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 2002-2003
College of Graduate Studies Bulletin
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 Department of History (HST) (STR)
 
European History Certificate
Modern History Certificate
United States History Certificate
Master of Arts
      Admission Requirements
      Admission Deadlines
      Degree Requirements
Master of Arts (Integrated B.A./M.A.)
      Degree Requirements
Joint M.A. in History
      Admission Requirements
      Degree Requirements
Joint Ph.D. in History
      Admission Requirements
      Degree Requirements
      Major Fields
      Minor Fields
Credit Limitation
HST Course Descriptions
Strathclyde (HST 695) Course Descriptions

Link to Department of History web site

John Robertson, Chairperson
Powers Hall 106, (989) 774-3374

Thomas L. Benjamin, Ph.D., Latin America
Claudia Clark, Ph.D., Twentieth Century U.S., Michigan
Charles Ebel, Ph.D., Ancient History
Jennifer Green, Ph.D., Civil War and Reconstruction
Carol Green-Ramirez, Ph.D., U.S. Women’s History
Mitchell Hall, Ph.D., Recent U.S.
Timothy Hall, Ph.D., Colonial, Revolutionary U.S.
Dawn Herd-Clark, Ph.D., African-American History
Eric Johnson, Ph.D., Modern Europe
David Macleod, Ph.D., United States Social History
Benjamin Ramirez-Shkwegnaabi, Ph.D., Native American History
Patricia Ranft, Ph.D., Medieval History
John Robertson, Ph.D. Ancient History
David Rutherford, Ph.D., Renaissance
Stephen P. Scherer, Ph.D., Russia
James A. Schmiechen, Ph.D., British History, Economic and Labor History

Associated University of Strathclyde Faculty
W. Hamish Fraser, Chairperson, Ph.D., Modern British History
Simon Adams, Ph.D., Modern History, Elizabethan and Early Stuart Politics
Patricia Barton, Ph.D., Indian Business, Twentieth Century Labor and Economics
Jeanette Brock, Ph.D., History of Spain and Computing for Historians
Callum G. Brown, Ph.D., Social History of Religion, Women's History, Computer Applications in History
Mark D. Ellis, Ph.D., American History, Twentieth Century Race Relations
R.J. Finlay, Ph.D., Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Scottish Political History
Conan J. Fischer, Ph.D., German Social and Political History in the Era of the Weimar Republic, Nazism
Mary Heimann, Ph.D., History of Religion and Czechoslovakia
Gordon Jackson, Ph.D., Trade and Shipping History, Urban History, Modern Business History
Arthur J. McIvor, Ph.D., Labor and Industrial Relations History
David Moon, Ph.D., Russian Social History
B. R. Tomlinson, Ph.D., Economic History, East India History, Asian History
William B. Wurthmann, Ph.D., Renaissance and Reformation Europe
Eileen Janes Yeo, Ph.D., Nineteenth Century History
John R. Young, Ph.D., Scottish History, British History

Master of Arts
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to this program, a student must present 20 or more hours of history or historically oriented courses in related fields with a grade point average in history of 2.7 or higher.

The Department of History offers a Master of Arts degree, a Joint Master of Arts degree, and a Joint Ph.D. in History. The Joint Master of Arts degree and the Joint Ph.D. are offered in association with the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

Admission Deadlines
For the traditional M.A., students wishing a fall semester admission must apply no later than July 15. For spring semester admission the deadline is November 1.
For the Joint M.A./Ph.D. program, students must complete all application materials prior to February 6 for admission to the program in the upcoming fall.

Degree Requirements
A minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit including:
1. Twenty or more hours in history

2. Ten or fewer cognate hours selected with an advisor from one or more of the following fields: anthropology, economics, education, English, geography, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology. Other fields may be approved by the advisor.

3. HST 600 - Historiography

4. At least one history colloquium at the 600 level (HST 690 will not satisfy this requirement).

5. A minimum of six hours of history research and writing courses earned in one of the following ways:
Plan A. A thesis, including an oral examination in the field of the thesis.

Plan B. Either (1) two seminars or (2) one seminar and three hours in HST 791. Students electing Plan B must submit two research papers as evidence of scholarship. These papers must be prepared in connection with a seminar, an independent research course, or a graduate-level course in the Department of History. Each paper must receive a minimum grade of B. In addition, normally after revision, each must be accepted by the professor responsible for the course as satisfactory for permanent filing. Papers must be well written and presented in a proper scholarly format. Their conclusions must rest on interpretation of a substantial body of primary sources. A minimum 6000 words is suggested.

