History Programs: BA and MA

Information about BA and MA Programs
Information about the Professors
Information about UCCS
Information about Colorado Springs

For more information about the department, or to get a packet of information about our B.A. or M.A. programs, please contact Debbie Scott, Department of History, CU-Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7150. (719) 262-4069.

Bachelor of Arts - History

The student majoring in history must complete a minimum of 36 (maximum of 54) hours of history courses (21 hours of which must be upper-division courses). 15 upper-division hours must be taken at the Colorado Springs campus.

All majors must select six hours each from any two of the following survey sequences:
Western Civilization (HIST 101, l02, 103, 104); American Civilization (HIST 151, 152, 153, 154); Latin American Civilization (HIST 140, 141); or Asian Civilization (HIST 111, 112, 113, 114).

These survey sequences may be waived by the department only on adequate proof that the student has had equivalent education in these fields. Majors must also take HIST 499 (Senior Thesis) during their junior or senior year. Majors may choose any history faculty member as a counselor to advise them on the distribution of their courses. Majors are required to have a grade of C (not C-) or better in their history courses.

A student with a double major (history and another major) must complete 30 hours of history courses, meeting the same course and grade requirements as above.

Requirements for a Minor in History

The minor in history consists of 21 hours of coursework, nine of which must be upper-division courses. At the lower division, students must take 12 hours, six hours each from any two of the following sequences: Western Civilization (HIST 101, 102, 103, 104); American Civilization (HIST 151, 152, 153, 154); Asian Civilization (HIST 111, 112, 113, 114); or Latin American Civilization (HIST 140,141). Students are required to have a grade of C (not C-) or better in history courses counted toward the minor. A degree option is available for elementary, secondary and special education teachers. Please contact the Student Success Center or the College of Education for further information.

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MASTERS OF ARTS IN HISTORY PROGRAM

The masters of arts degree in history can be obtained at UCCS. The Department of History processes applications for admission to the program, offers courses required for the MA degree, and administers the final oral examination. See also Requirements for Advanced Degrees and the general requirements of the Graduate School.

The student should have a good foundation in history and a sufficient knowledge of the allied humanities and social sciences to afford an adequate background for graduate work. A candidate may be required to correct any apparent deficiencies. General requirements The following departmental rules with respect to the master of arts degree supplement, but in no way supersede, the requirements of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado.

All graduate applications must be completed by March 1 for admission for the following fall semester, and by October 15 for admission for the following spring semester. Exceptions require the approval of the history department graduate faculty committee.
For purposes of admission to the graduate program, a writing sample will be required.
All coursework will be taken within the Department of History except as stated under number 8 below; further exceptions may be granted by the department's graduate faculty and according to graduate school regulations.
Thirty credit hours are required for the MA degree.
HIST 600, Historiography (3 credit hours) is required of all graduate students.
Students must take courses from the specific historical fields offered by the history department (see a list of the historical fields below). Seminars in a historical field are offered over two consecutive semesters: "Readings" in a specific field will be offered one semester (with a 600 number); and "research" in the same field will be offered only in the following semester (with a 700 number). A "research" course at the 700-level may not be taken without having completed the prerequisite of the corresponding 600-level "readings" course. "Readings" courses are for 3 credits; "research" courses are for 4 credits. Students must complete the readings and research in at least three historical fields for a total of 21 credit hours. No course may be taken twice for credit. Exceptions to the above requirementsrequire the approval of the history department graduate faculty committee.

Historical fields and their course numbers are as follows:

European History

Readings/Research in Medieval European History, c. 300 - 1300 a.d. (HIST 611/711)

Readings/Research in The Renaissance and Late Medieval Europe, c. 1300 - c. 1500 a.d. (HIST 615/715)

Readings/Research in the Reformation and Counter Reformation, c. 1500 - 1648 (HIST 622/722)

Readings/Research in the Old Regime, 1648 - 1789 (HIST 625/725)

Readings/Research in the Age of Revolution, 1789 - 1870 (HIST 631/731)

Readings/Research in Modern Europe, 1870 - the Present (HIST 635/735)

United States History

Readings/Research in Religion and Culture in America, 1500-2000 (HIST 646/746)

Readings/Research in U.S.: the Birth of a Nation, 1763 - 1815 (HIST 655/755)

Readings/Research in U.S.: Division and Reunion, 1815 - 1877 (HIST 661/761)

Readings/Research in U.S.: Emergence of Modern America, 1876 - 1918 (HIST 666/ 766)

Readings/Research in U.S.: The Super Power Era, 1918 to Present (HIST. 671/771)

Readings/Research in U.S.: The Trans-Mississippi West (HIST 676/776)

Asian History

Readings/Research in the Indian Subcontinent since 1556 (HIST 681/781)

Readings/Research in the Pacific Rim since 1600 (HIST 686/786)

Latin American History

Readings/Research in Latin American History (HIST 679/779)

Any of the above seminars will be offered only once over a period of several years. In order to plan their graduate careers, students should check the history department website at http://web.uccs.edu/history to find out when specific historical fields will be taught and who will be offering them. Each year the history department usually offers a two semester, readings/research sequence in American History, and a two semester, readings/research sequence in a non-American field.

Students will also take three credit hours of Independent Study (HIST 960) to prepare for oral exams and presentation of a portfolio of three papers (in triplicate) to the history faculty. (See Number 10 below).
In addition to History 600, History 960, and the three readings/research sequences, each student is to take one elective for three credits. This must be either an extra readings seminar; or, by permission of the history department graduate faculty committee, a 300- or 400- level history department undergraduate course; or, by permission of that committee, a course at the 300-level or higher in another department. Regarding these undergraduate courses, there is no guarantee of availability for any particular course; any prerequisites need to be observed; no course counted for the BA degree may count for the MA credit; at the discretion of the instructor, extra assignments could apply to graduate students.
In history courses, no grade lower than B- will count toward the completion of coursework for the master's degree. Candidates must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in their graduate courses, or face departmental probation.
Upon nearing completion of degree work, candidates are required to pass an oral exam that covers the coursework that they have completed. The oral examination committee will consist of three professors. Candidates will also present, and defend, before the history faculty a portfolio of three papers (submitted in triplicate) that they have written in research seminars. Candidates may have no more than six credit hours of coursework pending at the time they attempt this examination. The examination, for which a student must register, will be given each semester, including summers, at times agreed upon by candidates and the history faculty.
The department offers to evaluate the academic progress of graduate students after two semesters of coursework, if they request this review. The purpose is to apprise students of their progress in professional training as historians.
Below is a sample schedule for a full-time graduate student who will complete the MA degree in five semesters (including one summer) or two years. This is an ideal case; most students take slightly longer to complete the degree.