MASTER OF EDUCATION IN HISTORY

FACULTY

Department Chair:	Michael Konig, Ph.D.
Department Secretary:	Linda Kakos
Department Office:	Bates 104
Department Telephone:	(413) 572-5344 or (413) 572-5220
Graduate Advisor:	John Ifkovic, Ph.D.
Graduate Faculty:	Mark T. Abate, Ph.D.
	Michael S. Anciello, Ph.D.
	John Ifkovic, Ph.D.
	Michael Konig, Ph.D.
	Brooke Orr, Ph.D.

The intention is to provide qualified students with the opportunity to pursue graduate-level training in American history, combined with the requirements for a master's in education. Students may be teachers seeking an advanced degree, or others whose primary interest is in receiving a master's degree with a concentration in history. The academic goal of the program is three-fold:

1. to increase the students' knowledge of the facts of American history,

2. to provide the students with a familiarity with questions of interpretation of major aspects of American history,

3. to help students develop expertise in historical research and evaluation.

Admission decisions are made by the department's graduate committee, consisting of three specialists in American history, and one other elected member of the department with the approval of the Graduate Dean.

PREREQUISITES:

1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university

2. at least 24 semester credit hours in history or their equivalent as assessed by graduate advisors

3. an overall cumulative average of 2.6, or 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate work

4. a cumulative average of 3.0 in history

5. an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test, as determined by

the graduate committee.

Students may be allowed into the program on a conditional basis in the following circumstances:

• a)   Students with fewer than 24 semester hours in history may be admitted, on a conditional basis, pending completion of the remaining     credits with a grade-point average of 3.3 or higher. Those courses shall not be graduate offerings of this department, nor shall they be allowed for graduate credit towards the degree.

• b)   Students with history grade-point averages ranging from 2.6 to 2.99 may be admitted on a conditional basis, and required to demonstrate his or her ability to do competent graduate-level work by completing at least nine graduate credits in the program with grades of B or better in each of those courses.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE:

1. Completion of a total of 36 credits, of which 30 must be in history and six in education;

2. Six graduate credits reflecting coursework appropriate to the degree may be transferred from other graduatelevel institutions, at the discretion of the department’s graduate committee;

3. Satisfactory completion of a master's thesis, approved by the thesis director and with a thesis defense before the department's graduate committee (and other members of the department who may choose to attend). Only members of the graduate committee may participate in the actual vote to determine whether a student has passed the thesis defense.

SPECIFIC DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

a)   Completion of 18 graduate credits in history, which must include the following three-credit courses, or their equivalent in transfer credits

HIST 0600 Readings: America, 1600-1815
HIST 0605 Readings: America, 1815-1914
HIST 0610 Readings: America, 1914 to the Present
HIST 0615 Readings: Modern Europe, 1500-1789
HIST 0620 Readings: Modern Europe, 1789-present
HIST 0640 Readings: Topics in World History

b)   Completion of 6 credits of independent research, selected from the following:

HIST 0625 Research: U.S. before 1815
HIST 0630 Research: U.S. 1815-1914
HIST 0635 Research: U.S. 1914 to the present
HIST 0645 Research: European History
HIST 0655 Research: World History

c)   Research and evaluation, as evidenced by completion of six graduate credits as follows:

HIST 0698 Thesis research I
HIST 0699 Thesis research II

d)   Completion of six graduate credits in Education, which must include:

EDUC 0633 Social and Cultural Theories: Foundations of Education and any graduate level course offered by the Department of Education, taken with the approval of the Graduate Program Advisor.

NOTE: With the exception of HIST 0625, HIST 0630, HIST 0635, HIST 0645, HIST 0655, HIST 0698 and HIST 0699, which will be directed study under the supervision of a thesis director, no directed study will be allowed as part of this program, and neither the department chairperson nor the graduate committee shall accept any courses as equivalent to any degree requirements.

HISTORY COURSES

HIST 0532 METHODS OF TEACHING HISTORY: MIDDLE & SECONDARY 3 s.h.

Prerequisite: Completion of all education course work.

A practical experience for students planning a career as a middle or secondary school history teacher. This course will cover a variety of topics, including lesson and unit planning, active learning, critical thinking, assessment techniques, classroom management, and textbook analysis. Content focuses on teaching U.S. History, World History, government/civics, and current events. Should be taken semester prior to student teaching. Requires 30 observation hours.

HIST 0600 READINGS: AMERICA, 1600-1815 3 s.h.

Through readings, student reports, and discussions based on classic as well as new and important historical works, the historiography of early America will be detailed. The focus will remain on the most significant works by historians and others who have increased our knowledge and understanding of colonial America, from exploration through early settlement, from the Puritans to the Great Awakening, from 1763 into the revolutionary era, the "critical period" from 1783 to 1789, and concluding with analysis on how historians have viewed the early national period, including the age of Jefferson and Jackson.

