History Master of Arts

HISTORY MASTER OF ARTS

Description

For more than a quarter century the Department of History has offered high quality and rigorous graduate training in history to a diverse student body, including secondary school teachers seeking certification or advanced training; those committed to museum, archival and records management careers; PhD aspirants; and mid-life career changers from a variety of professions. Their one common feature has been a love of history and a desire to study it intensively.

Admission to the Program There are two ways to begin graduate study in history: 1. Students may sample a course or two on a non-matriculated basis. Students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of History before registering to help ensure that the courses selected match the student's needs and background. 2. Students may apply for admission to the MA in History as a matriculated degree.

The Admissions Process: Applications are available online at www.brockport.edu/graduate (see Graduate Admissions section of this catalog for details). For questions, please call the Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 395-5465; email gradadmit@brockport.edu; or write the Office of Graduate Admissions, The College at Brockport, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420. Students must submit the following credentials to the Office of Graduate Admissions as part of the application packet:
1. Official transcripts of all college work, both graduate and undergraduate. Students may transfer up to 12 graduate credits of course work from other institutions with the approval of the Graduate Committee.
2. Two letters of recommendation from college or university instructors or others qualified to evaluate the student's likely success as a graduate student in history.
3. A letter of intent explaining why the student wishes to pursue an MA at The College at Brockport.
4. A sample of the student's writing (usually a term paper or other research project).

Criteria for Admission: In assessing these materials, the Graduate Committee in the Department of History will consider the following:
1. Intellectual ability: In general, at least a "B" average in previous college course work is expected.
2. Background in history: An undergraduate major in history is helpful, but not required. Students without a history major should have the equivalent of a minor field (15-18 credits) in history and/or other disciplines in the humanities or social sciences.
3. Writing, research and analytical skills.
4. A passion for the study of history and an ability to articulate how the MA program fits with the student's personal and career plans.

Program Requirements and Options
1. The MA in History is a 33-credit degree program.
2. Up to 12 credits of graduate course work with a grade of "B" or better may be transferred from other institutions with the approval of the Graduate Committee. Courses presented for transfer credit must have been taken within the past five years.
3. Students must have at least a "B" average in their graduate course work to be eligible for graduation. Those with GPAs below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation in keeping with the College's graduate probation policy. Two with GPAs below 3.0 may result in academic dismissal.
4. All courses must carry graduate credit (500 level or above). At least 18 credits of the courses must be at the 600 level or above, excluding HST 710. All students must take at least one research-intensive 500 level course.
5. Degree requirements must be completed within five years of the date of matriculation.

MA in History Curriculum

A. Required Introductory Course - HST 600: Introduction to Historical Studies. This course is designed to acquaint students, at the beginning of their MA work, with the recent major approaches to historical inquiry.

B. The Major Field (18 credits): Students will choose among three tracks to complete their major field. Each track involves several reading seminars, a research experience and electives.

American History Track
HST 614 Reading Seminar in Early America
HST 615 Reading Seminar in Modern America
4 electives in World History (one 500-level research intensive)
World History Track
HST 614 Reading Seminar in Early America
HST 615 Reading Seminar in Modern America
4 electives in World History (one 500-level research intensive)
World/American History Track
HST 614/615 Reading Seminar
HST 64X Regional Seminar
HST XXX Elective in World/American
3 electives in World History
3 electives in American History

C. The Minor Field (9 credits): Both the American History track and the World History track require completion of a three course minor that can be constructed in a variety of ways. The most common choice is either world or American history. Other choices include, but are not limited to: public history, women/gender history, military history, Atlantic World, revolutions. Students may also take up to nine credits in graduate courses outside of history and apply them to an interdisciplinary minor field, such as English, education, women's studies or study abroad. All students should take at least one course outside their major field area. The World/American History track does not require completion of a minor field.

D. Capstone Experience The capstone experience serves to integrate the MA program. Students may choose one of two options. Both require contracts, an oral examination and a minimum grade of "B" to pass and receive the MA:

HST 700 Historical Integration
HST 701 Master's Thesis
Other Program Possibilities
HST 691 Research in American History
HST 695 Research in World History
HST 699 Independent Study in History
HST 710: College Teaching Practicum
HST 503: Internships
Overseas Study

Department of History

Department Chair: Owen Ireland
Location: Brown 133
Visit Website
Email: trombaut@brockport.edu
Phone: (585) 395-2377
Fax: (585) 395-2620

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Undergraduate Programs

Faculty & Staff

Katherine Clark Ph.D
(Indiana University-Bloomington)
Associate Professor

John P Daly Ph.D
(Rice University)
Associate Professor

Carl Davila Ph.D
(Yale University)
Assistant Professor

Owen S Ireland Ph.D
(University Of Pittsburgh-Main Campus)
Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair

Garrett R Jordan BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Teaching Assistant

W Bruce Leslie Ph.D
(Johns Hopkins University)
Distinguished Service Professor

Anne S Macpherson Ph.D
(University Of Wisconsin-Madison)
Associate Professor

Salahuddin Malik Ph.D
(McGill University)
Professor

Morag S Martin Ph.D
(University Of California-Irvine)
Associate Professor

William Morris Ph.D
(University Of Illinois University Administration)
Visiting Assistant Professor

Paul B Moyer Ph.D
(College Of William And Mary)
Associate Professor and Associate Chair

Stephen T Neese Ph.D
(George Washington University)
Visiting Assistant Professor

Takashi Nishiyama Ph.D
(Ohio State University-Main Campus)
Associate Professor

Kenneth P O'Brien Ph.D
(Northwestern University)
Associate Professor + Director Transfer Articulation

Alison M Parker Ph.D
(Johns Hopkins University)
Professor

David A Pomplas BA
(SUNY Empire State College)
Teaching Assistant

Garrett W Roe BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Teaching Assistant

Meredith L Roman Ph.D
(Michigan State University)
Associate Professor

Teri L Rombaut BA
(Blackburn College)
Secretary 1

Kimberly Schutte Ph.D
(University Of Kansas Main Campus)
Visiting Assistant Professor

Angela Thompsell Ph.D
(University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor)
Assistant Professor

Jose R Torre Ph.D
(SUNY At Binghamton)
Associate Professor