Master of Arts in History

Department of History

California State University San Marcos

Telephone: (760) 750-4152

FAX: (760) 750-3430

Website: http://www.csusm.edu/history/

Department Chair

Jeffrey Charles, Associate Professor of History

Faculty

Peter Arnade, Professor of History

Jeffrey Charles, Associate Professor of History

Darel Tai Engen, Assistant Professor of History

Anne Lombard, Assistant Professor of History

Reuben Mekenye, Associate Professor of History

Carmen Nava, Associate Professor of History

Jasamin Rostam-Kolayi, Assistant Professor of History

E.A. Schwartz, Associate Professor of History

Patricia Seleski, Professor of History

Alyssa Goldstein Sepinwall, Associate Professor of History

Jill Watts, Professor of History

Zhiwei Xiao, Associate Professor of History

Overview

The mission of the Master of Arts in History is to build students’ expertise in the field of history with an additional focus on the critical study of the history of media and/or the applied use of media/technology in presenting history to the public. Historians have always used various forms of media to communicate information about the past and they have always taken advantage of advances in media and technology to teach the public about its history. Currently, new media technology is revolutionizing how history is taught and how the stories of the past are conveyed to the public. The Master of Arts in History Program will offer students opportunities to explore media as they have changed over time, beginning with the earliest oral and visual forms of historical communication through the rise of modern electronic media and computer technology. Students pursuing the Master of Arts in History will be required to take courses that develop their skills in critically analyzing media as they relate to history and acquire skills in new media and/or technology to convey historical information to the public.

This program is designed to provide students with a practical degree that prepares them for a variety of post-graduate careers including: community college and post-credential teaching (enhanced by training in history and the new media classroom); public history (including museumship, historical societies, and electronic archives); media and journalism; doctoral education; urban planning; local, state, and city governmental jobs; public service; and a number of other possibilities both in the public and private sectors. The degree is designed to offer students the opportunity to practice their skills in the workplace. Some students may elect to pursue the option of an internship in a public or private agency where their training in historical content and media/technology can be practically applied. Additionally, the program, in an effort to serve students who are interested in educational careers in history at the college level, offers a curriculum that will allow them to explore pedagogical issues associated with history teaching and to gain actual experience teaching history in college classrooms.

During their course of study, students will be required to master historiography, the philosophy of history, specific historical topics, and acquire technical skills. All Master of Arts degree candidates will take one course in the critical study of the history of media and one course in applied media and history in which they will produce a media-based project. This will consist of an applied media project from HIST 502, a seminar paper representative of one’s best work, and either a thesis or media project which may include, but is not limited to, web-based presentations of historical research or digital video presentations of historical topics.

The Department of History at California State University, San Marcos is ideally situated to offer an advanced degree in History. Located in Southern California with access to the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, the Department of History can draw on the region’s resources in the film and television industries as well as the well-established computer and software industries connected with multi-media production. The faculty of the Department of History offer a wide coverage of world areas and periods including Africa, the Ancient World, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the United States, and Comparative/World History. Additionally, the department houses faculty who have expertise in critical historical media studies and in applying new media technology to preserving history and delivering historical content. Building on these strengths, the Department of History at California State University, San Marcos is able to offer this unique degree that blends the benefits of the traditional history Master’s program with an applied dimension in new technologies that are revolutionizing the communication of information and the public’s understanding of the past.

Admission Standards

All applicants meeting the admission requirements for the Department of History must also meet the University requirements for graduate study. Applicants to the Master’s Program in History must have completed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in history or in an allied field with at least four upper-division courses in history. Furthermore, applicants must have completed HIST 301 (Historical Methods and Writing) or the equivalent before beginning graduate work. Applicants must have either met the CSUSM requirements for Computer Competency or the equivalent at another institution. Additional requirements for admission to the program are as follows:

Admission to the University for Graduate Studies.
Overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the undergraduate major.
The General Test for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). While the minimum acceptable score may vary year by year, it is unlikely that an applicant will be admitted with a score of less than 500 on the verbal section of the exam. The score must be from a test taken no earlier than five years preceding the date of application.
TOEFL/if appropriate with a minimum score of 550.
Two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended with official verification of graduation.
At minimum, three letters of recommendation that assess academic accomplishments and potential for graduate study.
A 750-word statement of research intent describing historical fields of study including mention of interest and/or experience in media and technology, relevant educational background, and post-graduate career/educational objectives.
One formal academic writing sample, as recent as possible. Preferably, this should be a sample from previous college or university coursework and should not be written simply for the purpose of admission.

