The Degree of MA in History [Graduate]

Entrance Requirements

Students holding a four-year Honors or Special BA in History from the University of Alberta, or a comparable degree from another university, may be admitted to the status of candidate for the MA degree. Students who lack the above qualification, but who hold an acceptable bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent), may be admitted as a qualifying graduate student; as such, the student will be expected to complete additional courses before proceeding to the MA program proper.

Qualifying graduate students must normally take ten (★30) courses, at least ★18 of them in History courses. The courses, usually senior undergraduate courses at the 300- or 400-level, will be chosen in consultation with the Graduate Chair. Students must attain a grade point average of 3.5, with no single grade below B-. Students should also plan to complete the language requirement by the end of their qualifying year; advancement to candidacy status may be delayed until it is fulfilled.

Program Requirements

Both the course-based MA in History and the thesis-based MA in History may be subsequently used as a qualification for application to the PhD program. Students must declare which program they intend to follow at the beginning of their graduate studies. Any students wishing to change their program must seek the approval of the Graduate Committee.

For students specializing in Canadian History, the modern language requirement will normally be French (in appropriate cases, the Graduate Committee may permit another language to be substituted at the MA level). For all other students, the specific language requirement(s) will be determined in consultation with the student’s supervisor.

1. Thesis MA in History:

Students must take and pass one of HIST 601 (★3), HIST 603 , HIST 604 , HIST 605 , or HIST 610 (★3), or SOC 519 ; take and pass HIST 602 ; take and pass HIST 609 ; take and pass ★12 in 600-level HIST courses [maximum of ★6 should be in the area of concentration and maximum of ★3 in HIST 699 ]; fulfil the language requirement; and write a thesis (minimum of ★6 in thesis registration), which should normally be not more than 100 pages in length.

2. Course-based MA in History:

Students must take and pass one of HIST 601 (★3), HIST 603 , HIST 604 , HIST 605 , or HIST 610 (★3), or SOC 519 ; take and pass HIST 602 ; take and pass ★15 in 600-level HIST courses [maximum of ★6 in HIST 699 ; fulfil the language requirement; and write a research paper [★6 in HIST 900 ] which normally should not exceed 50 pages in length but which should reflect a significant use of primary materials and research. The paper will be assessed by two readers normally from the Department. Both must approve the project. It is expected that this degree will be completed in one to two years. The Department will not provide supervisory services for more than two registrations in HIST 900 .

Successful completion of the MA program does not guarantee admission to the doctoral program. Students wishing to go on to a PhD must make formal application.

The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the MA will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of 12 months is normally required.