Master of Arts in History
Evaluation of Master's Students
The criteria for evaluating M.A. students' progress within the program, and their suitability for promotion to the Ph.D. program include, but are not limited to:
1. A demonstrated ability to use (primary) source materials to fashion an original and convincing historical argument.
2. A demonstrated understanding of the fundamental issues in the study
of two historical fields or one division.
3. Completion of the foreign
language requirement.
Typically, the seminar
paper will provide the basis for assessing the student's progress
on the first of these criteria; coursework
and divisional/field
exams for the second; and performance on the language
exam(s) for the third.
The Graduate Studies Committee, in consultation with the faculty supervising
the students' fields or division, will evaluate the progress of M.A. students
on the basis of these criteria at the end of every school year.
Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress towards the
degree if they are pursuing a course of study which will allow completion
of the requirements of the degree in a timely
fashion, and if the students are making solid and substantial progress
in coursework as evidenced by the quarterly
written evaluations provided by their faculty. While faculty grading practices
differ, students who receive a grade of 3.5 or above in a course may usually
assume that they have been judged to have made satisfactory progress toward
the Master's Degree in that course.
Students who are not deemed to be making satisfactory progress will receive
written notification from the Graduate Program Coordinator. This assessment
of non-satisfactory progress will include specific information on what
steps these students must take to correct any problems or concerns expressed
by the Committee and faculty. Failure to comply with these instructions
may lead to a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School for alteration
of a student's standing, i.e. warning, probation, or final probation (See
Graduate School Memorandum #16).