| ABOUT
RESOURCES: |
Graduate ProgramForms for StudentsCONTACT INFORMATIONGraduate Program Director: Graduate Program Administrative Assistant: DEGREES OFFEREDMaster of Arts in Historical Studies. In addition to a wide range of subject/area specialties, the M.A. includes the option of a track in Public History (see below). Note: the Public Policy Ph.D program offers a concentration in policy history. For further information, contact the Department of History for information about the Policy History Track in the Public Policy Program. The Department of History is also affiliated with the Language, Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program. M.A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe Master of Arts program in Historical Studies is designed to accommodate a variety of interests and career paths, including students who are considering going on for a Ph.D. as part of the path to a formal academic career in history, those already engaged in K-12 teaching, students seeking to deepen their knowledge of history, or those who wishing to enter the growing field of public history for a career in museums, archives, libraries, or other historical institutions. The program is characterized by a core emphasis on academic training in historiographical methods and theory; in current conceptual tools and techniques for organizing historical evidence; and in primary research in a large number of subject/area specialties. In addition, the program includes the option of a Public History track which offers an opportunity to explore the practice and theory of "public history" in fields such as archival management, historical editing, construction and administration of public history sites, the writing of institutional or policy history, and the use of electronic media techniques in exhibits and Internet sites. The scheduling of courses in the program is arranged to suit full-time students as well as part-time evening students. The department also offers qualified undergraduates an Accelerated B.A./M.A. program that may culminate in the M.A. in Historical Studies. For further information, contact the History Department's Graduate Program Director. PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINESThe admission requirements and procedures correspond to the requirements set forth by the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with the provision that the GRE is required. Applications must include three letters of recommendation that provide information about your potential as a scholar and the ability to engage in the academic work of history at the graduate level. Candidates with questions or concerns regarding such letters are invited to consult with the Graduate Program Director, well before the application deadline. The
admissions deadline for the fall semester is March 10th.* *Please Note: Applicants wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship for the upcoming academic year must submit a letter, separate from application materials, indicating interest and qualifications to the Graduate Program Director no later than March 10th. PROGRAM DEGREE REQUIREMENTSA minimum of 30 graduate credits is required. All students must take HIST 701 (The Study of History) and at least one course in the sequence of area historiographies (HIST 702/703/704). They will normally take at least three courses from the group numbered 705-729 and up to three courses from the group numbered 601-698. Finally, they will take six credits of Master's Thesis (HIST 799). Special Topics in Historical Studies (HIST 798) may, with permission from the program director, be substituted for some courses in the 601-698 series and 710-729 series. The Internship/Practicum in Historical Studies (HIST 790) may also, with permission from the program director, be substituted for some part of the normal series of courses. Every attempt is made to individualize the student's total degree program to meet particular interests and career goals. By the time students have completed 15 credits of graduate work they must select a faculty advisor. The Graduate Program Director should be consulted when selecting an advisor and only members of the Regular or Associate Graduate Faculty in the UMBC Department of History qualify. All students who have completed 15 credits must complete the Declaration of Faculty Advisor Form. Students must be continuously enrolled in the program unless granted an authorized Leave of Absence (LOA). Students are limited to three authorized LOAs. All requirements for the master's degree must be completed within a five-year period. See the UMBC Graduate School website for general information on master's degree programs and important university deadlines. M.A. Thesis: The thesis in history (six credits of HIST 799) demonstrates a student's ability to create historical scholarship that integrates both primary and secondary sources. All theses involve working with a faculty advisor and at least two additional faculty as committee members. The thesis includes a substantive writing section examining the historiography of the chosen research topic integrated with the student's insights. Some theses also include historical scholarship presented in a variety of professional formats such as websites, exhibitions, and lesson plans. Students ready to begin work on the M.A. thesis should register for 1-3 credits of HIST 799 with the approval of a faculty advisor. Before registering for a fourth credit of HIST 799, students must submit an 8-10 page prospectus to the advisor and thesis committee. The prospectus must be approved by all members of the committee before a student may register for the final 3 credits of HIST 799. (see new “Prospectus Approval Form”). The prospectus should include:
Student must complete six (6) credits of HIST 799 for the M.A. in Historical Studies and pas an oral examination on the thesis. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPSThe Department of History annually awards a limited number of assistantships to students accepted into the Historical Studies graduate program. These confer tuition remission, a stipend of approximately $11,000, and basic health insurance benefits. Both new applicants and continuing students in the Historical Studies program are eligible to apply. Completed applications must be received by March 10th in order to receive full consideration for graduate assistantship funding for the upcoming academic year. Students wanting to be considered for an assistantship must send a separate letter indicating interest and qualifications to the Historical Studies Graduate Program Director, Dr. Anne Rubin <arubin@umbc.edu>. Be sure to also visit the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association websites for information about other graduate assistantship opportunities for incoming and continuing students. SUBJECT AREA SPECIALTIESDepartment faculty focus their research and teaching in the following fields: United States history (all periods and several sub-areas including politics and public policy, social history, diplomatic history, economic/business history, urban history, women's history, military affairs, and race relations/civil