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海角破解版 Home > Graduate Studies > Catalog

History
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Integrated Program | Requirements | Profile

Chairperson:听 Timothy M. Roberts
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Greg Hall
Office:听 Morgan Hall 438
Telephone: (309) 298-1053
E-mail: g-hall@wiu.edu
Website:听 wiu.edu/history
Location of Program Offering: Macomb

Graduate Faculty

Professors

• Peter Cole, Ph.D., Georgetown University
• Richard Filipink, Ph.D., SUNY at Buffalo
• Greg Hall, Ph.D., Washington State University
• Febe Pamonag, Ph.D., University of Alberta
• Timothy M. Roberts, Ph.D., University of Oxford
• Edward Woell, Ph.D., Marquette University

Associate Professor

• Ute Chamberlin, Ph.D., Arizona State University

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

听Program Description

The Department of History鈥檚 MA program prepares students for careers in teaching, public history, law, government service, and business, and provides interested students a foundation for further graduate study. Students focus on World, United States, and Illinois history. Through highly individualized relationships with faculty members, they develop knowledge of historical content and of the methodological and theoretical components of historical study, demonstrated in research, writing, classroom exercises, and professional development opportunities.

听Integrated Baccalaureate and Master's Degree Program

Please refer to the integrated program section for details and program offerings.

听Admission Requirements

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work

• Minimum of 18 semester hours of undergraduate work in history

听Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts degree in history may be earned by one of three plans of study.

Plan I. Thesis

The Thesis Option requires 30 semester hours of course work, fulfilling requirements in major and minor areas of study. Students choosing the Thesis Option write a thesis, typically of some 90-100 pages, on a selected topic. Students write the thesis in their major field, which is customarily in United States or World history. Another field is possible with permission of the graduate committee. By their second semester in the MA program, students should develop a thesis topic through consultation with a faculty member, who serves as the thesis director, and two other faculty members. The three faculty members comprise the student鈥檚 committee. The committee evaluates the student鈥檚 written exam (History 698), which is administered in the student鈥檚 penultimate semester. To earn the MA degree, the student must successfully defend the thesis upon its completion before the committee, typically in the student鈥檚 last semester.

Students in the thesis plan must enroll in the following:

HIST 500 Historical Theory and Methods: 3 s.h.
Major field of study (4 courses): 12 s.h.
Minor field of study (3 courses): 9 s.h.
HIST 600 Thesis Research: 3 s.h.
HIST 601 Thesis Completion and Defense: 3 s.h.
HIST 698 Written Exam: 0 s.h.
HIST 699 Oral Exam 0 s.h.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 30 s.h.

Plan II. Applied Project

The Applied Project Option requires 31 hours of course work, fulfilling requirements in major and minor areas of study. These areas customarily are United States or World history; another field is possible with permission of the Department graduate committee. Students choosing the Applied Project Option develop a project in public history (History 599). Typical projects may involve editing a series of primary documents for posting to an open-access website; conducting and transcribing oral history interviews to be archived in a museum or research facility; curating a museum historical exhibit display; or developing a digital history project. Students also conduct an internship (History 494G) and take a public history course (HIST 492G). By their second semester in the MA program, students should develop an applied history project through consultation with a faculty member, who serves as the applied project director, and two other faculty members. The three faculty members comprise the student鈥檚 committee. The committee evaluates the student鈥檚 written exam (History 698), which is administered in the student鈥檚 penultimate semester. To earn the MA degree, the student must successfully defend the applied project (History 699) upon its completion before the committee, typically in the student鈥檚 last semester.

Students in the Applied Project plan must enroll in the following:

TOTAL PROGRAM: 31 s.h.

Plan III. General Coursework

The General Coursework Option requires 33 hours of course work, fulfilling requirements in major and minor areas of study. These areas customarily are United States or World history; another field is possible with permission of the Department graduate committee. By their second semester in the MA program, students should choose a major field of study and consult with three faculty members to serve as the student鈥檚 committee. The committee evaluates the student鈥檚 written exam (History 698), which is administered in the student鈥檚 last semester. To earn the MA degree, the student must defend a portfolio of their work (History 699) before the committee, typically in the student鈥檚 last semester.

Students in the General Coursework plan must enroll in the following:

HIST 500 Historical Theory and Methods:听 3 s.h.
Major field of study (5 courses): 15 s.h.
Minor field of study (3 courses): 9 s.h.
Electives (2 courses): 6 s.h.
HIST 698 Written Exam: 0 s.h.
HIST 699 Oral Exam: 0 s.h.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 33 s.h.

The pre-approved major fields of study are United States and World History. The pre-approved minor fields of study are United States, European, and Asian history. A student鈥檚 major or minor fields may be in another area, but the student should secure permission from the graduate committee. Prospective students should familiarize themselves with the faculty in the history department. Faculty profiles are online at

听Course Descriptions

History (HIST)

402G (cross-listed with AAS 402G) The Civil Rights Movement. (3) An intensive study of the history of the African American civil rights movement, concentrating on the post-WWII era. The course also examines the contested historical memory over the long black freedom struggle. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or AAS 100 or permission of the instructor.

