Graduate Bulletin
History, M.A.
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: March 15
Spring: October 15
Applications are evaluated together after the deadline date.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from instructors or other individuals who are familiar with the applicant's academic work.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
Applicants are expected to have majored or minored in History or a related discipline at the undergraduate level. Applicants lacking that qualification are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.
Statement of Goals:
The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-750 words in length, and should include the following elements: a clear statement of your interest in the master's program in History at Temple University and how the program meets your needs; your major historical interests; your career goals; and your academic and research achievements, if applicable.
Standardized Test Scores:
The GRE is required. In general, the applicant's combined scores on the verbal and quantitative sections should exceed 1,050.
Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, and 79 internet-based.
Transfer Credit:
Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the History program. Transferred credits must be equivalent to coursework at Temple and carry a "B" grade or better. They may not have been used to obtain another degree. Incoming students may transfer a maximum of 6 credits.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 26 (Thesis Option); 30 (Comprehensive Examination Option)
Required Courses:
Students must take one of the following courses:
HIS 8101: Introduction to American History
HIS 8301: Introduction to European History
HIS 8501: Introduction to the Third World
HIS 8701: Introduction to World History
Students must complete one writing seminar.
Other coursework is determined by the student's specific interests and goals.
All M.A. students must pass 15 credits in a primary field of study and 9 credits in a secondary field. Introductory courses and writing seminars help fulfill this requirement.
View all COURSE OFFERINGS in History.
Internship: No internship is required, except for students pursuing public history as a primary or secondary field.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Additional Requirements: All M.A. students in the general program
must take at least six hours of coursework
in a geographic area outside of their primary field of study. Courses of a comparative nature, including independent study courses, offered in fulfillment of this geographic distribution requirement must include readings that are at least 50% outside the student's primary geographic area.
Culminating Events:
Thesis:
A student fulfilling her/his degree requirements by writing a master's thesis completes an original empirical study that demonstrates knowledge of research methods and her/his primary area of interest. Thesis students complete 24 credits of coursework before registering for two credits of thesis preparation (HIS 9996). A student preparing to defend a thesis should notify the Graduate Secretary of the date and time s/he has confirmed with her/his thesis committee, which consists of the student's advisor and another member of the History Department's Graduate Faculty chosen by the student.
Comprehensive Examination:
A student fulfilling her/his degree requirements by taking the comprehensive exam must complete 30 hours of coursework before sitting for the exam. The three-hour written exam tests the student's mastery of scholarship in her/his primary and secondary fields. Two Graduate Faculty members selected by the student write the exam questions and grade the answers. If the two faculty members are not in agreement, a third faculty member reads and evaluates the examination and her/his decision determines whether the student passes or fails.
Contacts
Program Contact Information:
www.temple.edu/history/
Department Information:
Dept. of History
Gladfelter Hall (025-24)
1115 W. Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6089
history@temple.edu
215-204-7461
Department Contacts:Program Coordinator:
Jonathan Wells
jdwells@temple.edu
215-204-0519
Graduate Chairperson:
Richard H. Immerman
rimmerma@temple.edu
215-204-7466
Chairperson:
William Hitchcock
whitch@temple.edu
215-204-9745
About the Program
Temple University offers a varied and flexible program for graduate training in History at the master's level. While general requirements ensure that every graduate is familiar with the basic issues of History and the latest approaches of professional historians, students are encouraged to tailor their programs to suit their own particular interests. To enrich their appreciation of History, students are also welcome to study in other disciplines. This program provides enrichment opportunities for teachers in secondary schools, students hoping to pursue history doctorates elsewhere, and professionals in various public history fields. Philadelphia is a rich public history environment with numerous opportunities for internships and fieldwork.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus Location:
Main, Center City
Students take many of their courses at the Center City Campus, while preliminary examinations and dissertation defenses are conducted on Main Campus.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Students may complete the program on either a full-time or part-time basis.
Department Information:
Dept. of History
Gladfelter Hall (025-24)
1115 W. Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6089
history@temple.edu
215-204-7461
Interdisciplinary Study:
The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework, research, and interactions among faculty and students.
Affiliation(s):
The History program at Temple is affiliated with the Biographical Dictionary of Pennsylvania Legislators, the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy, The Myer and Rosaline Feinstein Center for American Jewish History, the Social Science Data Library, and Temple's Urban Archives. The History Department is also a member of the American Historical Association.
Study Abroad:
No.
Ranking:
Not applicable.
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Areas of Specialization:
Faculty members specialize and offer substantial coursework in diplomatic and military history, modern history, public history, and U.S. social and cultural history.
Job Placement:
The program is primarily dedicated to producing well-trained historians who work in primary and secondary schools and in public history institutions (i.e., archives, museums, historical parks, and government agencies).
Non-Degree Student Policy:
Non-matriculated students are permitted to take up to 9 credit hours of coursework prior to applying. These courses can be transferred into the degree program after admission only if the student earned a grade of "B" or higher.
The Department offers no funding for master's level study.
Updated 5.25.10
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