Graduate Catalog
Degree Programs

Master of Arts
History

Dr. Peter Dykema
Witherspoon Building, Room 255
Phone: (479) 968-0453
pdykema@atu.edu

The Master of Arts in History program at Arkansas Tech University is designed to provide advanced study for current and future educators (secondary and post-secondary) as well as those who plan to pursue the doctoral degree in history. The degree is also ideal for those seeking careers in museum or heritage studies, publishing, business, law, public service or the private sector. Graduate faculty hold advanced degrees from noted universities and exhibit strong credentials in teaching, research, and scholarship. The graduate faculty also maintain a supportive academic environment that enables them to interact closely with graduate students.

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Arts degree program in History if they meet the following requirements:

  1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for Graduate College.
  2. Applicants must have a minimum of 24 semester hours in history at the undergraduate level.
  3. Applicants must have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  4. Approval from the Program Director.

Conditional Admission

An applicant who does not satisfy the grade point requirement or who has not completed 24 hours of undergraduate work in history is also eligible for admission under these conditions. In some instances, transcripts may be judged to be deficient and the student may be required to complete up to twenty-four (24) undergraduate hours in addition to graduate credits required for the degree. If a cumulative 3.00 grade point average is achieved at the completion of twelve (12) graduate hours, the student will be granted unconditional admission. The nature of the deficiency requirements will be determined by the History Graduate Program Director.

Academic Advisors

The Graduate Program Director serves as the initial advisor for all entering student and will assist the student in coordinating a Degree Plan. The Graduate Program Director will appoint an additional faculty advisor, who specializes in the general field of the student's interest, to guide the student through the curriculum and help prepare for the thesis or comprehensive exams. The faculty advisor, the Graduate Program Director, the History Graduate Committee, and the Graduate College monitor students' progress as they work through the program. It remains, however, the student's responsibility to understand and satisfy all degree requirements.

Areas of Concentration

The Master of Arts in History program at Arkansas Tech has been designed to offer primary areas of concentration in Modern European History, United States History, and World History.

Admission to Candidacy

Students who have been granted conditional admission are eligible for admission to candidacy for the degree upon the completion of twelve (12) hours with a minimum cumulative of a 3.00 grade point average and completion of all deficiencies. Students who have been granted unconditional admission are eligible for admission to candidacy upon completion of twelve (12) hours with a minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average. Students who do not submit an "Application for Admission to Candidacy" prior to the end of the semester in which the student becomes eligible will not be allowed to register for subsequent graduate classes.

Degree Requirements

Option I: Thesis Option

The student seeking the Master of Arts degree in History under the Thesis Option must complete the following:

  1. A minimum of 30 hours in history at the graduate level (5000-6000).
  2. The satisfactory completion of HIST 6003 Historical Methods and HIST 6053 Historiography.
  3. The satisfactory completion of twelve (12) hours in the primary area of concentration, including at least three (3) hours each in Readings and Seminar courses.
  4. The satisfactory completion of an additional six (6) hours in areas of concentration other than the primary area of concentration.
  5. The satisfactory completion of six (6) hours of HIST 6991-6 Thesis Research.
  6. All course work must be completed within six (6) years of admission to the degree program.
  7. The successful completion of an oral defense of the completed thesis. Candidates will receive additional information on the oral defense from the Program Director upon admission to candidacy.
  8. No more than nine (9) hours combined of 5000 level courses HIST 6891-4 Independent Study and HIST 6881-3 Workshop may be counted toward the degree.
  9. No more than two (2) course grades of "C" be considered acceptable during the student's program, and no grade lower than "C" will be considered toward completion of the required course work.
  10. Thesis hours must earn a grade no lower than "B".

Option II: Non-Thesis Option

The student seeking the Master of Arts degree in History under the Non-Thesis Option must successfully complete the following:

  1. A minimum of 30 hours in history at the graduate level (5000-6000).
  2. The satisfactory completion of HIST 6003 Historical Methods and HIST 6053 Historiography.
  3. The satisfactory completion of twelve (12) hours in the primary area of concentration, including at least three (3) hours in Readings courses and three (3) hours in Seminar courses.
  4. The satisfactory completion of an additional six (6) hours in areas of concentration other than the primary area of concentration.
  5. The satisfactory completion of an additional six (6) hours in any area of concentration, three (3) hours of which must be a Seminar course.
  6. All course work must be completed within six (6) years of admission to the degree program.
  7. Successful completion of written comprehensive examinations on the completed course work. Comprehensive examinations will comprise two (2) written exams in the primary area of concentration and one in either of the other two (2) areas of concentration. Candidates will receive additional information from the Program Director upon admission to candidacy.
  8. No more than nine (9) hours combined of 5000 level courses, HIST 6891-4 Independent Study, and HIST 6881-3 Workshop may be counted towards the degree.
  9. No more than two (2) course grades of "C" will be considered acceptable during the student's program, and no grade lower than "C" will be considered toward completion of the required course work.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the head of the student's major department and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request to the head of their major department to petition an acceptance of the transfer credit prior to requesting admission to candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the appropriate program director and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree. No undergraduate course may be repeated for graduate credit.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must (in advance of enrollment) obtain written approval from the program director and the Graduate College Dean.