MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN HISTORY
Plan A: Thesis Option

Check-list of Major Steps:
1. Admission. Office of Graduate Dean, Form A and an official transcript from other schools.
2. Declaration of Intent, Form B. File with Graduate College.
3. Graduate Record Examination. Before admission.
4. Conference with Departmental Graduate Advisor.
5. Reading knowledge of a modern foreign language.
6. Graduate Degree Program, Form C. File during first semester.
7. Admission to Candidacy, Form D. Passed on after 12 hours of classes and
research tool are completed and before the semester of graduation.
8. Application for Degree. File about two months before graduation.
9. A draft of the thesis submitted to the Advisory Committee 5 weeks before graduation.
10. Final copies of the thesis ready 3 weeks before graduation.
11. Comprehensive written and oral examinations. Taken after a draft of the thesis is approved.

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I. Preliminary Preparation
Undergraduate major or minor (of at least 18 hours) in History with grade point average of approximately B (3.0 on 4.0 scale). Overall undergraduate grade point average 2.5. (Students not eligible for this program may be eligible for the Master of Arts in Education program in which as many as 18 hours may be taken in History. Undergraduates within 6 hours of the bachelor's degree at Western may be admitted to graduate study if they are eligible for unconditional admission.

II. Admission to the Graduate School
Apply to the Dean of the Graduate School (on Form A) at least 4 weeks before registration.
Submit an official transcript of all college work done at any school other than Western.
File Declaration of Intent (Form B) with the Graduate School.

III. Graduate Record Examination
Should be taken and results sent to the Graduate School prior to admission.
The advanced test in History is not required. See the Graduate Studies Office in Wetherby Administration Building for information about the test.

IV. Conference with Departmental Advisor
After conference at the Graduate College consult with the History Department's Graduate Advisor, Room 240 Cherry Hall. The student's Graduate Advisory Committee will be set up after this meeting.

V. Course Requirements
Minimum of 30 hours, including 6 hours' thesis credit. At least half of the 24 hours of course work (excluding History 599, Thesis Research and Writing), must be done in graduate-only (500-600 level) courses. History 535 must be included. All courses must be taught by members of the Graduate Faculty if they are to count for graduate credit. Such 400-level courses carry a G designation in the class schedule. A maximum of 12 hours credit for G-level courses work may be transferred from another institution. See the current Graduate Bulletin for a statement of University regulations for transfer work.
No correspondence work can be applied toward the degree. Graduate students may not enroll for more than 15 hours in a semester or 12 hours in a summer term of 11 weeks -- or 6 hours in a term of 5 weeks. Graduate assistants are limited to a total of 9-12 hours per semester.

VI. Language Requirement
The ordinary elementary language courses (French 120, 121; German 130,131, etc.), of themselves, do not satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Two courses -- French 122 and German 132 -- have been specifically set up to prepare a student to read adequately enough, after a single semester, to pass normal proficiency exams including the Princeton exams. Normally, the proficiency exam is administered at the conclusion of these two courses, since the courses themselves do not constitute the exam.

VII. Time Limit
All requirements for the degree must be completed within a period of 5 consecutive years from the date of first enrollment.

VIII. Grade Requirements
Average of B (3.0) in all graduate work.
No credit will be given for D work.
No credit will be given for excess undergraduate work or work taken as a special post- graduate student.

IX. Filing the Graduate Degree Program
The Graduate Degree Program (Form C) must be filed prior to or upon completion of 12 hours of graduate credit. If there are no deficiencies, the student is eligible for admission to full graduate standing. The tentative degree program is worked out as a part of this form. Changes may be made in the program with the approval of the Graduate Advisor on forms available at the Graduate Studies Office.

X. Admission to Candidacy
Admission to Candidacy (Form D) is acted upon by the Graduate Council after the completion of 12 hours and before the semester of graduation with a 3.0 average and the approval of the student's Advisory Committee and the Graduate Dean. Any course required for the research tool must be completed before Admission to Candidacy is approved.

XI. Writing the Thesis
1. The student registers for History 599, Thesis Research (3 hours) and Thesis Writing (3 hours), no later than the semester in which he or she graduates. The grade is "Incomplete" until the thesis is accepted.
2. The student should discuss suitable topics with appropriate instructors. After these preliminary discussions, the student meets with the Graduate Advisor to discuss and select the thesis topic.
3. The student's thesis committee is appointed by the Graduate Dean upon the recommendation of the Graduate Advisor. If all of the student's work is in History, the committee will usually consist of three people; another person will be added if there is a minor field. The director of the thesis must be a member of the Graduate Faculty.
4. As soon as possible, and after a close consultation with the thesis director, the student will provide each member of the committee with a 2-4 page thesis proposal which (a) indicates the nature and scope of the proposed topic and (b) indicates the major sources of research materials which will be used for the study. A member of the committee who has reservations about the topic or the sources or both should make known his or her objections at this stage.
5. As soon as the thesis director is reasonably well satisfied with the draft of each chapter the student will circulate it to the other members of the committee for detailed criticism of form, content and method. Later drafts will also circulate if necessary.
6. A complete draft of the thesis is circulated to all members of the committee at least five weeks before the date of graduation. If the steps outlined above have been followed, changes at this stage should be minor. The thesis will follow the style guidelines of the Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition.
7. The Graduate School has a guide sheet for the front pages of the thesis and for mechanical details. Ask for the Guidelines for Master's Thesis and Specialist Project.
8. Three copies of the final thesis must be submitted to the Committee and the original must be submitted to the Graduate Dean at least 3 weeks prior to the date of graduation.
9. If not enrolled in graduate course work, the student must enroll in 599c, Maintaining Matriculation, during any semester or summer term in which the thesis is being actively pursued or the degree is attained.

XII. Comprehensive Written and Oral Examinations
These are oral and written examinations which cover the student's entire graduate program, including the thesis. Neither the written nor the oral exam can be taken until a draft of the thesis has been approved. See the Graduate Advisor about scheduling the exams. Students will be responsible for a knowledge of the departmental reading list. Please see the Graduate Advisor for the list.

XIII. Application for the Degree
Application for the Degree must be filed with the Registrar by the dates established by the Registrar each semester. The student should first check his record with the Graduate Dean. The graduation fee must be paid by this time at the Business Office. The cap and gown are ordered at the College Heights Bookstore at the beginning of the semester in which the degree is to be conferred.

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Last Revised: April 27, 2001.
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