Graduate Program
Master’s Degrees in History
Texas A&M University-Commerce offers both a Master of Arts (MA) and a Master of Science (MS) degree in History. Our program includes courses in United States, European, Latin American, and World History. Graduate work may be undertaken at both the main campus in Commerce and at the Metroplex Center in Mesquite. Most graduate classes are offered in the evening and during summer sessions.
There are three options within the master’s program: Option I (MA or MS) requires a thesis; both Option II (MA or a MS) and Option III (MS) are non-thesis options. Either Option I or Option II for the Master of Arts requires twelve hours of foreign language. We recommend Option I especially for those students who intend to pursue graduate studies on the doctoral level. We recommend Option III for those graduate students looking for a degree which provides them the minimum state-mandated graduate hour requirements to teach both college-level History and Political Science.
Master of Arts or Master of Science in History (Option I)
The student completing either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science-Option I program takes 30 semester hours (10 courses) in the Department of History, which include the required 6 hours of thesis. One of the ten courses may be taken in a department other than History with the advance permission of the graduate advisor.
Ten-course program to be completed:
1. Historiography and Methodology (6 hours):
• HIST 590 - Historiography and Historical Theory
• HIST 591 - Historical Methods
2. Choose three courses (9 hours) from:
• HIST 521 - Colloquium in Latin American History
• HIST 542 - Colloquium in Medieval European History
• HIST 543 - Colloquium in Early Modern European History
• HIST 544 - Colloquium in Modern European History
• HIST 551 - Colloquium in Colonial North American History
• HIST 552 - Colloquium in Revolutionary American History
• HIST 553 - Colloquium in U.S. History, 1850-1920
• HIST 554 - Colloquium in U.S. History from 1920
3. Choose three courses (9 hours) from:
• HIST 520 - Topics in World/Comparative History (may be repeated as topics change)• HIST 540 - Seminar in European History (may be repeated as topics change)
• HIST 550 - Seminar in American History (may be repeated as topics change)
• HIST 555 - Seminar in History for Middle and High School Education
• HIST 597 - Special Topics (may be repeated as topics change)4. Thesis (6 hours):
• HIST 518 - Thesis
Master of Arts or Master of Science in History (Option II)
A student completing a Master of Arts or a Master of Science-Option II program is required to complete 36 semester hours. Eleven of the twelve required courses must be taken in the Department of History with the one remaining course taken outside of History. This is a non-thesis option.
Twelve-course program (36 hours) to be completed:
1. Historiography and Methodology (6 hours):
• HIST 590 - Historiography and Historical Theory
• HIST 591 - Historical Methods
2. Choose four courses (12 hours) from:
• HIST 521 - Colloquium in Latin American History
• HIST 542 - Colloquium in Medieval European History
• HIST 543 - Colloquium in Early Modern European History
• HIST 544 - Colloquium in Modern European History
• HIST 551 - Colloquium in Colonial North American History
• HIST 552 - Colloquium in Revolutionary American History
• HIST 553 - Colloquium in U.S. History, 1850-1920
• HIST 554 - Colloquium in U.S. History from 1920
3. Choose three courses (9 hours) from:
• HIST 520 - Topics in World/Comparative History (may be repeated as topics change)• HIST 540 - Seminar in European History (may be repeated as topics change)
• HIST 550 - Seminar in American History (may be repeated as topics change)
• HIST 555 - Seminar in History for Middle and High School Education
• HIST 597 - Special Topics (may be repeated as topics change)4. Choose 1 elective (3 hours) within History:
• HIST
5. Research Literature and Techniques (3 hours):
• HIST 595 - Research Literature and Techniques
6. Choose 1 additional graduate course (3 hours) outside of History:
•
Master of Science in History—Political Science Track (Option III)
This is a non-thesis option. Twelve-course program (18 hours in History and 18 hours in Political Science) to be completed:
1. Required Courses (9 semester hours):• HIST 590 - Historiography and Historical Theory
• HIST 591 - Historical Methods
• HIST 595 - Research Literature and Techniques
2. Choose three additional courses (9 hours) from graduate level History courses:
• HIST
• HIST
• HIST
3. Choose six additional courses (18 hours) from graduate level Political Science courses:
• PSCI
• PSCI
• PSCI
• PSCI
• PSCI
• PSCI
Graduate Qualifying Examinations
Prior to enrollment in thesis hours (HIST 518) or Research Literature and Techniques (HIST 595), all history graduate students must successfully complete the Department's graduate qualifying exam. Degree-seeking graduate students should contact the graduate advisor for History, Dr. John Smith (John_Smith@tamu-commerce.edu) early on in their coursework in preparation for taking the exam.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Candidates for admission to the master’s program must complete an application for the Graduate School and provide official bachelor’s degree transcripts. They must also take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange to have the results sent to the Graduate School. Applications are available online. To find out more about the Graduate School, follow this link. You may also contact the Department of History main office (903-886-5226) or graduate advisor (John_Smith@tamu-commerce.edu) for additional information.
Students who hold a bachelor’s degree but are not seeking a graduate degree may enroll in graduate courses under non-degree status. Graduate history at Texas A&M University-Commerce courses also earn PDAS credit.
Students who have full admission to the graduate program may be eligible for several forms of financial aid, including Texas Public Education Grants, college work-study, graduate assistantships, housing scholarships, and several loan programs. For more information, please contact Enrollment and Financial Aid Processing at 903-886-5096.
The Department of History also offers aid to its students through graduate assistantships and teaching assistantships, which require twenty hours of work per week and carry both a salary and medical benefits. We also offer monetary awards and prizes.