414G Early American Republic, 1800-1848. (3) An intensive study of the development of the United States from 1800 to 1848, emphasizing the development of a new political culture within the expanding postcolonial nation. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or permission of the instructor.

420G Capstone Seminar: Illinois History. (3) Periods and themes in Illinois history including social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental change. Working in a seminar setting, students complete a major historical research project. Prerequisite: HIST 105, 106 and 201; ENG 280; or permission of instructor.

421G Seminar in Global Environmental History. (3) An intensive, comparative study of the interactions between humans and the natural environment from 1500 to the recent past. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or HIST 316 or permission of the instructor.

423G The Vietnam War and Its Times. (3) An intensive study of the Vietnam War, with particular emphasis on domestic, social, and political aspects during the 1960s. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or permission of the instructor. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or permission of the instructor.

426G The Enlightenment, 1721-1784. (3) Intensive study of a cultural revolution in the Atlantic world: a 鈥渞epublic鈥� of philosophers, ideas, and debates; social institutions promoting reform; emergence of new media, mass literacy, public opinion, and private sentiment; and the broader context in which these flourished. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or permission of the instructor.

427G French Revolution and Napoleon. (3) An intensive study of the period from 1789 to 1815 in Europe. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or permission of the instructor.

431G Alexander the Great. (3) An intensive study of the life, achievements, and historical context of Alexander III of Macedon, with particular focus on the impact outside Europe. Prerequisite: HIST 320 or permission of instructor.

434G Topics in British History. (3, repeatable to 6) Selected topics dealing with the political, social, and economic development of Britain. Topics will vary. Prerequisite: HIST 125, 126, 333, or 334 as appropriate, or permission of the instructor.

438G Hitler鈥檚 Germany, 1919 to 1949. (3) Intensive study of Germany from the end of World War I to its division following World War II, focusing on the Weimar Republic, rise and fall of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party, the Holocaust, and Germany鈥檚 postwar breakup. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or 338, or permission of the instructor.

482G Topics in European History. (3, repeatable to 6, with permission) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in European History. Topics will vary. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or 116, or permission of the instructor.

485G Topics in Asian History. (3, repeatable to 6, with permission) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in Asian History. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: HIST 116 or 345 or 346 or 347, or permission of the instructor.

488G Topics in U.S. History. (3, repeatable to 6, with permission) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in U.S. history from the colonial period to the recent past. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106, as appropriate, or permission of the instructor.

492G Capstone Seminar in Public History. (3) This thematic seminar will focus on the theory and practice of public history and introduce students to methodologies and approaches used by public historians. Students will complete a major historical research project. Prerequisites: HIST 105, 106, 115, 116, and 201; at least two upper-division History courses; ENG 280; and permission of graduate advisor.

494G Internship. (1鈥�12, repeatable) Supervised experience of work in archives, historical institutions, or other institutions requiring historical experience. May be repeated, but only three semester hours of credit will be applied to the minimum program requirement of 31 hours.

500 Historical Theory and Methods. (3) Seminar in the theory and practice of historical research and writing, and introduction to professional development. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.

510 Research Seminar in U.S. History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in American history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing. May be repeated with a change in topic. Corequisite/Prerequisite: HIST 500 or permission of the instructor.

511 Readings Seminar in U.S. History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in American history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic.

530 Research Seminar in World History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in world history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing. May be repeated with a change in topic. Corequisite/Prerequisite: HIST 500 or permission of the instructor.

531 Readings Seminar in World History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in world history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic.

540 Research Seminar in European History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in European history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing. May be repeated with a change in topic. Corequisite/Prerequisite: HIST 500 or permission of the instructor.

541 Readings Seminar in European History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in European history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic.

550 Workshop. (1鈥�3, repeatable) Offered irregularly on specific topics. May be repeated with a change in topic.

598 Readings in History. (1鈥�3, repeatable) Individual reading. May be repeated, but a maximum of three hours will be counted toward degree requirements. Prerequisites: Six semester hours in history and approval of the Department Graduate Director.

599 Special Problems in History. (1鈥�4, repeatable) Intensive research into areas of history not specifically covered in other courses. Credit will depend on the nature of the historical problem to be examined and the length of time required to complete the project. May be repeated, although no more than four hours may count toward a degree. Prerequisites: Six semester hours in history and approval by the Department Graduate Director.

600 Thesis Research. (1鈥�6, repeatable) May be repeated, but only three semester hours will count toward degree requirements. To be first taken in conjunction with History 698. Prerequisites: HIST 500 and approval of the thesis prospectus.

601 Thesis Completion and Defense. (3) Prerequisite: HIST 600.

698 Written Exam. (0) Required of all degree-seeking students. The exam will assess general knowledge of a student鈥檚 major and minor fields of study and will be administered by a committee of three faculty approved by the Department Graduate Director. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Graduate Director.

699 Oral Exam. (0) A student in plan II or III will take an oral exam, which will be given by the student鈥檚 exam committee and based on a review and assessment of the student鈥檚 work. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Graduate Director.

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