History (M.A.) and Information Science (M.S.) Dual Degree Program

The Department of History in conjunction with the Department of Information Studies offers a dual degree program combining the M.A. in History and the M.S. in Information Science. By applying six credits in Information Science to the History degree program and nine credits from History to the Information Science program, a student can reduce the total number of credits needed for both degrees to 57. However, faculty responsible for concentrations in both programs may require additional course work. Students may be admitted to a dual master's degree program at the beginning of their graduate studies, but not later than after completing 20 graduate credits applicable to a dual master's degree program. Work done for an awarded master's or doctoral degree may not be used for this program. Students may leave a dual program before completion of both degrees. If the requirements for one degree have been fulfilled, that degree may be awarded. You must be admitted to graduate study in both the M.A. in History and M.S. in Information Science degree programs for the dual degree program.

Program of Study - History and Information Science – 57 credits

History (30 credits, minimum)

  1. History (21 credits, minimum):
    1. Courses, as advised, including at least one research seminar in the appropriate major field and one reading seminar;
    2. With departmental approval a thesis in history for 4-6 credits may be presented in place of or in addition to the seminar;
  2. Supporting courses (0-9 credits): Courses in the social sciences and other fields as advised (6 credits from Information Science);
  3. Satisfactory completion of a major field examination in one concentration chosen from Group A or one concentration chosen from Group B:

    Group A
    United States History
    Modern European History
    Latin America History
    African History
    Asian History

    Group B
    Local and Regional History
    International History
    Social and/or Economic History
    Public Policy
    Gender and Society
    Culture and Society
    Work and Society

  4. Major Field Examination
    With departmental approval a student may prepare for examination a field of concentration not listed under Groups A or B. The major field examination is waived for those students who write a master's thesis in history (His 699).
  5. Foreign Language Requirement
    A reading knowledge of one foreign language appropriate to the student's major field is required for M.A. candidates writing Master's theses on non-U.S. topics. This requirement can be fulfilled by an examination in the Department, by an examination administered by a language department with approval of the History Department, or by satisfactory completion of a graduate level language course that has been approved by the History Department. A student may not take the language examination more than twice for the M.A. degree.

Note: The program leading to the M.A. degree in Public History has additional credit requirements.

B. Information Science (42 credits minimum)

  1. Required core courses: Ist 601, 602, 603, 605, 614, Ist 523 for 6 credits (21 credits);
  2. Required internship Ist 668 or independent study Ist 669 (3 credits)
  3. Required research methods and statistics course: Ist 608 (3 credits).
  4. Supporting courses as advised: (15 credits). A maximum of nine credit hours may be taken in other professional and academic fields as advised. Seven credit hours of approved course work in History must be part of the supporting courses sequence.