Application Materials

Application materials to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions

Completed university application form.
Application fee.
One set of official transcripts that include all work done at all colleges and universities.

Application materials to be sent directly to the Department of History (see address below)

Completed departmental application form.
One set of official transcripts that includes work done at all colleges and universities.
Statement of Interest.
GRE test scores (and TOEFL where appropriate.)
Writing Sample.
Three Letters of recommendation.

Address for Departmental materials: Administrative Coordinator, Department of History, 333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, California, 92096.

Deadline for submission: Applications for Fall admissions are due no later than March 15. Applications for Spring admission are due no later than November 15. However, applications may be accepted for review for as long as space is available in the program. It is possible that class scheduling and available spaces will significantly limit spring admissions.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 30 units of graduate study, 24 of which must be at the graduate level. Generally, none of the 30 units of course work applied to the Master of Arts degree in History may have been applied toward a previous academic degree, however, in some cases up to 6 graduate history units not earned at CSUSM may be applied by petition. (Only coursework done as a post-baccalaureate student will be considered for application toward the graduate degree.) All students are required to complete the core sequence of graduate courses (HIST 501, HIST 502, and HIST 601). Additionally, all students are required to complete two semesters of thesis research and presentation (HIST 620: Directed Thesis Research, Writing, and Media Presentation). Students who do not complete their thesis project in the first two semesters may register for additional semesters of HIST 621 but the units from HIST 621 do not count toward conferral of the degree. The remainder of the units will consist of 500- or 600-level courses in history but the department will allow up to two 400-level courses (6 units) to count towards the degree. Additionally, students may apply no more than 6 units of HIST 510 (Experiential Learning in Public History) or 6 units of HIST 699 (Advanced Independent Study in Historical Issues) toward the degree, although they may register for additional semesters of these courses.

Course of Study

Students intending to complete the program in two years will proceed with graduate coursework in the following manner:

Year One:

First Semester

HIST 601: The Philosophy and Practice of History

HIST 501: Historical Perspectives on Media

HIST 500-level or 600-level seminar or approved elective*

Second Semester

HIST 502: History and Applied Media Technology

HIST 512: Teaching History: Theory and Practice or approved elective

HIST 500-level or 600-level seminar or approved elective*

Year Two:

First Semester

HIST 510: Experiential Learning in Public History or approved elective

HIST 500-level or 600-level seminar or approved elective*

HIST 620: Directed Thesis Research, Writing and Media Presentation

Second Semester

HIST 500-level or 600-level seminar or approved elective*

HIST 620: Directed Thesis Research, Writing and Media Presentation

* Students take three of the five courses marked with an asterisk.

Continuation

For a student to continue in the program they must meet the following requirements:

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (A=4.0). If a student’s GPA falls below 3.0, s/he will be placed on academic probation the following semester. If the GPA remains below 3.0 for two semesters in a row, then the student will be dropped from the program.
Students must be continuously enrolled unless they apply for a leave of absence. Students who are not continuously enrolled or who have a leave of absence longer than two semesters are dropped from the program and must reapply.
All the requirements for the degree are to be finished within five years after matriculation into the graduate program. Authorized leaves of absence do not extend the time limit for completion of the degree.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must select a main thesis advisor from the tenure-track history faculty based on areas of interest and planned thesis or media project. Students should consult regularly with their advisor regarding course selection and research proposal. Students will choose two additional faculty members (at least one must be another member of the history faculty) for their committee. A student must request to be advanced to candidacy after completing 18 units. To be advanced to candidacy, the student must do the following:

Form a thesis or media presentation committee and submit to the committee approval form with copies to committee members and the history graduate coordinator.
Submit a thesis or media presentation proposal (750 words excluding working bibliography) to committee members that states the topic, a working thesis, the nature of the project, and establishes that the project can be successfully completed.
Receive approval on the proposal from all committee members.

Thesis or Media Project Requirement

Students may opt either to complete the degree with a thesis or a media/technology project. A thesis is comprised of a primary source-based research paper that makes an original and substantial contribution to historical scholarship. The thesis will also demonstrate an appropriate grasp of the secondary materials related to the topic under investigation.

