Admission to the Master of Arts in History has been suspended. Applications to the program are not being accepted at this time. Please the following link for other graduate programs: https://catalog.ysu.edu/programs/
As of summer 2023, admission to the graduate program in History has been suspended.
Applications to the program are not being accepted at this time.
Program Director
Dr. Daniel Ayana
541 DeBartolo Hall
(330) 941-1609
dayana@ysu.edu
Program Description
The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts in History. Its curriculum combines American, European, and Transnational areas. The program prepares students for:
- Doctoral study in history or related fields,
- Advancement in secondary and elementary education with a concentration in history and the social sciences,
- Certification in applied history, and/or
- Additional graduate study in a variety of professional areas.
The program also provides the knowledge base for those pursuing history as an avocation. The program concentrates on research and primary materials, written analysis of research results, study of important monographs in a variety of historical fields, and training in a number of specialized fields, such as oral history and historic preservation. The department prides itself on its small classes and close personal attention to all of its master’s candidates.
Admission Requirements
Regular admission will be granted to those students who:
- Meet the YSU Graduate College's qualifications for regular admission.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Have submitted a satisfactory academic writing assignment
Students not meeting these requirements may be considered for provisional admission or non-degree status instead.
Graduate Faculty
Daniel Ayana, Ph.D., Professor
Africa; social and economic history
Brian Bonhomme, Ph.D., Professor
Nineteenth- and twentieth-century Russian history; environmental history
Eleanor A. Congdon, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Medieval; Renaissance; Mediterranean world; maritime history
Amy Fluker, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Nineteenth century US; Civil War; culture; memory; gender
Martha Pallante, Ph.D., Professor
Early American studies; material culture; pedagogy
David A. Simonelli, Ph.D., Professor
Britain; British Empire
Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
Each candidate for the M.A. in history must complete:
1. A minimum of 30 hours of graduate courses overall
2. At least 21 hours must be in HIST courses; up to 9 hours may be transferred in from other related disciplines with the approval of the Program Coordinator and the Graduate Director. The student wishing to explore course options outside the History Program should obtain approval BEFORE registering for such class(es). Examples of potentially acceptable external disciplines include Geography/GIS, Art History, Literature, Foreign Language, etc.
3. HIST 6900 (Research Methods) and HIST 6901 (Historiography): 6 hours total.
4. Minimum of 9 hours in an area of concentration (US, Europe, or Transnational).
5. Minimum of 3 hours outside area of concentration.
6. Minimum of one "Seminar paper" (at least 18 pages of text/footnotes, using primary and secondary sources, posing and answering a useful historical question). This requirement is NOT fulfilled by the Final Project (see #7), but is in addition to it. A seminar paper is a requirement in all Research Seminar classes, but students may meet the seminar paper requirement in any course, with approval of the instructor and Graduate Director.
7. All students must also complete a "Final Project" - taken in the form of Independent Study (HIST 6952). Depending on the nature of the project and the decision of the supervising History professor, this may be either one or two courses (3 or 6 credits). The decision of the professor supervising the project is final, in terms of the nature of an acceptable project, the number of hours it will be granted, the format and general merit of the project, and the final grade. The Final Project may take the form of a significant research paper and/or comparable project in other formats. Students who are approved to write an MA thesis will do so in the same manner, using up to 6 hours of Independent Study. Part of the Final Project will include mastering a relevant reading list, compiled by the project supervisor in cooperation with the student. Project completion will require that the students defend the completed project, including demonstrating satisfactory facility with the reading/source list, in front of a committee of three professors, chosen by the student in consultation with the relevant faculty and the Graduate Director. Students may only register for their Final Project if they are in Good Standing with the College of Graduate Studies. The same applies to the defense.
