M.A. Program Requirements
Requirements for an MA in History
Thesis Track
| HIS 5369 | The Historian's Craft | 3 |
| HIS 5370 | Advanced Graduate Research and Writing | 3 |
| HIS 5V99 | Thesis | 6 |
| 12 hrs. of graduate electives in HIS or related areas | 12 |
| 6 hrs. of additional electives in HIS or related areas1 | 6 |
Additional Requirements
| Oral defense and final approval of thesis |
| Intermediate proficiency in a modern language 2 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
Non-Thesis Track
Note: This track is only an option for PhD students receiving an MA on the way to the PhD.
Required Courses
| HIS 5369 | The Historian's Craft | 3 |
| HIS 5370 | Advanced Graduate Research and Writing | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| (complete through two years of PhD coursework) |
| 18 hrs. of graduate HIS electives | 18 |
| 6 hrs. of additional electives in HIS or related areas 1 | 6 |
Exam Preparation
| HIS 6V85 | Preliminary Readings | 6 |
Additional Requirements
| Comprehensive Exam |
| Intermediate proficiency in a modern language 2 |
Total Hours | 36 |
1Students may choose to take up to 6 hrs. of their coursework in a related department, subject to GPD approval.
2Intermediate proficiency may be demonstrated by one of the methods listed in the Specific Degree Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree.
Language Requirement
Please be aware that before graduation from the M.A. or Ph.D. program, students are required to demonstrate competence in one foreign language. The language requirement can be met in the ways specified below. Please consult the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures website for more information and deadlines.
International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting a certificate. Instructions can be found HERE.
1. Present an undergraduate transcript from Baylor University or another regionally accredited college or university showing that while enrolled the student received a grade of "B" or better in a fourth semester language course. A copy of the page of the student's transcript showing the course grade should be attached to the Graduate School Petition and submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School. This option is valid only if the course was taken not more than five years before the student was accepted into the Baylor graduate program.
2. After enrolling in the M.A. or Ph.D. program at Baylor students may enroll in a fourth semester language course. Students must attain a "B" or better in the course. A copy of the page of the student's transcript showing the course grade should be attached to the Graduate School Petition and submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School.
3. After enrolling in the M.A. or Ph.D. program at Baylor students may take the French, German, Spanish, Latin, or Greek 5370 and 5371 course sequence, which are usually offered in the summers. Students must attain a "B" or better in the courses. A copy of the page of the student's transcript showing the course grade should be attached to the Graduate School Petition and submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School.
4. Students may take a diagnostic examination offered by the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures. After passing the exam, students will receive a receipt from the MLC and will attach the receipt to the Graduate School Petition. The petition is then submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School. Check the MLC department website for diagnostic exam deadlines.
Thesis
- During coursework, students should initiate conversation with a professor in their area of interest by December of their 1st year about the possibility of doing a thesis with that professor.
- Once a professor has agreed to direct a student's thesis, the student will submit a thesis prospectus to the thesis director by Spring of the 1st year.
- Once the prospectus has been approved by the thesis director, the student may begin formal work on the thesis.
- The student and thesis director should recruit two other professors on the graduate faculty to serve on the thesis committee. One of the committee members must be from outside the history department.
- Early in the semester in which the student intends to complete the thesis, the thesis director and the student will schedule a thesis defense date that falls before the deadline for that particular semester. Students should consult the Graduate School website for all appropriate deadlines.
- Students should consult the Graduate School website for all appropriate deadlines, processes, and forms related to the defense and graduation.
Graduation
Students must file for graduation with the Graduate School at the beginning of the semester they intend to graduate (see Graduation Information).