History, M.A.
For further information: HistoryGrad@southernct.edu
Application Deadline
The department has rolling deadlines for each semester with complete applications submitted no later than August 17 for the Fall and January 3 for the Spring semesters, respectively.
Admission REQUIREMENTS
- All applicants must complete the School of Graduate and Professional Studies application.
- A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 with at least 18 credits of history.
- two letters of recommendation
- 500-word statement of purpose
- official transcripts sent to:
Southern Connecticut State University
School of Graduate and Professional Studies
501 Crescent Street, WT 105
New Haven, CT 06515
If you attended SCSU, you only need to indicate this on your application; you do not need to send your official transcript.
Prospective students may, however, register as part-time non-matriculated students in graduate courses. Non-matriculated students may earn no more than nine credits toward a degree program.
Interested applicants who do not meet school or departmental requirements should consult the History Graduate Coordinator before taking courses as a non-matriculated student.
Master of Arts Degree — 30 Credits
The Master of Arts degree is designed to afford certified teachers the opportunity to strengthen content knowledge of history and to provide highly motivated students greater foundational knowledge in history necessary to pursue doctoral studies.
Applicants must meet the general requirements of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and have completed a minimum of 18 undergraduate credits in history with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in those courses. All admission material must be sent to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies or the Application Processing Center.
The program of study consists of 24 credits of coursework in a chosen major and minor field of history and a 6 credit thesis. Students who already hold state certification may elect to complete a different capstone experience: either the comprehensive exams, requiring 30 credits of coursework or the special project, which requires 27 credits of coursework and a 3 credit capstone experience course. Those students that choose the exams will complete two additional graduate courses for a total of 30 credits of coursework in their chosen major and minor fields of history and comprehensive exams in two elected fields (American, European, or non-Western history). Those students that choose the project will complete one additional course and an capstone course of 3 credits to accomplish the special project for a total of 30 credits of coursework. With the approval of the History Graduate Coordinator, students may elect up to 6 credits of their course work in other social science or humanities fields. Reading ability in one modern foreign language is encouraged.
Program Sequence
As sequencing changes, it is highly recommended that students meet with their program advisor to finalize a list of requirements for graduation.
One U.S. History Graduate Course
HIS 513 – The Transformation of American Society 1877-1917
HIS 514 – Issues in American Constitutional History
HIS 518 – A Women's Place is in the Curriculum: A Multicultural Approach
HIS 536 – Progressive and Modern Women in the U.S.A.
HIS 551 – The Colonial Period in U.S. History
HIS 552 - American Revolution
HIS 554 - The Pre-Civil War Era, 1820-1850
HIS 555 – The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877
HIS 556 - US Maritime History
HIS 558 – History of the Trans-Mississippi West
HIS 562 – Seminar in the History of American Diplomacy
HIS 563 – History of Urban America
HIS 566 – History of American Radicalism
HIS 569 – American Indian History
One European History Graduate Course
HIS 516 – Stalinism
HIS 517 – Russian Revolution
HIS 564 – Seminar in Early Modern Europe
HIS 568 – Seminar in Late Modern Europe
HIS 570 – Seminar in Modern Europe
HIS 575 – Nazi Germany and the Holocaust
HIS 586 – Seminar in the Origins of Rome to 44 BCE
HIS 587 - French Revolution and Napoleon
HIS 588 - Seminar in the Roman Empire
HIS 589 – Tudor-Stuart England
HIS 591 – Seminar in European Intellectual History
One Non-Western Graduate Course
HIS 508 – Contemporary World History
HIS 527 – Major Powers of Latin American since Independence
HIS 528 – Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
HIS 531 – Race and Nationalism in South Africa
HIS 542 – Trade in Society in West Africa
HIS 548 – China Since Western Impact
HIS 571 – The Medieval Middle East
HIS 572 – The Modern Middle East
HIS 578 – Early Chinese Texts
HIS 579 – Seminar in Southeast Asia to 1850
Electives
15 credits in any graduate level history course except 593-594 (Thesis Track)
18 credits in any graduate level history course except 593-594 (Special Project Track)
21 credits in any graduate level history course except 593-594 (Comprehensive Exam Track)
Capstone
HIS 593 & 594 – (Thesis Seminar I and II) – 6 credits
HIS 600 – (Special Project Capstone) – 3 credits
HIS – Comprehensive Examination (no credit)