should use electives to explore other fields and identify a second field advisor for your capstone project. Elective courses are opportunities to explore secondary thematic or geographical fields that intersect with major fields and capstone projects | ||
| If the student has sufficient 6000-level credits to graduate, the extra elective does not need to be a 6000-level course. | ||
| Complete three credit hours from the following Public History electives. | 3 | |
| This will allow you to think intentionally about how you would like to disseminate your work. | ||
| Management of Material Culture and Museum Collections | ||
| Colorado Historic Places | ||
| History in Museums | ||
| Historic Preservation | ||
| History at Work: Public and Community History | ||
| National Parks History | ||
| Interpretation of History in Museums: Exhibits and Education | ||
| Introduction to Digital Studies | ||
| Internship | ||
| History Capstone | 6 | |
| Students must complete either a thesis or project. 2 | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Independent Study and/or Internship
Candidates may register for up to six credit hours of internships or independent study, only one of which may be at the 6000-level. Students will not be allowed to fulfill the research seminar requirement with an independent study or internship. Any independent study or internship at the 6000-level needs the permission of the graduate advisor. Students interested in pursuing an independent study or internship must find a faculty member willing to oversee their work, and they should expect the workload to equal or exceed that required for other courses at the same level.- 2
Students who undertake their master's program when they are already teachers can choose to construct curriculum projects relevant to their teaching practice.
Students must complete HIST 6989 Seminar: Special Subjects in History before starting the Capstone. For the thesis, semester one consists of preliminary research: identifying historiographical trends and locating sources for your project. For the project, semester one consists of preliminary research: identifying historiographical trends, identifying a community partner, developing an action plan, and locating resources for your project. At the end of the semester students will prepare and present a Research Prospectus to their committee. In semester two, students complete and defend their thesis or project.
Geographical Concentrations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| East Asia | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Traditional China: China to 1600 | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Lvng thr Mao's China: Life, Mat. Cult, Movies, 1949-76 | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Latin America | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern Mexico | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| Social Revolutions in Latin America | ||
| Modern Latin American History | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Middle East | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Islam in Modern History | ||
| Europe | ||
| Enlightenment and Revolution | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Europe During the World Wars | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| Victorians and Victorianism | ||
| Britain and The Empire | ||
| Modern France: 1789 to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| United States | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
| Crime, Policing, and Justice in American History | ||
| Women & Gender in US History | ||
Nineteenth Century | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
U.S. West | ||
| Consumer Culture | ||
| American West | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
Twentieth Century | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present | ||
U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Caribbean and U.S. | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| History of Modern Science | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1912 | ||
| Colorado Historic Places | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
Colorado | ||
| Colorado Historic Places | ||
| Global | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
| Explorers and Exploration | ||
Thematic Concentrations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship and National Identity | ||
| Enlightenment and Revolution | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Europe During the World Wars | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| Britain and The Empire | ||
| Modern France: 1789 to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Race, Religion, and Belonging | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| Modern China | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Colonialism and Imperialism | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| Victorians and Victorianism | ||
| Britain and The Empire | ||
| The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Caribbean and U.S. | ||
| Modern France: 1789 to the Present | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Islam in Modern History | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Explorers and Exploration | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Cultural History | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Victorians and Victorianism | ||
| Modern France: 1789 to the Present | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Race, Religion, and Belonging | ||
| Consumer Culture | ||
| American West | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Islam in Modern History | ||
| Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present | ||
| Economic and Business History | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Consumer Culture | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present | ||
| Environmental History | ||
| American West | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Foreign Policy | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| Modern China | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
| Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present | ||
| Frontiers and Borderlands | ||
| American West | ||
| Colorado Historic Places | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| Explorers and Exploration | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| History of Sexuality | ||
| Women & Gender in US History | ||
| Globalization | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Caribbean and U.S. | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Indigenous Histories | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| American West | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Intellectual History | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Victorians and Victorianism | ||
| Travel Stories and Origins of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| History of Modern Science | ||
| Islam in Modern History | ||
| Explorers and Exploration | ||
| Material Culture | ||
| Management of Material Culture and Museum Collections | ||
| Colorado Historic Places | ||
| Historic Preservation | ||
| Interpretation of History in Museums: Exhibits and Education | ||
| Migration and Immigration | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| American West | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Policing and Legal History | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Crime, Policing, and Justice in American History | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Caribbean and U.S. | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Race, Religion, and Belonging | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
| Crime, Policing, and Justice in American History | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present | ||
| Science, Medicine, and Society | ||
| History of Modern Science | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
| Social History | ||
| Enlightenment and Revolution | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Europe During the World Wars | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| Victorians and Victorianism | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Race, Religion, and Belonging | ||
| Crime, Policing, and Justice in American History | ||
| Women & Gender in US History | ||
| Mexico and the United States: People and Politics on the Border | ||
| Modern China | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Islam in Modern History | ||
| Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Urban History | ||
| Crime, Policing, and Justice in American History | ||
| War, Revolution and Genocide | ||
| Enlightenment and Revolution | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Europe During the World Wars | ||
| Crisis and Transformation: Europe's 20th Century | ||
| Britain and The Empire | ||
| Modern France: 1789 to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Core Themes in U.S. History | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
| Modern China | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
Thesis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Students writing theses are expected to develop an original research agenda resulting in an extended paper. Students work with their major field advisor, who will help guide them through the process of research and writing. Before registering for HIST 6950 Master's Thesis, students should have a thesis proposal and initial bibliography approved by their major advisor.
A thesis is evaluated by a committee of three faculty, including the major advisor and two other faculty members chosen by the student in consultation with the major advisor. Upon completion of the thesis, the student meets with the committee members, who ask questions about the research and conclusions which the student must defend. In most instances, the committee will require further revisions, sometimes major in scope, before the thesis is accepted and cleared for submission to the Graduate School in fulfillment of degree requirements.
Project Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Master's Project: Public History | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
In lieu of a thesis, public history majors may choose to enroll in three credit hours of HIST 6952 Master's Project: Public History to complete a public history project. Projects, which are usually conducted in collaboration with a public history organization, can entail creating an exhibit, developing a museum master plan or organizing an archival collection, conducting a preservation survey, or other activities as approved by their advisor. Students are required to prepare an analytical paper describing the process and results of their project.
Curriculum Projects
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete six credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
| Masters Project: Advanced History Curriculum Development | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Licensed teachers and students who intend to become teachers may choose to complete a curriculum development project. Students arrange curriculum development projects with a sponsoring faculty member. Generally, students are expected to develop and submit a complete course curriculum plan for each 3-semester-hour project. Projects need to show evidence of familiarity with the relevant historiographies and primary sources. Students may apply the hours from HIST 6951 Masters Project: Advanced History Curriculum Development to either the major field or the minor field, depending on the project subjects. Curriculum plans must meet minimum criteria established by the history department in the document Advanced History Curriculum Development Projects.
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.