HIST 0605 READINGS: AMERICA, 1815-1914 3 s.h.

This course focuses on American history from the Age of Jackson through 1900. Readings emphasize social history with a special emphasis on transformations in race, class, and gender relations. Topics include: Early Industrialization; the Market Revolution; Ante-Bellum Reform and Abolition; Westward Expansion and the Mexican-American War; Slavery and the African-American Experience; Civil War and Reconstruction; Native American Issues; Women’s History and the Women’s Rights Movement; Changing Attitudes towards Sexuality; Labor Struggles; the Industrial Revolution; and the Spanish-American War. Focuses on major debates in historiography and the development of research and writing skills.

HIST 0610 READINGS: AMERICA, 1914 TO THE PRESENT 3 s.h.

Through readings, student reports, and discussions based on classic as well as new and important historical works, the historiography of the 20th century will be detailed. The focus will remain on the most significant works by historians and others who have increased our knowledge and understanding of the modern era, from World War I into the 1920's, the Great Depression, World War II, and Cold War, social change, including the cultural revolution of the 1960's, and the return of conservatism in the 1970's and 1980's.

HIST 0615 READINGS: MODERN EUROPE 1500-1789 3 s.h.

This course will focus on key issues of modern European history, from 1500-1789. Topics to be included are Europe on the eve of the age of colonization, the scientific revolution, and the Enlightenment. Readings will include both documentary and historical works.

HIST 0620 READINGS: MODERN EUROPE, 1789 TO THE PRESENT 3 s.h.

This course will focus on key issues of modern European history from 1789 to the present. Topics to be included are the age of revolution, romanticism of the 19th century, the industrial revolution and its impact on society, and the development of nationalism in Europe. Readings will include both documentary and historigraphical works.

HIST 0625 RESEARCH: UNITED STATES BEFORE 1815 3 s.h.

Supervised research on a topic of interest and importance to understanding the history of America, from the colonial period to 1815. The student will begin by utilizing the secondary sources related to his or her research project, then utilize relevant primary sources. Upon completion of the research, the student will evaluate the material, and develop an outline for a research paper appropriate to the student's level of expertise. The grade will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the research paper, as well as on progress reports submitted periodically in accordance with a previously announced timetable.

HIST 0630 RESEARCH: UNITED STATES 1815-1914 3 s.h.

Supervised research on a topic of interest and importance to understanding the history of America, from 1815-1914. The student will begin by utilizing the secondary sources related to his or her research project, then utilize relevant primary sources. Upon completion of the research, the student will evaluate the material, and develop an outline for a research paper appropriate to the student's level of expertise. The grade will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the research paper, as well as on progress reports submitted periodically in accordance with a previously announced timetable.

HIST 0635 RESEARCH: UNITED STATES 1914 TO PRESENT 3 s.h.

Supervised research on a topic of interest and importance to understanding the history of America, from 1914 to the present. The student will begin by utilizing the secondary sources related to his or her research project, then utilize relevant primary sources. Upon completion of the research, the student will evaluate the material, and develop an outline for a research paper appropriate to the student's level of expertise. The grade will be based on the instructor’s evaluation of the research paper, as well as on progress reports submitted periodically in accordance with a previously announced timetable.

HIST 0640 READINGS: TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY 3 s.h.

This is a variable-content class based on the instructor’s expertise and interests. Topics may include the Ancient World, Islam, History of Religion, the World and the West, Colonization and Decolonization, or the history of selected regions (Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America). Readings will include both documentary and historiographical works.

HIST0645 RESEARCH: EUROPEAN HISTORY 3s.h.

Supervised research on a topic of European History in which a professor can offer expertise and guidance. The student will begin by examining the secondary courses related to his or her research project, then analyze selected primary sources. The student will produce a comprehensive paper based on original research. Grade will be based on content, form, depth of analysis, and demonstrated mastery of historiographical issues and debates.

HIST 0655 RESEARCH: WORLD HISTORY 3 s.h.
Supervised research on a topic in World History in which a professor can offer expertise and guidance. The student will begin by examining the secondary sources related to his or her research project, then analyze selected primary sources. The student will produce a comprehensive paper based on original research. Grade will be based on content, form, depth of analysis, and demonstrated mastery of historiographical issues and debates.

HIST 0698 THESIS RESEARCH I 3 s.h.

Directed research on a topic that has been approved by the thesis director. Credit will be received after the student has completed a substantial portion of the research and completed a first draft that has been deemed acceptable to the thesis director.

HIST 0699 THESIS RESEARCH II 3 s.h.

Directed research on a topic which has been approved by the thesis director. Credit will be received after the student has completed all research, submitted a final draft which has been approved by the thesis director, satisfactorily defended the thesis before the departmental graduate committee, and deposited a bound copy of the thesis in the college library.