Department Of History Images In History

Master of Arts in History

Degree requirements are set in part by the Graduate School and in part by the History Department. The MA student must satisfy the degree requirements that are in force at the time the MA is awarded. Below is a summary of the masters degree requirements for quick reference; MA students should read all relevant information on the History Department’s website and the Graduate School’s website. These requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of the requirements in effect at the time of the degree.

Degree Requirements (Departmental)

  1. Official establishment of the student's MA fields and MA Supervisory Committee. Students are expected to construct their fields of study in consultation with their supervising faculty. The Request for Establishing a Masters Supervisory Committee form (which officially establishes both the MA Committee and the MA fields) should be submitted to the History Graduate Office no later than the end of the third quarter of graduate study.
  2. Satisfactory completion of a graduate seminar which entails the preparation of a research seminar paper; or the satisfactory completion of an MA thesis. Most seminars are two- or three-quarter classes. The stuent must provide the History Gradaute Ofice with a copy of the MA seminar paper as a prerequisite for taking the MA examinations.
  3. Successful completion of the foreign language requirement for the MA. This requirement must be satisfied no later than the quarter immediately preceding the quarter in which the student expects to take the written exams and complete the Master's degree.This requirement must be satisfied no later than the quarter immediately preceding the quarter in which the student expects to complete the Master's degree.
  4. Demonstrate by written examination mastery of a substantial body of historical knowledge. Students will be expected to construct their fields of study in consultation with their supervising faculty.
  5. Official submission of an application for the degree.

Degree Requirements (Graduate School)

  1. A minimum of 36 credits of coursework of which a minimum of 30 credits must be earned at the University of Washington.
  2. Of the required minimum 36 credits, at least 18 must be for work in courses numbered 500 and above. If a thesis is written, at least 10 of these 18 credits must be for HIST 700.
  3. Of the required minimum 36 credits, at least 18 credits must be in numerically graded coursework in 400- and 500-level courses taken at the University of Washington.
  4. A master's examination as determined by the student's department. Registration is required for the quarter in which the exam is taken.
  5. All work for the degree must be completed within six years. This includes quarters spent on-leave or out of status (not registered, not on leave) and applicable work transferred from other institutions.
  6. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for a graduate degree at the University of Washington.
  7. Registration is required for the quarter in which the degree is conferred.