PLAN I (THESIS TRACK; TEACHING AND RESEARCH FOCUS)

1. Major area: Each student must declare a major area of study, selecting either from United States, European, or Latin American history. Within the major area, each student must also develop an intensive knowledge of one field, selected from the following:


EUROPE:

Ancient Greece
Early Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
English Legal and Constitutional
Late Medieval France
Renaissance & Reformation
Early Modern England
Ancient Regime and Revolutionary France
Modern Britain and Empire
19th Century Europe
Modern Germany
Modern and Contemporary France

LATIN AMERICA:

Latin America to 1825
Latin America since 1825

UNITED STATES

United States to 1877
United States since 1877

2. Minor area: Each student majoring in history of the United States or Latin America must declare a minor area of study, selecting from European, Latin American history, or World history. A minor in Public History is also available. A minor for European history students is available but not required.

3. Course work: Thirty hours of credit in graduate-level (6000) courses are required, including the following:

a. Fifteen hours of course work in the student’s major area, including “Introduction to Graduate Studies in U.S. History” if the student is majoring in U.S. History. European history students must take two historiography classes: European Historiography to the Sixteenth Century, European Historiography from the Sixteenth Century to the Present, and a research seminar in European history. All students in Latin American history must take two Latin American historiography courses, one in the colonial and one in the national period, and a research seminar in Latin American history.

b. Six hours of course work in a minor area (when a minor is required). A minor in Public History requires nine hours of course work, consisting of History 6381 and six additional hours chosen in consultation with the Director of the Public History Program and the Director of Graduate Studies in History. A minor in World History also requires 9 hours [1 course in World History, 2 in a specific geographic area different from the student’s major area].

c. At least one research seminar. Ordinarily this requirement will be met by
taking History 6363: Introductory Seminar in U.S. History; History 6340: Seminar in European History (when the topic is the student’s major field of interest); 6311, 6313, or 6315 in Latin American history; or a Special Problems research class in the student’s major field of interest.

d. Six hours of thesis credit. After completion of other course work, each
student must register for three hours of thesis credit each semester until the thesis is completed and defended, but the student is required to be enrolled in 6 thesis hours the semester of graduation.

e. With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies in History, each student may enroll in not more than nine hours of Special Problems courses. The Director of Graduate Studies may also approve up to six hours of course work in another department.

4. Foreign Language Requirement: Before a student will be approved for degree candidacy, s/he must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language relevant to the major area. Reading proficiency in a language may be demonstrated in one of six ways:

a. Score of 550 or higher on the Graduate Student Foreign Language Test
(GSFLT) given by Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J.

b. Certification of competency by the Modern and Classical Language Department at the main campus of the University of Houston.

c. A grade of B or better in two graduate (6000-level) readings courses in the foreign language. A grade of B- will not be accepted.

d. A grade of B or better in one graduate (6000-level) readings course in the foreign language plus a 500 word translation. A grade of B- will not be accepted.

e. Recent completion of beginning and intermediate college levels (four semesters) of foreign language with a grade of B or better.

f. If a student cannot satisfy the Language Requirement in another way, it may
be possible for a History Department faculty member with competence in the language to provide certification. Note: This is only an option when it is impossible to satisfy the requirement by options (a) - (e).


5. A thesis is required as a major exercise in research, interpretation, and writing on a significant historical program. A statement including more specific information and instructions on the thesis should be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies in History.

6. An oral examination in defense of the thesis will be conducted by the thesis committee after the final draft has been completed. If a student’s defense is not considered satisfactory, s/he may repeat the examination only once. The committee will designate the student’s achievement by awarding one of three grades: Pass with Distinction, Pass, or Fail.

7. Plan I M.A. candidates in Latin American history may substitute for the thesis a two-part alternative.

a. An extended seminar paper: a seminar paper reexamined, revised, and extended under a thesis course for three hours credit.

b. A written comprehensive examination (not to be confused with the comprehensive examination for Ph.D. candidates) covering the colonial and national periods of Latin American history, to be taken at the end of the second year. The examining committee will designate the student’s achievement by awarding a grade of Pass or Fail. The examining committee will also make a recommendation to the Graduate Committee concerning the student’s potential for work in the Ph.D. program, based both on the examination and on the extended seminar paper.

c. Students wishing to use this alternative must receive permission from the Director of Graduate Studies in History.


UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

Department of History

ANNOUNCES

The Murry A. Miller Graduate Scholarships in History

These are one and two year scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to be awarded to superior incoming graduate students.

Miller Scholarships come from a fund established in memory of Dr. Murry A. Miller, former history professor at the University of Houston.

Scholarships will be awarded by the Graduate Committee, Department of History. All full-time students applying for a teaching assistantship will automatically be considered for a Miller Graduate Scholarship.

Murry A. Miller Graduate Scholarships in History may also be awarded to outstanding UH history graduate students who are engaged in full-time research and writing of M.A. thesis or Ph.D. dissertations.

ANNOUNCEMENT
STELLA EHRHARDT MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP
CULLEN GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON


ELIGIBILITY

¨ The fellowships are available for outstanding students who will begin their graduate studies at the University of Houston in the Fall. The main criterion for selection is academic excellence.

NOMINATION

Nominations should include the following:

¨ A letter of nomination from the department chair or Director of Graduate Studies. (Student must have a current mailing address).

¨ Three letters of reference, two of which must be from faculty familiar with the nominee’s current academic record and work.

¨ The candidate’s statement of his or her academic goals.

¨ Transcripts and test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.)

¨ A list of awards, publications and/or samples of work where possible and appropriate.

AWARDS

¨ Entering graduate students will be awarded scholarships of $5400 in addition to any other graduate support they may receive from their departments or colleges.


NOTE: Incoming students do not apply directly to the University for a fellowship or scholarship. Nominations are made by the Department of History.