This will ensure that you have a thorough knowledge of four key areas:
The philosophical, theoretical, and methodological approaches that have shaped the
discipline of history.
The methods and approaches used by historians to critically analyze historical evidence.
The ways different historians have understood and interpreted the past.
The ability to conduct historical research that synthesizes both primary and secondary
sources.
You will need to have a grade of B or above in the theory and methods seminar (HST 701 Historiography and Historical Methods)
and, at least one each, of the following three types of graduate seminars offered
by the Department of History:
Primary source seminars
Readings seminars
Research seminars
A grade of B- or below cannot count toward the requirements of the graduate history core curriculum.
HST 701 Historiography and Historical Methods is the graduate program’s foundational
course. We recommend that you complete it in either your first or second semesters.
This course will introduce you to the various philosophies of history and theories
concerning the method, purpose and meaning of history. Instead of emphasizing a specific
region or historical era, historiography focuses on the history and theory of historical
writing and how historians interpret past events.
Here are few:
Josh Tosh, The Pursuit of History (Routledge, 2021).
Stephan Berger et al. Writing History: Theory and Practice (Bloomsbury: London, 2020).
Eileen Ka-May Cheng, Historiography: An Introductory Guide (Continuum, 2012)
Jeremy D. Popkin, From Herodotus to H-Net: The Story of Historiography (Oxford University Press, 2020)
Anna Green and Kathleen Troup, The Houses of History: A Critical Reader in History and Theory (Manchester University Press: 2016).
Research requirements
Research is an important part of getting your master's degree.
As a graduate student, you'll demonstrate your ability to conduct independent historical
research that combines both primary and secondary sources.
Yes. Whether you choose the thesis or non-thesis option, you will have to complete a research seminar.
You will need to earn a B grade or above.
Research seminars are offered as part of a readings/research seminar sequence, but not all reading seminars
are tied to research seminars. The readings/research seminar sequence begins with
a reading seminar in the fall semester, which leads to a research seminar offered
in the spring semester.
If you want to take a research seminar without having to take the corresponding readings
seminar, you'll need permission from the professor. (Professors will usually only
grant that permission if you have taken a course with them previously or if you can
demonstrate that you have a viable research plan.)
A thesis is an extended piece of original research (usually 80 to 100 pages in length),
focusing on a topic of your choice conducted under the supervision of a member of
faculty (the thesis supervisor).
In addition to completing a research seminar, you will also need to complete and successfully
defend a thesis in an oral thesis defense examination.
You will need to develop a research project and find a thesis supervisor. (Thesis
supervisors must be members of the faculty in the Department of History and have graduate
faculty status. Lecturers and adjuncts may not serve as thesis supervisors.)
If you are considering the thesis option, we recommend that you ensure our department can offer supervision in your area of
interest.
Once a member of faculty has agreed to serve as a thesis supervisor, you should arrange
with them to register for six hours of HST 799. This can be taken over the course
of two semesters (in 3-hour increments), although it doesn't have to be taken in consecutive
semesters.
If you pass your examination, you will need to submit a copy of your thesis to the Graduate College in order to graduate.
Admission to the thesis option is not guaranteed. It will depend on:
The Department of History's ability to offer supervision in the student’s chosen field.
The quality of the student's thesis proposal.
The student’s academic record.
The feasibility of the student's thesis project.
It needs to have the following information:
A clear outline of the historiographical question with which the student intends to
engage.
An outline of the primary sources that the student intends to utilize in their thesis.
A preliminary bibliography of academic works related to the topic of the thesis.
You will need to be able to demonstrate the viability of your project. Most members
of faculty will expect to see a preliminary thesis proposal before they agree to supervise
a thesis.
You should also ensure that you will have access to the primary source sets that you
intend to use. You'll need to be able to demonstrate that you have any required linguistic
and/or technical competencies.
Seminars
We have three types of graduate seminars: primary source, readings and research.
Seminars are great way for you to receive extensive instruction on a topic that interests
you.
The Department of History offers graduate courses at both the 600 and 700 level.
600-level courses bridge the gap between undergraduate and graduate studies. They
are content-area-focused and structured similiarly to courses you may have taken at
the undergraduate level.
The 700-level courses are graduate seminars, advanced-level courses structured around
a particular methodological and/or theoretical theme.
The specific primary source, reading and research seminars you will take will vary
depending on your track of study.
Although the historical era or geographical region covered in specific seminars may
vary, each type of seminar will hone a specific skill that will be essential for your
professional study of history.
Primary sources are original, first-hand documents or artifacts created at or around
the time and place of study. They provide raw, uninterpreted information and serve
as the foundational materials for historical research and analysis.
Primary sources might include:
Archival documents
Letters
Diaries
Photographs
Music and sounds
Material objects
Interviews
Oral histories
Laws and regulations
Primary source seminars focus on the analysis and interpretation of primary sources,
including understanding the context in which a source was created, identifying the
author’s or creator’s perspectives and biases, and assessing the source’s reliability
and relevance.
You will learn how to critically evaluate primary sources and develop the skills needed
both to better understand the past and to conduct advanced historical research.
Readings seminars are central to graduate education in history. They will give you
a deep understanding of historiography, methodological approaches and key debates
within a specific historical field.
You will read a substantial number of books, including classic works as well as recent
scholarship, to gain an understanding of the various debates, theoretical frameworks
and methodologies that have shaped our understanding of a particular area of historical
enquiry interpretations.
These might include questions such as:
Why have historians differed regarding their interpretation of the causes of the American
Civil War?
How have the different theoretical approaches taken by historiographical traditions
and schools of thought shaped our understanding of medieval society?
In what ways have the different types of primary sources used by historians led to
divergent understandings of the impact of European imperialism on societies in Asia
and Africa?
You'll have opportunities to develop your critical writing skills and ability to synthesize
and evaluate historical arguments.
Readings seminars are offered as either stand-alone courses or as a part of a two-semester
readings and research seminar sequence.
Research seminars will help you develop and refine your research skills.
They are a key component of the graduate history core curriculum and require you to
complete a significant piece of original research.
You'll have structured guidance and support as you undertake your research projects.
