Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

History, M.A.


(30 UNITS)

The Master of Arts degree in history is designed to provide a course of study for those whose interests are in teaching, business, government service and the professions, as well as for personal enrichment. It offers all the basic requirements for those who intend to pursue a doctoral degree upon the completion of their study at California State University, Fullerton.

Prerequisites


Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions  section in this catalog for complete information. In addition, applicants must have, a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester units and a 3.0 grade-point average in upper-division history courses. Only those who have at least a 3.5 GPA in upper-division history courses may request an exemption. After fulfilling the university requirements, the applicant’s records are sent to the History Department’s graduate coordinator for additional evaluation. Students with deficiencies will be considered for admission only after they have completed courses approved by the coordinator.

Study Plan


Each student drafts his or her study plan with the graduate coordinator and an adviser in the area of specialization during the first semester of study. A study plan must be filed before completing 13 units toward the degree. Two plans are offered for completion of the master’s program.

Plan I


Student develops one specific field of interest and writes a thesis or project (with an oral examination taken before the final draft).

Plan II


Student develops specializations and takes comprehensive examinations in two of the following fields: 1) American; 2) European; 3) Latin American, Asian, African or Middle Eastern; or 4) World History.

Electives (21 units)


Nine additional units of 500-level coursework must be taken. The remaining 12 units may be taken in 400-level or graduate courses related to the study plan, at least one of which must be taken in history.

Culminating Experience


Required and elective courses should prepare students for comprehensive exams in two fields.

Cultural Skills Requirement


In addition to the 30 units of coursework required of all students, before advancing to candidacy a cultural skills requirement must be met. In consultation with the student’s graduate adviser, this may be fulfilled in a variety of ways: 1) an examination on reading ability in a foreign language or a minimum of two courses of appropriate foreign language coursework over and above the required 30 units; 2) completion of six units of comparative studies in other departments appropriate to the student’s program over and above the required 30 units; 3) an examination of courses taken in statistics; 4) completion of a Humanities and Social Sciences Study Abroad Program or other overseas program with a similar academic focus; 5) completion of a CSUF Washington, D.C. internship; or 6) students in Plan I and Plan II may also fulfill the cultural skills requirement by taking six units of specialized coursework in public history over and above the required 30 units. For further information call the Department of History.

Total (30 units)