6. Fifteen hours in courses at or above the 600 level.
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European History Certificate
This 18 credit hour certificate is designed for regularly admitted graduate students who desire advanced training in European history, but who are not seeking a master's degree at this time.  Credits successfully earned with this certificate program can be transferred toward the M.A. degree.  Students may substitute courses only upon approval of the History Graduate Studies Committee.  Admission is through the College of Graduate Studies.  Students pursuing this certification program should have some prior coursework in European history.

This certificate is granted upon completion of 18 hours within the selected area.  At least 6 hours must be taken at the 600-level or above, selected from the following courses:  HST 636, 650, 651, 652, 738, 740, 741, 742, 744, 758.  All courses must be selected from the department's course offerings in European history.  No more than 3 hours may be taken below the 500-level, and then only if approved for graduate credit.
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Modern History Certificate
This 18 credit hour certificate is designed for regularly admitted graduate students who desire advanced training in modern history, but who are not seeking a master's degree at this time.  Credits successfully earned with this certificate program can be transferred toward the M.A. degree.  Students may substitute courses only upon approval of the History Graduate Studies Committee.  Admission is through the College of Graduate Studies.  Students pursuing this certification program should have some prior coursework in modern history.

This certificate is granted upon completion of 18 hours within the selected area.  At least 6 hours must be taken at the 600-level or above, selected from the following courses:  HST 603, 652, 717, 758.  All courses must be selected from the department's course offerings in modern history.  No more than 3 hours may be taken below the 500-level, and then only if approved for graduate credit.
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United States History Certificate
This 18 credit hour certificate is designed for regularly admitted graduate students who desire advanced training in United States history, but who are not seeking a master's degree at this time.  Credits successfully earned with this certificate program can be transferred toward the M.A. degree.  Students may substitute courses only upon approval of the History Graduate Studies Committee.  Admission is through the College of Graduate Studies.  Students pursuing this certification program should have some prior coursework in United States history.

This certificate is granted upon completion of 18 hours within the selected area.  At least 6 hours must be taken at the 600-level or above, selected from the following courses:  HST 602, 603, 711, 713, 715, 717, 723.  All courses must be selected from the department's course offerings in United States history.  No more than 3 hours may be taken below the 500-level, and then only if approved for graduate credit.
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Master of Arts (Integrated B.A./M.A.)
The Integrated B.A./M.A. degree allows highly motivated students to accelerate their academic careers by undertaking graduate work towards the traditional Master of Arts degree (not the Joint M.A. in History) concurrently with undergraduate work. This is not for students seeking teaching certification as a part of their undergraduate degree work.

Degree Requirements:
A minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit including:
1) Twenty (20) or more hours in history.

2) Ten (10) or fewer cognate hours selected with an advisor from one of more of the following fields: anthropology, economics, education, English, geography, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology. Other fields may be approved by the advisor.

3) HST 600 - Historiography

4) At least one history colloquium at the 600 level (HST 690 will not satisfy this requirement).

5) A minimum of six (6) hours of history research and writing courses earned in one of the following ways:
Plan A. A thesis, including an oral examination in the field of the thesis.

Plan B. Either (1) two seminars or (2) one seminar and three hours in HST 791. Students electing Plan B must submit two research papers as evidence of scholarship. These papers must be prepared in connection with a seminar, an independent research course, or a graduate-level course in the Department of History. Each paper must receive a minimum grade of B. In addition, normally after revision, each must be accepted by the professor responsible for the course as satisfactory for permanent filing. Papers must be well written and presented in a proper scholarly format. Their conclusions must rest on interpretation of a substantial body of primary sources. A minimum 6000 words is suggested.

6) Fifteen (15) hours in courses at or above the 600 level.

7) Three to twelve (3-12) hours of the above (except Thesis credit) must have been taken concurrently with the student's B.A. degree work.