rights), Medieval and Byzantine history, the Renaissance, Modern European history (with particular emphasis on Britain, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, history of the Holocaust, and Russia), the history of technology, science and the health-related professions, institutional and policy history, and Asian history with particular emphasis on the history of China and Japan. PUBLIC HISTORY TRACKWhat is Public History? Public history is a collaborative form of historical scholarship. Public historians apply professional research and interpretive skills to projects that serve the public interest. Public historians produce historical narratives in active collaboration with a variety of stakeholders –audiences, funders, governments, teachers, etc –in order to make the past meaningful and useful. The Public History Track is an option for students pursuing the Master of Arts in Historical Studies. Students in the public history track explore large issues of ethics and professionalism that shape work in the public sector. Students in the public history track acquire specialized experience in the field of public history, and can select projects and courses that meet their particular interests, including archival research, exhibition development, oral history, and preservation policy. Public historians practice history in a variety of areas outside the academic world including museums, archives, historical societies, archaeological sites, educational media development, commercial media outlets (such as PBS and the History Channel), and the ever-expanding field of "historical tourism." Public historians also find employment in federal, state, and local government agencies, and serve in public history firms or as consultants for private corporations. The Baltimore-Washington area provides perhaps the best opportunities for public history in the nation. The UMBC history department has long prepared students for such work, and its graduates have a successful track record in finding employment in the field. The Public History Track prepares students for careers in this sphere by giving them a firm foundation in the historical knowledge and theory of academic history, while introducing them to the work and skills of public historians. Contact the Director of Public History, Dr. Denise Meringolo <ddm@umbc.edu> for more information. HISTORY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MEDICINEProfessors Joseph Tatarewicz, Ka-che Yip, and others offer several courses in this area. Graduate Students should begin with the two semester introductory course which covers antiquity to 1700 (HIST 645) and 1700 to the present (HIST 646). A Graduate Seminar (HIST 717) is offered each Spring, dealing with topical areas such as: Scientific Exploration, Darwin and Evolution, Science and Technology in the Cold War, Scientific Revolutions, etc. Dr. Yip offers Medicine and Health Care in China periodically. In addition, a variety of other suitable graduate level electives are offered by other departments, such as Professor William Rothstein's Social History of American Medicine. Archival sources for thesis topics are plentiful in this area, and the UMBC Archives holds important materials in the history of Science Fiction, Microbiology, Epidemiology, and Photography. Some courses and events in the undergraduate HCST program should be of interest to graduate students. THE CENTER FOR HISTORY EDUCATIONCHE is the product of a
partnership between the Department of
History at UMBC and the Maryland Council for History Education. It seeks to
promote and
strengthen the teaching of history in Maryland schools by serving as a bridge
between school
teachers and academic historians in the state. Public schools in Maryland face
increasing
opportunities and pressures to enhance the teaching of history. On the one hand,
the imminent
arrival of the new Social Studies Standards, the existing Core Learning Goals,
and the related
student assessment exams all strongly emphasize historical content and
historical thinking skills.
On the other hand, the Internet and other forms of the new electronic media
offer a
fast-expanding wealth of historical information and resources for students of
the past. Indeed, the
Internet now offers access to the sort of primary sources and documentary
materials that had
previously been available only to professional historians working in archives
and university
libraries. The Web thus opens up exciting new opportunities for the teaching of
sophisticated FACILITIES AND SPECIAL RESOURCESThe UMBC Albin O. Kuhn Library contains a collection of approximately a half million volumes. The history collection is particularly strong in U.S. history (including state and local history), British history, and modern European history. A reference and bibliographical collection of approximately 25,000 Volumes together with a wealth of online bibliographical and data services provide comprehensive aid for historical research. Graduate students also have access to a rapid delivery system of materials from the massive collective resources of all the libraries in the University System of Maryland. The library and archival resources of the Baltimore-Washington area, which include the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration (D.C. and College Park), are the largest in the world. INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIESInternships complement academic training and expose students to valuable and practical new experiences. Instructing the student in techniques beyond the classroom, hands-on training under the close tutelage of a mentor helps shape personal, educational and professional goals. Internships afford students the opportunity to meet with proven leaders in their field, establishing valuable contacts and networking opportunities vital to the future career search. Internship experience enhances the curriculum vitae and/or resume, strengthening job applicant qualifications. Upon successful completion of an internship, many supervisors provide effective letters of recommendation, often giving the intern an edge on the career process. In some cases, internships lead to full time positions within the organization. FINANCIAL AIDConventional forms of need-based aid (student loans in various forms) are also available. Contact the UMBC Financial Aid Office (410-455-2387). GRADUATE STUDENT LISTSERVThis mailing list is intended to be a forum for graduate students that they can use to exchange ideas, ask questions, and receive announcements. The Graduate School, the Graduate Program Director, faculty, and staff, use this list to communicate with current History Department graduate students. Therefore, all graduate students are required to subscribe to this free service. Go to http://lists.umbc.edu. There you should login with your UMBC username and password. Click on the "Index of Lists" tab and then find the histgrad list. After you reach the histgrad list homepage, click on "Subscribe" and enter the appropriate information. You message will be sent to the list administrator who will confirm your subscription. CONTACT INFORMATIONGraduate Program Director: Graduate Program Administrative Assistant: |
 |