Graduate Degree Programs History graduate student Sarah Anderson with the “Moon Rock” NASA installation at the Special Collections Library. The University of Georgia graduate program in history offers a degree of Master of Arts (MA) and a degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Many MA students choose a "terminal" degree, providing them with experience in scholarly research, writing a thesis, and post-secondary teaching that prepares them either for further graduate study or for a career in secondary education, government, or the private sector. Recipients of the PhD from the University of Georgia have an excellent track record of placement in college and university faculty positions, although history doctorates have also chosen to pursue non-academic career paths in law, government, education, business, or non-governmental organizations. The formal requirements for attaining an MA or PhD degree in history are detailed in the Guidebook. Accepted and current students should regularly consult this Guidebook when plotting a program of study. The Guidebook contains important information on specific course and writing and language and exam requirements, major and minor fields of study, and timelines for completing the degree. All students develop a tailored plan of study, in consultation with their major advisor, according to the regulations of the department (as outlined in the Guidebook) and of the UGA Graduate School. The following brief summary of the requirements for the MA and PhD degrees are meant only as a rough guide for prospective students, and should not be taken as formal statements of degree requirements. Formal departmental requirements are presented in the Guidebook; all departmental requirements are in addition to any UGA Graduate School requirements for the Master of Arts degree or Doctor of Philosophy degree. Master of Arts (MA) in History Masters students in history at the University of Georgia complete a minimum of 30 semester hours (ten, 3-hour graduate courses) of coursework, in residence for at least two semesters (which need not be consecutive). In consultation with their major advisor, a thesis advisory committee (consisting of the major professor as chair and two additional members), and the graduate coordinator, MA students develop a formal program of study according to the department guidelines. Coursework prepares students in mastery of specific major and minor fields of study, in the theory and practice of history, and in historical research. Masters students must also demonstrate facility with a foreign language applicable to research in their fields, either by passing a language exam or by earning a grade of B or higher in an approved UGA language course. MA students earn a terminal degree by completing and defending an original thesis, which demonstrates a critical capacity for historical research and meets professional standards for scholarship and writing. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History Doctoral students in history at the University of Georgia complete a minimum of 30 semester hours (ten 3-hour graduate courses) of coursework, with at least two consecutive semesters of full-time study spent in residence. The PhD program further requires a minimum of three full years of study beyond the bachelor's degree. In consultation with their advisory committee (consisting of the major professor as chair and two additional members who are appointed to the graduate faculty), doctoral students develop a formal program of study according to the department guidelines. Coursework includes colloquia and seminars in the students' major, minor, and related fields of interest, and prepares students in mastery of the theories and methodologies of history, in historical research, in teaching at the post-secondary level, and introduces students to historical and historiographical issues in multiple fields of historical study. In their second year of doctoral study, all students are evaluated on their progress within the doctoral program; students must pass this evaluation to continue their doctoral studies. Typically, students complete required coursework within three years. Within two semesters of completing all required coursework (except HIST 8001 and research skills courses), doctoral students schedule comprehensive exams with their advisory committee. The formal, comprehensive, written and oral examinations test students on their mastery of one major field, two minor fields, and one topical field. Passing the examinations entitles students to formal candidacy for the PhD; many students begin referring to themselves as "ABD" (All But Dissertation or All But Degree) at this point in their studies. Upon passing the examinations, doctoral students have one semester to form a dissertation reading committee (which is often, but not always, composed of members of the student's advisory committee) and submit a dissertation proposal; this proposal will be discussed by the student and the committee to determine its scholarly value and research feasibility. This is often called a proposal "defense," but the discussion is intended to provide constructive criticism to the student in shaping a long-term research and writing plan to complete a satisfactorily original and analytically impressive dissertation in a reasonable amount of time. Upon formal approval of the dissertation proposal, the doctoral student independently researches, writes, and orally defends a dissertation in consultation with her or his dissertation reading committee. The dissertation must be completed within five years of passing the comprehensive examinations, and is typically completed within three or four years. A completed and approved dissertation demonstrates a critical capacity for independent research in primary and secondary sources, contributes to historical knowledge, and reveals qualities of insight and sound judgment in interpreting historical documents--and, of course, entitles the dissertator to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in history. Other Graduate Programs Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies The Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies at Georgia uses a broad understanding of museums, practical experience in museum work, and the role of museums. The program prepares students for museum careers by adding specific, museum-based instruction to existing departmental academic studies. Students achieve the capacity to investigate and accomplish objectives in the museum field through discipline-based knowledge, museum theory, and experiential learning. The instructors and courses offered through this program are interdisciplinary, representing a range of departments. Please contact Dr. Akela Reason for information on applying.
