Graduate School Policies and Procedures apply to this program.
Introduction
The MA program in history offers graduate-level major and minor fields in public history. Public history is a field of study that applies historical methods to the public sphere. This graduate major requires a concentration, in either museum studies or historic preservation. Public history majors can minor in any subspecialty the department currently offers. Students majoring in U.S., European or Global history can also minor in public history.
Program Requirements
- Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours from approved courses.
- Students must complete all courses at the graduate (5000 or above) 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. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
- Students must complete all credits with CU Denver faculty.
Requirements
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| HIST 6013 | Introduction to the Professional Study of History | 3 |
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| HIST 5234 | History at Work: Public and Community History | 3 |
| HIST 5232 | Historic Preservation | 3 |
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| |
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| HIST 5133 | Management of Material Culture and Museum Collections | 3 |
| HIST 5229 | Colorado Historic Places | 3 |
| HIST 5244 | Interpretation of History in Museums: Exhibits and Education | 3 |
| HIST 6992 | Seminar: Colorado Studies | 3 |
Electives
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| |
| |
Comprehensive Examinations
All history MA candidates must pass a comprehensive examination in the major and minor fields after the completion of course work and before embarking on a thesis, curriculum project or public history project. The comprehensive exam evaluates students' knowledge of their course work and their reading lists for their major, minor and concentration. In answering their exam questions, students are expected to construct arguments and to show mastery of the historiographies, narratives and historical content in their fields. The comprehensive exam is administered and evaluated by a committee of the major advisor, the minor advisor and an outside reader from the history faculty.
Thesis or Project
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
Thesis Requirements
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| HIST 6950 | Master's Thesis | 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. Students enroll in HIST 6950 Master's Thesis to complete their theses. Before registering for HIST 6950 Master's Thesis, students must have a thesis proposal and initial bibliography approved by their advisor.
A thesis is evaluated by a committee of three, 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 many 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
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| HIST 6952 | Master's Project: Public History | 3-6 |
In lieu of a thesis, public history majors may choose to enroll in one semester 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, education program or collection management plan/project, or organizing an archival collection, conducting a preservation survey or similar projects as worked out with their advisor. Students are required to prepare a paper describing the process and results of their project.
Curriculum Projects
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| HIST 6951 | Masters Project: Advanced History Curriculum Development | 3-6 |
Licensed teachers and teachers-in-training enrolled in the history graduate program 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 this 3-semester-hour project. Projects need to show evidence of familiarity with the relevant historiographies and primary sources. Students may apply the credits 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.
Independent Studies and/or Internships
Candidates may register for up to 6 hours of internships or independent study, only one of which may be at the 6000-level. Students will not be allowed to satisfy the research seminar requirement via independent study. 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.
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.
