The Master of Arts program in History at the University of Louisville provides a flexible yet traditional program with rigorous standards. The breadth and reach of our faculty combined with the structure of the M.A. program encourages a worldwide vision of history. Rather than traditional concentrations in American or European history, M.A. candidates pursue a primary and a secondary area of emphasis in areas of concentration such as the Greater Atlantic World, the Greater Mediterranean Basin World, the Asia-Pacific Basin World, and the Indian Ocean World. Students find that this structure allows flexibility in course scheduling and encourages cross-cultural and interdisciplinary scholarship. The following is the vital information regarding our program. For further questions and inquiries about applying, please contact Dr. Christine Ehrick, Director of Graduate Studies, at Email Dr. Ehrick.

Admissions

Applicants with the following credentials are eligible to be considered for unconditional admission to the Master's Program in History:

1. a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
2. 21 credit hours in history with a minimum GPA 3.0
3. a combined score of at least 1000 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
4. at least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional capabilities and potential
5. a statement, not to exceed 500 words, addressing the question: "Why have you chosen to pursue an MA in history?"

For the most up-to-date information regarding admission to the graduate school, conditional admissions, and other information about the graduate school in general, please refer to the Graduate Catalog Index .

Applications

The above-listed credentials must be submitted to the Graduate School Admissions Office along with a formal application and payment of a $50 processing fee. The application and credentials will then be forwarded to the History Department for review by the Director of Graduate Studies. The online application is available at: http://graduate.louisville.edu/students/application.html.

History Department Deadlines

Applications for Fall semester must be submitted by July 20 and those for Spring semester by December 10. The History Department does not admit students to begin in the summer term. Fellowships and assistantships are assigned in the spring for students enrolling the following fall or spring. Fellowship applications will normally be due on April 1.

Financial Aid

Program of Study

Each candidate for the MA in History will define primary and secondary areas of emphasis in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. This program of studies normally must be approved by the Graduate Director before the student enrolls for the second semester of work. Students may choose from the following Areas of Emphasis:

1. Greater Atlantic World, including Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
2. Greater Mediterranean Basin World, including Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
3. Asia-Pacific Rim World, including South Asia, East Asia, Pacific, and the Americas.
4. Western Pacific and Indian Ocean World, including East Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Thesis Options

Students choosing this option must complete 30 credit hours, including 6 thesis hours, and write a substantial Master’s Thesis. Credit hours will be divided as follows:

Course work: 24 hours

Major area of emphasis: 15–18 hours

Secondary area of emphasis: 6–12 hours

Electives: 0–6 hours

At least 12 hours of the 24 hours of course work must be in 600-level courses with at least 9 of these hours in the major area of emphasis.

Thesis preparation: 6 hours

The thesis must be in the major area of emphasis and must be defended in an oral examination before a committee consisting of the thesis director (chair of the committee) and at least two other faculty members, one of whom must be from outside of the History Department. The Committee must be approved by the Graduate Director of the History Department and by the Graduate School.

If the members of the thesis committee accept the candidate’s thesis and if the student has fulfilled all other requirements, the student will be certified for the Master of Arts degree in history.

Exam Option

Students choosing this option must complete 33 credit hours of course work and two examinations or two research papers.

33 hours of course work

Major area of emphasis: 18–21 hours

Secondary area of emphasis: 9–12 hours

Electives: 0–6 hours

At least 18 hours must be at the 600 level with at least 15 of these hours in the major area of emphasis.

2 exams or papers

The student must complete either two research papers, one of which will normally be in the major area of emphasis, and one, in the minor area or two examinations, one in the major area of emphasis, and one, in the minor area. A committee will evaluate the written work and conduct an oral examination on the papers or the examinations and on the relevant areas of history. The committee will consist of three faculty members, normally the two faculty members who directed the research papers or who administered the examinations and a third faculty member. The committee must be approved by the Graduate Director of the History Department.

If the members of the committee accept the candidate’s work and if the student has fulfilled all other requirements, the student will be certified for the Master of Arts degree in history.

Course Load

A normal graduate load in this department will be 9 hours or three courses, and in no case will more than 12 hours or four courses be taken during any one regular semester. The course load decision will be made by the Director.

Additional Course Information

M.A. candidates have the option of taking up to 6 hours of course work outside of the Department. Those hours must be directly relevant to the student's academic program, and can be taken only with the consent of the Director of Graduate Studies. In a student's approved graduate program, no Pass-Fail courses will apply, unless the History Department itself creates Graduate Pass-Fail courses. No more than 6 hours of Directed Studies or Independent Studies (601-602, 501-502) will be allowed in a student's approved program. For M.A.-level work in certain areas of knowledge of one or more foreign languages or knowledge of other specialized research tools may be required.

Accelerated BA/MA Program

This program allows U of L undergraduate history majors to take up to 6 credits of graduate work which can then be applied to completion of the History MA. Undergraduates must apply to this program no later than the end of their junior year. A fuller explanation is at: http://www.louisville.edu/a-s/history/accbama.html.

Transfer of Credits

Students may be allowed to transfer up to 6 hours from outside the University. Up to six additional transfer hours may be requested under certain circumstances. All credit transfer requests must be approved and supported by the Director of Graduate Studies and the History Department Chair. For details on Graduate School policy regarding the transfer of credits, see: http://graduate.louisville.edu/catalog/index.php?id=course_credit.

Requirements for Good Standing

Whenever any student's cumulative quality-point total falls below 3.00, the student will be warned and may be subject to dismissal. Failure of non-degree students to maintain a 2.00 average will result in termination. STUDENT APPEALS

Student appeals concerning departmental guidelines will be submitted to the Director, who will forward the appeal to the Department's Graduate Committee for decision.

For further information: Dr. Christine Ehrick, Director of Graduate Studies

History Department, University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 40292 Phone: (502) 852-6817

Email Dr. Ehrick