Alternatively, students may submit a media/technology project that applies new media and/or technology techniques to the delivery of a primary source-based research project. In this instance, students will prepare a new media/technology presentation (i.e., a substantial website project, a video or film project, a digitized database, or an archival project) that will be accompanied by a written analysis that discusses the media project and demonstrates how the project both exhibits the appropriate grasp of related secondary materials as well as makes an original, primary source-based contribution.

I. Total Number of Units:

Master of Arts in History (30 Units)

Core requirements: (15 Units)

HIST 501: Historical Perspectives on Media (3 Units)

HIST 502: History and Applied Media Technology (3 Units)

HIST 601: The Philosophy and Practice of History (3 Units)

HIST 620: Directed Thesis Research, Writing, and Media Presentation (6 Units)

In some rare circumstances, the department may allow by petition substitutions for HIST 501 and/or 502.

Electives (15 Units)

Students must take 15 units of history graduate electives.

· Course work may include no more that two 400-level courses that must be approved by either the Graduate Coordinator or Thesis Advisor (6 units)

· Students may include no more than 6 units of the following: HIST 510: Experiential Learning in Public History (3 units) and/or History 699 a,b,c: Advanced Independent Study in Historical Issues (1-3 units)

· Students may include up to three units of 400, 500, 600-level courses taken from another department if approved by petition. It is possible, in some specific cases, students may be allowed to petition to take limited additional graduate credits outside of the Department of History.

II. Course Descriptions:

HIST 501 Historical Perspectives on Media (3 Units)

Explores the history of media communication and popular culture as well as the relationship between the change in media over time and the messages that they convey. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor.

HIST 502 History and Applied Media Technology (3 Units)

Introduction to various techniques in applying media technology to present historical research and interpretation. May include, but is not limited to, online instructional techniques, web-based archival preservation or museum presentations, multimedia presentations of historical findings, and video presentations of historical topics. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor.

HIST 510 Experiential Learning in Public History (3 Units)

Introduction to the field of public history, combining graduate level training in the theory and methods of public history with a minimum of 30 hours of an internship in a field placement. This course will consider issues in archival techniques, museum exhibition, oral history, historical preservation, and local history. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken for a total of six (6) units.

HIST 512 Teaching History: Theory and Practice (3 Units)

Introduction to the issues and techniques involved in the effective teaching of history at all levels. The course will cover the historical context of history teaching; major themes in world and U.S. history; and methods that teachers can use to involve students in actively learning about the past. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of technology in the classroom. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor.

HIST 513 History Teaching Practicum (1-3 Units)

Practical applications of teaching history in the college or university classroom for graduate teaching assistants. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

HIST 518 Advanced Seminar in Ancient History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in Ancient History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 528 Advanced Seminar in European History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research in the historical literature of a topic in European History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 538 Advanced Seminar in United States History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in United States History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 558 Advanced Seminar in Latin American History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in Latin American History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 568 Advanced Seminar in Asian History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in Asian History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 578 Advanced Seminar in African History (3 Units)

Examination of the dominant historiographical themes and issues and advanced research on a topic in African history. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 588 Advanced Seminar in Middle Eastern History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in Middle Eastern History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 591 Advanced Seminar in World History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in World History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 592 Advanced Seminar in International History (3 Units)

Exploration of primary and secondary sources and advanced research on a topic in International History. Advanced undergraduates interested in taking this course should consult the instructor. May be taken repeated for credit for a total of twelve (12) units as topics change.

HIST 601 The Philosophy and Practice of History (3 Units)

Exploration of the nature of historical inquiry, historiography, particularly an overview of the different genres of history, and methods of research used in advanced historical writing. Students will be introduced to core philosophical debates about the historical method and texts that exemplify different types of historical writing.

HIST 620 Directed Thesis Research, Writing, and Media Presentation (3 Units)

Faculty supervision of the research and writing of the thesis project and/or development of the media presentation of research findings. May be repeated for credit for a total of six (6) units. Graded Credit/No Credit.

HIST 621A (1 unit) 621B (2 units) 621C (3 Units) Thesis Research, Writing, and Media Presentation Continuation

Continuation of faculty supervision of the research and writing of the thesis project and/or development of the media presentation of research findings. May be repeated, but credit will not be applied toward the Master of Arts in History degree. Graded Credit/No Credit.

HIST 699A (1 Unit) 699B (2 Units) 699C (3 Units) Independent Study in Advanced Historical Issues

Intensive Independent study of advanced historical issues based on secondary and/or primary sources. May be repeated, but only six (6) units may be applied toward the Master of Arts in History degree.