8) The integrated plan is intended to encourage research and writing competency in a particular research field, and thus the candidate is encouraged to elect Plan A, the Thesis Option of the M.A. program.
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Joint M.A. in History
Admission Requirements
For students entering the program at the University of Strathclyde the minimum qualifications are those required for admission to honors in History, namely, an undergraduate degree from a recognized university and permission of the chair. For students entering the program at Central Michigan University the minimum qualifications are 3.0 overall GPA including a minimum of either 3.0 in 20 hours of history or 3.30 in 20 hours of history or related courses. The Graduate Record Examination in History is also required. Applications for admission will be evaluated by a joint committee made up of the two chairs and the two graduate program coordinators of the history departments at the University of Strathclyde and Central Michigan University respectively. Students who complete or intend to complete their first year at CMU will receive preference over those using transfer credits to satisfy first year requirements. Upon admission to the joint M.A. program, a student will be assigned an advisor at Central Michigan University and an advisor at the University of Strathclyde. The student will design his or her program of courses, including the sequence of the two years of study and his or her plans for completing the research requirements of the degree, with the guidance of these two advisors. Since study for the degree is intended to serve as the main coursework phase of preparation for the Joint Ph.D., the student and the advisors will choose courses needed to prepare the student to do original research in fields listed below under requirements for the Ph.D.

Degree Requirements for the Joint M.A.
A minimum of 54 graduate credits as follows:
1. From Central Michigan University: 24 hours of which 12 hours must be at the 600 level or above including 3 hours in a research seminar at the 700 level and two colloquia (6 hours).

2. From the University of Strathclyde: 30 hours (equivalent) including the Honors Dissertation.

This degree requires two years of study. Students will complete a year’s study (described below) at Central Michigan University and a one-year diploma sequence of courses (also described below) at the University of Strathclyde. British originating students entering the program at the University of Strathclyde will receive one year’s credit towards the Joint M.A. for completion of a final Honors year entirely in history at the University of Strathclyde with at least upper second standing, or its equivalent. They will then complete the requirements for the Joint M.A. with a prescribed year of study at Central Michigan University. American originating students entering the program at Central Michigan University must complete 24 semester hours of approved graduate level coursework in history with at least a B average, or equivalent. They will then complete the requirements for the Joint M.A. with a prescribed year of study at the University of Strathclyde.

Certain rules govern the combined two-year program: 1) No more than 50 percent of a student’s coursework my be in a single national field. 2) The student must write at least two research papers (7500 words or more): a research seminar at CMU and the Honors Dissertation at Strathclyde suitable for filing as evidence of scholarly achievement and the Strathclyde Honors dissertation. For the 54-credit program the usual maximum of 15 transfer credit hours allowed is raised to 30. (See Transfer Credit Policy earlier in Bulletin). In addition, it is strongly recommended that students develop a reading knowledge of at least one language other than English or an appropriate research tool such as statistics.

Year at CMU
The student must complete 24 hours of graduate-level coursework in History (a maximum of 6 hours in cognate disciplines will be accepted if approved by the student’s CMU and Strathclyde advisors) at least 12 of which must be at the 600 level or higher. These courses must include a minimum of three hours of coursework which focus on research training and scholarly writing. As evidence of scholarship, students must submit a research paper for a permanent file. This paper must be prepared in connection with a research seminar, an independent research course, or a graduate-level course in the Department of History. Each paper must receive a minimum grade of B. In addition and normally after revision, each must be accepted by the professor responsible for the course as satisfactory for permanent filing. Papers must be well written and presented in a proper scholarly format. Their conclusions must rest on interpretation of a substantial body of primary sources. A minimum length of 6000 words is suggested. Up to 6 hours of credit may be earned for a practicum course in teaching history at the college level.

Year at Strathclyde
The student must complete the following Honors-level classes: two Special Subject classes (four modules), each for a full year and requiring 2 papers each; a General Essay Seminar which meets to discuss general methodological and historiographical issues in seminar format and is subject to a final written examination or an additional special subject class of ½ year (one module); the Honors Dissertation involving original research under appropriate supervision.
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Joint Ph.D. in History
Admission Requirements
Admission to Candidacy for the Ph.D. requires the following: a) completion of the requirements of the Joint M.A. in History; b) attainment of at least upper second standing in the diploma year at Strathclyde by American students and a GPA of at least 3.3 at Central Michigan University by British students; c) demonstration of comprehensive knowledge of appropriate fields in history (defined below), either by committee assessment of the student's record in the case of students who choose to pursue a Strathclyde Ph.D. or by comprehensive examinations in the case of students who choose to pursue the Ph.D. from Central Michigan University. Students must present two major fields or one major and two minor fields. The application deadline is February 6.

