Requirements
Masters of Arts in History
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Students must apply for the history program by April 1 for the fall semester and October
1 for the spring semester.
ADMISSION PROCEDURES
All applicants to the Masters of Arts program must complete the School of Graduate
Studies application, submit (to the Graduate School) two letters of recommendation,
a 500-word statement of purpose, and GRE scores.
Applicants to the Master of Science program (i.e., the teacher certification program)
must also complete the School of Graduate Studies application, but the two letters
of recommendation, the 500-word statement of purpose, the GRE scores, Praxis I scores
or waiver, Praxis II scores,a nd School of Education application must be submitted
separately to the History Graduate Coordinator. Refer to the section entitled "Admission
to Teacher Certification Programs" in this catalog under "Application and Admission"
for additional information.
The deadline for Fall semester admission is April 1 and for Spring semester admission
is October 1.
Prospective students may, however, register as part-time non-matriculated students
in graduate courses. Nonmatriculated students may earn no more than nine credits toward
a degree program.
A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 with at least 18 credits of history is
required for admission.
When the School of Graduate Studies notifies applicants that their file is complete,
they must contact the History Graduate Coordinator to write a planned program of study.
No applicant with a complete file is matriculated without a planned program of study
approved by the Dean or Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and an acceptance letter
from Graduate Studies.
Interested applicants who do not meet school or departmental requirements should consult
the History Graduate Coordinator before taking courses as a non-matriculated student.
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE - 30 CREDITS
The Master of Arts degree is designed to afford certified teachers the opportunity
to strengthen their knowledge of history and to provide highly motivated students
greater foundational knowledge in history necessary to pursue doctoral studies.
Applicants must meet the general requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and
have completed a minimum of 18 undergraduate credits in history with a grade point
average of 3.0 or higher in those courses.
The program of study consists of 24 credits of course work and a 6-credit thesis.
Students who already hold state certification may elect to complete two additional
graduate courses for a total of 30 credits and comprehensive exams in two elected
fields (American, European, or non-Western history). With the approval of the History
Graduate Coordinator, students may elect up to 6 credits of their course work in other
social science or humanities fields. Reading ability in one modern foreign language
is encouraged.
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN HISTORY
WITH SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER CERTIFICATION - 51 CREDIT MINIMUM
The Master of Science degree is designed to combine advanced historical study (21
credits) with course work necessary for certification to teach History and Social
Science in grades 7-12 (30 credits). Applicants must meet requirements of the School
of Graduate Studies and the School of Education , including an overall undergraduate
grade point average of 3.0, the Praxis I examination or a waiver and the Praxis II
examination. In addition, 18 credits in undergraduate history at a grade point average
of 3.0 and 18 credits in the social sciences, specifically one course in political
science, geography, economics and psychology are required for admission.
ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS TO THE MS PROGRAM MUST PASS PRAXIS II BEFORE ENTRANCE INTO THE
PROGRAM
The program of study consists of:
• HIS 110, 111 or 112 - United States History
• SHE 203 - School Health
• PSY 370 - Educational Psychology
• SED 482 - Teaching Exceptional Students in Secondary Classroom
• IDS 470 - Literacy in the Content Areas - 1.5 credits
• IDS 471 - English Language Learners in the Classroom - 1.5 credits
• EDF 520 - Educational Foundations
• HIS 490 - Social Science (Secondary School) - to be taken after completion of above
courses.
• HIS 494-496 - Student Teaching and Student Teaching Seminar - to be taken after
completion of above courses, 18 credits in the other social science fields, and the
completion of at least 12 credits of graduate level history or social science course
work.
• 21 elective credits in graduate level history and social science, at least 15 credits
of which must be in history and all non-history courses with the approval of the History
Graduate Coordinator.
• a comprehensive examination in two elected fields (American, European, or non-Western
history) or a thesis (6 additional credits)
Download the M.S. in History Handbook.
Download the application to the School of Education for an M.S. in history.
Download the recommendation forms for entry into the School of Education for an M.S.
in history.
CERTIFICATION ONLY
This program is designed to provide secondary teacher certification to those already
holding a master's degree in history, education, or a related social science field.
Applicants must meet admission criteria for the M.S. degree with certification. Students
must complete all course work required for state teacher certification in history
and social science as listed above. In addition, students must complete 6 credits
of graduate level history at SCSU prior to student teaching.
Master's Thesis or Comprehensive Examination
Students have the option of choosing a program with either a thesis (6 credits) or
a program in which the student must pass a comprehensive examination.