| Degree: | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
| Specializations: | History Public History |
| Certificate: | Historic Preservation Studies |
| Department: | Building 50, Room 106 (850) 474-2680 http://uwf.edu/history/ |
The M.A. in History offers two specializations. The first is the traditional history degree with the option of completing either a thesis or research paper. The Public History Specialization trains students in the various aspects of public (applied) history and requires completion of an internship.
Students in the master’s program may also earn a certificate in Historic Preservation. The certificate program in historic preservation requires the completion of 18 sh at the master’s level. It is geared towards individuals interested in acquiring a general focus in the field of historic preservation and current practitioners in the field who wish to add a historic preservation certification to their academic or professional credentials. Contact the department for information concerning the certificate.
In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the catalog, the applicant must meet the following minimum departmental admission requirements for regular admission:
The department reserves the right to a personal interview to determine an applicant’s potential for graduate study. The department reserves the right to admit conditionally an applicant who meets most but not all of the above requirements. This is done upon the recommendation of the Graduate Committee and under the conditions set by that Committee and the Chair of the Department. A student admitted conditionally must complete all requirements of that admission, including the required “Foundational Proficiencies,” before starting the graduate program.
The full-time graduate student should expect to spend a minimum of three semesters at UWF to earn a degree.
With the approval of the Department Chair and the Graduate Committee, a maximum of 6 sh of history graduate course work can be transferred from another institution or be taken while in a non-degree status at UWF. Such courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.
A student must earn at least a “B-” in each graduate course taken at UWF to receive credit for that course and an overall 3.0 CGPA for all courses in the program. A student must apply for advancement to candidacy upon completion of 15 sh. The thesis, research paper, or internship advisor will then be appointed as the academic advisor. A student must complete graduate work within five years. A student may petition for extension of the five-year rule if circumstances do not permit completion of the requirement. A student must take at least 18 sh of graduate course work at the 6000 level.
The History Specialization is a traditional degree that equips students to pursue further graduate study or to begin an enriching career. Students may focus their course work in American or European history but acquire a broad knowledge and marketable skills that prepare them for a Ph.D. program in history or for a career teaching at the middle school, high school, or community-college level or working in governmental and non-governmental agencies, institutional planning, libraries, museums, archives, non-profits, politics, or publishing.
An applicant must have a minimum 3.0 in 15 sh of upper-level history courses. Students accepted without the 15 sh of prerequisite work will be required to correct the deficiency before taking graduate level courses. Students planning on further graduate study at the doctoral level should acquire proficiency in two languages or research tools.
Plan A requires 33 sh of graduate history course work, including the thesis. At least 15 sh must be in the major field (United States or European) and 6 sh in thesis. The student must write the thesis under the direction of a History faculty member and defend it in an oral examination before a thesis committee.
Plan B is designed for the student who prefers a wide range of studies in history. A student must take 33 sh of graduate history course work distributed in the following manner:
| European History | 9 | |
| United States History | 9 | |
| Four (4) History Electives | 12 | |
| HIS 6911 | Master's Research | 1-3 |
| Total Hours | 31-33 | |
In the research seminar, the student must write a substantial research paper under the direction of a History faculty member.
The student may count one 3 sh course taken outside of history toward degree requirements with the prior approval of their academic advisor and the History faculty, who will make the final decision.
The Public History Specialization within the UWF History Department trains students in the various aspects of public (applied) history, the study of history outside the academic setting. Students learn about the numerous ways in which public historians think and operate as professionals.
Beginning with an introductory seminar, students develop both traditional and public history skills and techniques. Students work in two or more areas of Public History Specialization, including community history, museology and museum studies, policy history, environmental history, and/or media history. Coursework is offered through both the History Department and other University departments and programs.
To facilitate the learning of various skills and research techniques, students participate in a 6 sh internship with an appropriate agency or organization. As the thesis equivalent, students complete and defend an extensive report on their internship experience. The combination of traditional and applied skills with the practical application of public history in the field provide students with the resources to secure employment following graduation.
An applicant must have a minimum 3.0 in 15 sh of upper-level history courses. Students accepted without the 15 sh of prerequisite work will be required to correct the deficiency before taking graduate level courses.
Public History Core
| HIS 5059 | Graduate Methods (an elective may be substituted if the student has completed HIS 3002) | 3 |
| HIS 6055 | Public History Methodology | 3 |
| Approved 5/6000 level European History elective | 3 | |
| Approved 5/6000 level American History elective | 3 | |
| Approved 5/6000 level Latin American/African/Asian/Ethnic elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Internship
| HIS 6056 | Graduate History Practicum | 1-6 |
| Total Hours | 1-6 | |
Applied History/Non-History Electives
| Choose three or four of the following: | 9-12 | |
| African-American Community History | ||
| Oral and Community History | ||
| Advanced Museology | ||
| Historic and Heritage Preservation Seminar | ||
Approved 5000/6000 Level Applied History Elective | ||
| Choose one or two of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Nautical Archaeology Seminar | ||
| Historical Archaeology Seminar | ||
| Historic Preservation Law Seminar | ||
| Policies, Practices and Archaeology in Historic Preservation | ||
| Outline of American Architecture | ||
| Outline of European Architecture | ||
| Museum and Gallery Studies | ||
| Environmental Aspects of Urban Growth | ||
| Special Topics in Environmental Sciences | ||
| History of Motion Pictures I | ||
| Modern Public Organization Theory | ||
| Public Budgeting | ||
| Public Service Conflict Management and Resolution | ||
Approved 5000/6000 level outside elective | ||
| Total Hours | 12-18 | |
Department: History
Method of Instruction: Classroom
Semester Hours: 18
The program is designed for those who are merely interested in historic preservation, those who are already practitioners in the field or wish to add credentials, or those who are contemplating possible degree certification but are not yet ready to commit to a full-scale degree program. The program attempts to provide interdisciplinary graduate education in historic and cultural preservation, public history and archaeology, historical art and architecture, cultural resource management and museum administration.
| HIS 6055 | Public History Methodology | 3 |
| HIS 6083 | Historic and Heritage Preservation Seminar | 3 |
| ANG 6196 | Policies, Practices and Archaeology in Historic Preservation | 3 |
| HIS 5515 | History of Architecture | 3 |
| ANG 5181 | Geographic Information Systems in Archaeology | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Nautical Archaeology Seminar | ||
| Historical Archaeology Seminar | ||
| Historical Research Methods in Archaeology | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
