2012-2013 University Catalog
History
Professors
Jacob H. Dorn (Emeritus), United States: 20th century, intellectual, religious
Edward F. Haas, United States: South, urban and public history, Civil War
Carol Engelhardt Herringer (Chair), Modern Europe: Great Britain, religion, gender
Paul D. Lockhart, Early Modern Europe: Scandinavia
John W. Sherman, Latin America: Mexico, 20th century, political
Associate Professors
Martin Arbagi (Emeritus), Ancient: Roman, Medieval, and Byzantine
Susan B. Carrafiello, Modern Europe: Italy
Nancy Garner, United States: Women’s, West
Barbara Green, United States: African American, South, Reconstruction
Awad Halabi, Middle East
Noeleen McIlvenna, United States: colonial, revolution
Marjorie McLellan, United States: Public History, social
Kathryn Meyer, Asia: Japan and China
Roy L. Vice, Early Modern Europe: Reformation, Germany
Jonathan Winkler, United States: diplomatic, military
Assistant Professors
Opolot Okia, Africa
Sean Pollock, Europe: Russia, empires
The purpose of the Master of Arts program in history is to provide broad but intensive training for students who intend to pursue careers as professional historians, whether in teaching, research, or archival or historical preservation fields, or for those who desire strong historical backgrounds for other vocational or avocational objectives. The program offers opportunities for specialized study and research, but without neglecting the breadth that characterizes historical work at its best. In recognition of the fact that students’ interests and goals are varied, the program provides a choice of three plans (see the following details), all of which lead to a Master of Arts degree. This program is approved by the Ohio Board of Regents.
Decisions regarding admission to the graduate program of the Department of History, continuation in the program, and dismissal from it will be made by the department’s graduate studies committee. The candidate must meet the requirements of the graduate school, hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and meet a minimum grade point average (3.0 or better in history and 3.0 overall). Each candidate shall also include a statement of goals, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. The GRE is not required. In special cases, a candidate with a grade point average below 3.0 may be admitted on conditional status with the approval of the department’s graduate studies committee. Conditional status may be granted upon a favorable committee recommendation based upon the candidate’s application and interview with a director of the graduate program.
A strong candidate will have substantial undergraduate course work in history, or a major in the field. An applicant without such a background may enter the program but may be required to take deficiency work as prescribed by the graduate studies committee.
A graduate student in any college of the university may take up to three graduate history courses without prior approval of the Department of History. Any student desiring more than 9 credit hours of graduate history courses must secure the approval of a director of the graduate program.
Students are admitted to the program for the Fall semester only. Deadlines: March 15 (for consideration for assistantships, graduate tuition scholarships, and other forms of financial aid); April 15 (all other applications).
The Master of Arts degree can be earned through one of three plans. The Thesis Plan is intended primarily for those students who expect to continue graduate work or who need or desire the full range of professional experience, including intensive research and writing. It assures training in research techniques and the preparation of scholarly papers, culminating in the submission of a thesis. The Course Intensive Plan is intended primarily, but not exclusively, for students not expecting to pursue doctoral studies. The Public History Plan is a program designed for graduate students who are primarily interested in careers in historical or archival administration, or in museum management. It provides students with both theoretical and practical training in these areas.
For the purpose of planning advanced courses and seminars, each student should consult a graduate director regularly. A student receiving two Cs will be placed on academic probation and will be required to appear before the graduate studies committee to justify his or her continued participation in the program. Upon review of the student’s progress, the graduate studies committee may dismiss the student from the program.
| Hours | |
| Dept Core and Electives | |
| I. Program Requirements | |
| Thesis track | 30-33 |
| HST 7000 – Historical Methods | 3 |
| Field 1: 2 seminars | 6 |
| Field 1: 2 additional seminars or 6000-level courses | 6 |
| Field 2: 2 seminars | 6 |
| Field 2: 2 additional seminars or 6000-level courses | 6 |
| Thesis hours | 3-6 |
| Course intensive track | 33 |
| HST 7000 – Historical Methods | 3 |
| Field 1: 2 seminars | 6 |
| Field 1: 2 additional seminars or 6000-level courses | 6 |
| Field 2: 2 seminars | 6 |
| Field 2: 2 additional seminars or 6000-level courses | 6 |
| Electives: 2 seminars and/or 6000-level courses | 6 |
| Public History Track | |
| Required Academic Core | |
| Historical Methods | 3 |
| 2 Seminars (1 can be non-US history; can also choose from Material Culture, Decorative Arts, Readings in Oral History) | 6 |
| 1 upper level history course (select from regular history course offerings, including Digital History, History of Architecture) | 3 |
| Required Public History Core | |
| HST 7500 Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| HST 7600 Intro to Archives and Manuscripts | 3 |
| HST 7650 Introduction to Museum Administration and Collections | 3 |
| HST 7810 Public History Internship | 1 |
| HST 7900 Capstone Project | 1 |
| Advanced Public History | |
| HST 7700 Research in Local History | 3 |
| HST 7750 Museum Interpretation and Exhibits | 3 |
| HST 7800 Advanced Archives | 3 |
| HST 7810 Records and Information Management | 3 |
| HST 7850 Archival Preservation | 3 |
| Electives | |
| Choose from the following: | |
| HST 7860 Historic Preservation | 3 |
| HST 7820 Practica | 1-2 |
| HST 7830 Special Topics in Public History | 3 |
| Total Thesis Track | 30-33 |
| Total Course Intensive Track | 33 |
*While the Wright State University online catalog is updated regularly, for program requirements you should always see your advisor (undergraduate students) or your program director (graduate students).