德克萨斯理工大学

The Department of History offers two different kinds of Master of Arts degrees in History — the M.A. academic preparatory concentration (with thesis) and the terminal M.A., or professional enrichment preparatory concentration (non-thesis).

M.A. Academic Preparatory Concentration

Program Requirements

A student in the M.A. academic preparatory concentration must successfully complete at least 36 hours of graduate work to receive the Master of Arts degree. A minimum of 24 hours must be taken in the Department of History at Texas Tech. All Department of History graduate courses meet face-to-face (no online courses are offered). This includes 12 hours taken at the 5000-level in one of three geographic areas of concentration (United States, Europe, or World) and 12 hours of elective graduate coursework. Of the electives, 6 hours must be chosen from geographic areas outside of the student’s geographic area of concentration. Students must take no more than 6 hours at the 7000-level and must complete HIST 5304 and HIST 6301 in the first semester they are offered after the student’s admission to the program. HIST 5304 must be taken before HIST 6301. HIST 5304 and HIST 6301 must also be taken before completing 6 hours of thesis hours (HIST 6000). Within this framework, students are strongly advised to plan their programs with the advice and consent of the Graduate Program Coordinator, the Director of Graduate Studies, and their primary faculty advisor.

Course Requirements:

HIST 5304 (Take during first semester course is offered after admission.)
HIST 6301 (Take during first semester course is offered after completion of HIST 5304.)
Geographic Area of Concentration (12 Semester Credit Hours)
Electives (12 Semester Credit Hours, 6 hours of which must be outside the geographic area of concentration)
HIST 6000 - Master’s Thesis (6 Semester Credit Hours)

Thesis. Thesis work is directed by a committee consisting of at least two members of the history graduate faculty. Other faculty who may be a scholar with relevant expertise from the Department of History, another department, or another university, can be added to the committee if the thesis director, student, and graduate advisor conclude that the nature of the thesis topic warrants it. After the final version of the thesis has been approved by the committee, students are required to pass an oral defense of the thesis.

Terminal Master of Arts Concentration (Non-Thesis Professional Enrichment)

Program Requirements

The professional enrichment concentration is designed to assist persons for whom a two-year graduate degree would provide career advancement in a chosen or desired field other than that for which a history Ph.D. is required. The focus of the terminal M.A. is on providing a platform for developing critical analytical skills (reading, written, and oral) within a historical framework. The program provides intense study of up to three interrelated geographic or thematic fields. The terminal M.A. concludes with written examinations in the student’s chosen fields of study. The degree does not require the completion of a thesis-length work. For this reason, the terminal M.A. concentration is not intended for those whose interests are oriented toward undertaking Ph.D. work in history. Some of the careers for which obtaining a terminal M.A. in History may be an asset include the following: education/teaching (K-12 or community college), library studies, non-governmental agencies, social work, journalism, campaign management, genealogist, archivist/archival administration, public historian, corporate management, community organizer, counseling, public affairs, political activism, and entertainment industry historical consultant.