Candidates for the Central Michigan University Ph.D. must pass a comprehensive examination in two major fields or one major field and two minor fields. Comprehensive examinations in the two major fields chosen or one major and two minor fields will normally be administered during the year following completion of the Joint M.A. in History. The timing of the examination may vary depending upon the candidate's need for further preparation in particular fields, either by coursework or by directed reading.

Degree Requirements
1. Candidates for the Ph.D. in history must demonstrate reading knowledge of two foreign languages other than English or reading knowledge of one language plus an appropriate research tool such as statistics.

a. Completion of the foreign language requirement is defined as reading proficiency at least at a level sufficient to conduct graduate-level research.

b. Completion of the language requirement may be fulfilled in one of the following ways: 1) an examination in which the candidate with the aid of a dictionary will translate, idiomatically, at least two passages totaling no less than 500 words within two hours; 2) completion of CMU's 202 language course or its equivalent with a grade of at least a B; or 3) an alternative approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

c. The successful completion of one language requirement is required prior to admission to Ph.D. candidacy.

d. Completion of the language requirement is defined as attainment of at least a B in an appropriate statistics course.

2. Candidates for the Central Michigan University Ph.D. must pass a comprehensive examination in two major fields or one major field and two minor fields.

a. At the request of the student and the chair of his/her program, the Graduate Studies Committee will approve the membership of the examination committee.

b. The examination committee will have a minimum of four members, at least two members per major field and one or two members per minor field. The examination committee will ordinarily provide the student with reading lists relevant to the examination fields, but the examination will not be limited to the lists.

c. Comprehensive examinations will ordinarily be scheduled during a one month period (maximum) of the third year of graduate study (normally the year following the "Strathclyde year"). Examinations will not be scheduled during summer months. The examination committee will schedule the dates of the major and minor field examinations.

d. A major field examination will not exceed eight hours and minor field examinations will not exceed four hours.

e. Comprehensive examinations will be taken on campus in a room selected by the Department of History between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Candidates may use the department's lap-top computer, a typewriter, or may write the examination by hand.

f. A candidate may retake an examination within a three-to-six month period.

g. Candidates may take an examination a maximum of two times, and failure to pass after two attempts will lead to dismissal from the program.

h. Comprehensive examinations will be assessed by the candidate's examination committee as either pass or fail.

3. The Ph.D. from Central Michigan University will require a minimum of 36 hours (including dissertation credit) of approved graduate-level study beyond the Joint M.A. (total of 90 beyond the B.A. at Central Michigan University). The Ph.D. from the University of Strathclyde will require three years of directed dissertation research beyond the Joint M.A.

4. The Ph.D. from CMU requires completion of a doctoral dissertation which makes significant contribution to knowledge, contains a significant comparative element, and is successfully defended at a formal meeting of the student's examining committee. Upon admission to candidacy, the student and the chair of the history department of the university where the student is currently in residence will select a committee of three faculty members, at least one from each university, to advise the candidate and supervise the research and writing of the dissertation. Dissertations grounded in two or more national histories will be encouraged. The examining committee for the dissertation will consist of three faculty members from the university where the majority of research has been done, at least one faculty member from the other university, and at least one external examiner. The chair of the examining committee will serve as director of the candidate's dissertation and will be responsible for making all arrangements for meetings of the commit

Major Fields
United States
British Isles or Modern Continental Europe
Early Modern Europe
The Atlantic World: Comparative North American, European, African, and Latin American History. (Because of its scope, this meets all field requirements.)

Minor Fields
*United States
*British Isles
*Modern Continental Europe
Ancient Near East and Mediterranean
Medieval Europe
Early Modern Europe
Latin America
East Asia
India

Topical Fields (must be transnational): e.g. Crime; Poverty and Social Welfare; Business; Women; Slavery; Ethnicity and Race; Minority Communities and Culture; Reform; Regionalism

*Not available for minor if chosen as major.

When possible, Ph.D. candidates will be encouraged to do some teaching in areas related to their specialization.

Because it is impossible to share the legal authority to award the Ph.D., it will be awarded to some students by Central Michigan University and to others by the University of Strathclyde upon successful completion of the shared program. In all cases the relevant documents will say clearly that the degree results from the shared program. Regulations governing residency requirements and time limitations for completion of degrees will be those of the university granting the degrees. Student work at either university will be treated as work in residence by both the University of Strathclyde and Central Michigan University
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Credit Limitation. Courses in the department that are subject to graduate credit limitation under the policy covering unspecified content or variable credit are the following: HST 532, 590, 597, 690, 791.
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