M.S. in History

Program Purpose We study History to learn about the past, to be informed about the present, and to plan for the future. Students pursuing an MS in History will acquire research, communication and analytical skills as well as competence in a specific field of history. This degree is intended for teachers seeking to deepen their content knowledge in the discipline. Learning Outcomes Skill Outcomes: The recipient of a Master of Science degree in History will have acquired the skills necessary to: • Identify the key events which express/define change over time in a particular place or region. • Identify how change occurs over time. • Explain historical continuity and change. • Describe the influence of political ideologies, economic structures, social organizations, cultural perceptions, and natural environments on historical events. • Discuss the ways in which factors such as race, gender, class, ethnicity, region, and religion influence historical narratives. • Explain how people have existed, acted and thought in particular historical periods. • Explain what influence the past has on the present. • Develop an international perspective on the past that addresses the cumulative effect of global exchange, engagement and interdependence. • Interpret the complexity and diversity of situations, events and past mentalities. • Compare eras and regions in order to define enduring issues. • Recognize a range of viewpoints. • Compare competing historical narratives. • Challenge arguments of historical inevitability. • Analyze cause-and-effect relationships and multiple causation. • Evaluate debates among historians. • Differentiate between historical facts and historical interpretations. • Assess the credibility of primary and secondary sources. • Formulate historical questions. • Obtain historical data from a variety of sources. • Identify gaps in available records. • Recognize the discipline's standards for accurate and ethical research. • Construct a well-organized historical argument. • Support an interpretation with historical evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources. Content Outcomes: The recipient of a Master of Science degree in History will have: 1. acquired substantial specialized knowledge in at least one field of historical study. 2. acquired substantive training in the research methods of, and theoretical approaches to, the discipline of History. 3. acquired the ability to elucidate the major historiographical and methodological challenges and developments at the forefront of the discipline. 4. completed two article-length essays based on original research. 5. completed and defended a portfolio of substantial written work.