8. As long as all other MA requirements are met, students may count graduate-level Applied History courses taken at YSU (or accepted as transfer credits from another institution) towards the History MA degree, from individual courses up to the entire Certificate in Applied History (minimum of 18 graduate-level credits). Applied History courses are generally considered "American/US" courses. See Applied History Certificate requirements for more information.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses for the History MA (9-12 hours) | 9-12 | |
| Introduction to Historical Research | ||
| Historiography | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Successful completion of Final Project (3 or 6 hours) approved by Graduate Director and Final Project Director (taken as HIST 6952). Final Project must be successfully defended, then deposited with the graduate program director to remain permanently on file. | ||
| Elective courses (21 hours minimum). | 21 | |
| 1. At least one course must be from outside student's main geographical concentration | ||
| 2. Complete at least one seminar paper at B or better in addition to Final Project | ||
| 3. Complete at least one readings course. | ||
| American Architectural History 1 | ||
| American Architectural History 2 | ||
| Conservation of the Historic Built Environment | ||
| Research Seminar in American Colonial History | ||
| Research Seminar in 19th-Century America | ||
| Research Seminar in 20th-Century America | ||
| Readings in Modern European History | ||
| Research Seminar in Medieval Culture and Society | ||
| Research Seminar in British Empire | ||
| Readings in World History | ||
| Oral History | ||
| American Material Culture | ||
| Applied History | ||
| Practicum in Applied History | ||
| Applied History Internship | ||
| Historical Editing | ||
| Studies in the Teaching of History | ||
| Special Topics in History | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Special Topics in Applied History | ||
| Foreign language examination is not required. | ||
| A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (on the 4.0 scale) is required for graduation. No credit is given for a course where the grade is below "C,"but the grade is included when calculating the overal GPA. Consistently low grades are a basis for dismissal from the program. | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 30-33 | |
Learning Outcomes
- LO1 (All courses): Students will demonstrate the skills necessary for the historian to analyze information and report findings effectively, by recognizing the difference between primary and secondary resources and being able to critically read and analyze their content; by effectively communicating in written and oral media; and by exhibiting satisfactory critical-thinking and synthesis skills.
- LO2 (All courses): Students will demonstrate comprehension of the basic concepts that guide the historian’s work, by understanding: the concepts of historiography and that historical interpretation is not fixed but changes over time; the significance of chronologies and the impact of cause and effect; and the importance and impact of cultural diversity on the past and its relevance in the present.
- LO3 (Applied History Courses): Students will demonstrate the ability to translate traditional historical scholarship into media meant primarily for non-academic audiences.
- LO4 (HIST 6952/Final Project and Research Seminars): Students will demonstrate the ability to employ the skill of the historian to produce an original research project(s) based on primary and secondary sources.
Graduate Courses
HIST 5806 American Architectural History 1 3 s.h.
Development of structural styles and trends within the United States, focusing on formal architectural styles.
Prereq.: HIST 2605 and HIST 2606.
HIST 5807 American Architectural History 2 3 s.h.
Development of vernacular, folk, and industrial architecture in the United States. Focus is on local variants with emphasis on 20th Century specimens. Field trips will view representative building types, especially housing.
Prereq.: HIST 5806.
HIST 5808 American Architectural History 4 s.h.
Focuses on the development and nature of architectural trends in the US, both formal and vernacular styles, in their historic context. Students will learn how to identify historic building materials, evaluate their condition, and make recommendations for their protection. Maybe taken by both undergraduate and graduate students.
HIST 5810 Conservation of the Historic Built Environment 3 s.h.
The theory and practice of preserving and rehabilitating all aspects of the historic built environment. Provides broad exposure through field experience.
Prereq.: HIST 3715.
HIST 6900 Introduction to Historical Research 3 s.h.
Instruction in the basic tools and techniques of historical research. Required of all candidates for advanced degrees in history.
HIST 6901 Historiography 3 s.h.
An introduction to the professional study of history, including an examination of the sources and nature of historical knowledge, historical criticism, and synthesis. Required of all candidates for advanced degrees in history.
HIST 6910 Readings in American History 3 s.h.
Readings in the standard works and monographic studies to meet the requirements of qualified graduate students who wish intensive concentration in specific areas of American history. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6912 Research Seminar in American Colonial History 3 s.h.
Selected problems of early American history. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6913 Research Seminar in 19th-Century America 3 s.h.
Selected problems of American history, 1800-1865. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6914 Research Seminar in 20th-Century America 3 s.h.
Selected problems of American history in the 20th century. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6920 Readings in Modern European History 3 s.h.
Readings in the standard works and monographic studies to meet the requirements of qualified graduate students who wish intensive concentration in European history. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6921 Research Seminar in Medieval Culture and Society 3 s.h.
The main intellectual and social currents of the Middle Ages. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6922 Research Seminar in Renaissance and Reformation 3 s.h.
Trends and aspects of the Renaissance and Reformation. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6928 Research Seminar in British Empire 3 s.h.
An examination of major problems confronting the British Empire after 1783. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6930 Readings in World History 3 s.h.
