2013-2014

History, Master of Arts

Department of History

College of Arts and Letters

This advanced program of study offers students an extended coursework approach to the Master’s degree. Students are encouraged to build local, regional, and global perspectives into their thematic and geographical explorations. This means they become familiar with lenses that allow them to zoom out from a micro-focus to see the ripples and implications in the greater scope—yet also search from the macro perspective to the more localized to understand root causes and consequences.

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Extended Coursework - Emphasis (ending Summer 2014)
  • Research - Emphasis (ending Summer 2014)
  • Public History - Emphasis (ending Summer 2014)

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Thesis Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Comprehensive Exam Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Oral Defense Oral Defense may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Foreign Language A foreign language may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Research Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

    • GRE® Revised General Test
    • Three letters of recommendation
    • A writing sample
    • A personal statement or essay
Master's Requirements

  • This degree consists of 18-21 units of core and 9-12 units of emphasis requirements.

  • Take the following 18 - 21 units of core requirements:
     

    • HIS 550 or HIS 560 (3 units)
    • HIS 600, preferably in the first semester (3 units)
    • Primary field coursework, select one from the following (12-15* units):

      • Colonialism and Nationalism
      • Environment and Health
      • Gender and Sexuality
      • Race, Class, and Ethnicity
      • Indigenous Peoples/Native Americans
      • Asia
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • United States
      • North American Borderlands/West
      *You must complete 15 units of primary field coursework if completing either the Extended Coursework or Public History emphasis. 

  • Emphasis Requirements (9-12 units)

    • Research, Extended Coursework, or Public History (Select One):

    • Research Emphasis (12 units)
      • HIS 699, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis (6 units)
      • You must complete the three-unit research seminar, with a grade of "B" or better, before enrolling in HIS 699.
      • Secondary field coursework (6 units)
        • In consultation with your advisor, choose a field from the list above, different from the one used to satisfy your primary field coursework requirement.
      • Depending on your research interest, your committee may require you to demonstrate competence in a foreign language before you register for thesis units. 

    • Extended Coursework Emphasis (9 units)

      • Secondary field coursework
        • In consultation with your advisor, choose a field from the list above, different from the one used to satisfy your primary field coursework requirement.
      • You must take a comprehensive final examination covering the courses taken. The comprehensive exam will have written and oral components, and will be structured by the program committee.
      • You must complete a three-unit research seminar with a grade of "B" or better. 

    • Public History Emphasis (9 units)

      • HIS 502 (3 units)
      • HIS 608 (3 units)
      • Public History secondary field elective chosen in consultation with your advisor (3 units)
      You must take a comprehensive final examination covering the courses taken. The comprehensive exam will have written and oral components, and will be structured by the program committee.

      You must complete a portfolio on the public history secondary field courses taken.

      You must complete a three-unit research seminar with a grade of "B" or better.

      Electives, as needed, should be chosen in consultation with your advisor, and may include up to 6 units of non-History graduate coursework, and up to 3 units of independent study.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.