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 seven credits from History to the Information Science program, a student can reduce the total number of credits needed for both degrees. 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 – 59 credits
History (30 credits, minimum)
- History (21 credits, minimum):
- Courses, as advised, including at least one research seminar in the appropriate major field and one reading seminar;
- With departmental approval a thesis in history for 4-6 credits may be presented in place of or in addition to the seminar;
- Supporting courses (0-9 credits): Courses in the social sciences and other fields as advised (6 credits from Information Science);
- 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 HistoryGroup B
Local and Regional History
International History
Social and/or Economic History
Public Policy
Gender and Society
Culture and Society
Work and Society - 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.
Students in the dual degree program who choose to do the M.A. in History with a concentration in Public History must complete a total of six internship credits to satisfy the requirements of the two degrees. These credits may be satisfied in a variety of ways:
- Students may take AHIS798A (Public History Internship) for six credits. If the proposed internship is approved in advance of its completion by the Information Studies Department, this course will satisfy the requirement for IIST668 (Internship).
- Students may split the internship between the two departments, taking AHIS599 (Special Projects in History) and IIST668 for three credits each. With the advance approval of the History Department, IIST668 will satisfy the additional three credit internship requirement for the Concentration in Public History.
- Students may take IIST668 (Internship) for six credits. If the proposed internship is approved in advance by the History Department, it will satisfy the requirement for AHIS798A (Public History Internship).
Because of the additional six-credit internship requirement for students in the Public History concentration, students doing the M.A. Concentration in Public History are required to complete a minimum of 65 credits for both degrees, instead of the 59 credits required for students pursing the regular M.A. in History.
B. Information Science (42 credits minimum)
- Required core courses: Ist 601, 602, 603, 605, 614, Ist 523 for 6 credits (21 credits);
- Required internship Ist 668 or independent study Ist 669 (3 credits)
- Required research methods and statistics course: Ist 608 (3 credits).
- 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.