Readings in the standard works and monographic studies to meet the requirements of qualified students who wish concentration in world history. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6934 Readings in African History 3 s.h.
Readings in the standard works and monographic studies to meet the requirements of qualified graduate students who wish intensive concentration in African history. May be repeated with permission of instructor.
HIST 6939 Labor in US History 3 s.h.
Emphasis on work processes, workforce composition, and labor organizations in the industrial Midwest.
HIST 6940 Oral History 3 s.h.
Instruction in methods of taking, processing, and utilizing oral depositions relating to history. The course includes assignments in the field. May be repeated once.
HIST 6940C CE Oral History 3 s.h.
Instruction in methods of taking, processing, and utilizing oral depositions relating to history. The course includes assignments in the field. May be repeated once.
HIST 6941 American Material Culture 3 s.h.
A discussion and analysis of the use and importance of material artifacts as texts for the recovery of the American past. The emphasis will be on nontraditional sources. Examples include children's books, sacred spaces, and foodways.
HIST 6942 Applied History 3 s.h.
This course provides an overview of the field of applied history. Topics include historic preservation, museum studies, heritage tourism, archives and related topics.
HIST 6943 Practicum in Applied History 3 s.h.
Examines problems in the field of applied history through student participation in a wide variety of community-based projects.
Prereq.: HIST 3715 Introduction to Historic Preservation, HIST 6942, or instructor's permission.
HIST 6944 Applied History Internship 3 s.h.
Practical application of principles and methods in the field of applied history with the goal of producing a completed project. Internship to be selected by the student in conjunction with the Program Director. May be repeated once.
Prereq.: HIST 6942 and approval of program director.
HIST 6945 Interpretation and Preservation of the Industrial Built Environment 3 s.h.
Through lectures and readings, this course examines and interprets the industrial built environment. This includes, but is not limited to, factories, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and commercial districts that make up the fabric of industrial communities.
Prereq.: Graduate standing and completion of HIST 6942 or permission of instructor.
HIST 6946 Historical Editing 3 s.h.
Project-based approach to theoretical and practical aspects of editing historical and literary documents for both print and digital contexts. Topics include document selection, transcription, verification, and annotation, as well as the implications for teaching and learning using traditional print and electronic archives and texts.
Cross-Listed: ENGL 6946.
HIST 6950 Studies in the Teaching of History 3 s.h.
Investigation and discussion of the research and some of the underlying assumptions in the teaching of history, with implications for the teacher of social studies in the secondary schools and for the prospective history professor. Degree students may receive credit for this course only once.
HIST 6951 Special Topics in History 3 s.h.
Special topics in history selected by the staff. May be repeated up to six semester hours.
HIST 6952 Independent Study 1-3 s.h.
Individual study in concentrated areas of history under the supervision of a staff member. May be repeated.
Prereq.: Permission of the instructor and the graduate director.
HIST 6953 Research, Thesis 1-6 s.h.
.
HIST 6957 Special Topics in Applied History 1-6 s.h.
This course will focus on topics selected by the applied history faculty.
Prereq.: HIST 6942.
HIST 6958 Historic Preservation Law 3 s.h.
The study, theory, and practice of law as it relates to historic preservation.
Prereq.: HIST 3715 or HIST 6942.
HIST 6959 Museum Curation and Interpretation 4 s.h.
Introduction to the field of museum studies. The history and function of museums, especially in the United States. Museum administration, curation, exhibit development, collections management, outreach and education. No formal prerequisites, but students should ideally have completed either HIST 3715 or HIST 6942.
Cross-Listed: HIST 4859.
HIST 6960 Research Seminar in American History 3 s.h.
Guided research in selected topics from any period of American History. May be repeated twice with permission of instructor.
HIST 6961 History Program Internship 1-3 s.h.
Hands-on, experiential learning via an internship at any of a variety of History-Program-approved opportunities and sites in or beyond the Mahoning Valley. Emphasis on the development and application of discipline-related skills including critical-thinking, engagement with research materials, interpretation of sources, organization of materials, presentation of findings, or similar. Internship to be selected by student in consultation with Program Director. May be repeated once.
Prereq.: none.
HIST 6970 Research Seminar in European History 3 s.h.
Guided research in selected topics from any period of European History. May be repeated twice with permission of instructor.
HIST 6980 Research Seminar in World History 3 s.h.
Guided research in selected topics from any period of World History. May be repeated twice with permission of instructor.