Accelerated (4+1) History B.A. & M.A.

Overview

ACCELERATED M.A. Overview

Motivated students may seek to complete the requirements for the B.A. and M.A. in History in five years. To obtain both degrees, students must complete all the requirements for the B.A. in History, either with a Liberal Arts or a Secondary Teaching emphasis, described in the Undergraduate Catalog (120 for Liberal Arts/ 124 credit hours for Secondary Teaching) and all of the requirements for the M.A. described in the Graduate Catalog (30 credit hours). However, the accelerated B.A./M.A. program involves shared credit hours shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs, so the total number of credit hours to complete the accelerated Master’s program is 141 for students with a Liberal Arts emphasis and 148 for those with a Secondary Teaching emphasis. Completing the requirements for both degrees is made possible by taking double-counted B.A./M.A. credits during the Senior year (paid for at the undergraduate tuition rate) and graduate-level credits (online – graduate-level tuition rate) in the summer following the Senior year and completion of the undergraduate program. While this is the most efficient route, students may also elect to complete the program at a slower pace. Students remain eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate; any Graduate School aid is not available until students are admitted as a Graduate student. 

Admissions

ACCELERATED M.A. ADMISSION

Due to its necessarily streamlined path of progression, admission to the Accelerated B.A. and M.A. in History occurs in the Fall semester only. Students interested in transferring into the accelerated program must:

• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 to take graduate-level courses as a Senior.

• Meet with the History M.A. Director of Graduate Studies in the fall semester of the Junior year and apply during the spring semester of the Junior year (following the same procedure and meeting the same requirements as other M.A. applicants). Full admission is dependent on completing the B.A. requirements in the Senior year while maintaining a minimum 3.25 GPA. The program application will be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School with signatures of the program advisor indicating the approval of graduate course transfer.

• For students whose B.A. has a Liberal Arts emphasis, Complete HIST 500 (Historiography) in the fall semester of their Senior year followed by HIST 580 (Senior Seminar) and another 500-level graduate course in the spring. These are the 9 credits double counted within the accelerated program.

• For students whose B.A. has a Secondary Teaching emphasis, Complete HIST 580 (Senior Seminar) and HIST 500 (historiography) in the fall semester of their Senior year. These are the six credits double counted within the accelerated program.

• Students must apply for completion of their B.A. degree the semester before completing the degree (e.g. in the fall semester of their Senior Year). To apply, students must be registered for all remaining courses in their final undergraduate semester.

Timeline

ACCELERATED M.A. Timeline

Outline for degree completion of the Accelerated B.A. with a Liberal Arts Emphasis and M.A. in History

Fall Semester, Junior year
Meet with faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies and apply for the program

Fall Semester, Senior year
HIST 500 Historiography (3 credits, double-counted) 

Spring Semester, Senior year
HIST 580 Senior Seminar (3 credits, double-counted)
A Second 500-level Graduate Course in History (3 credits, double-counted)

Summer after Senior year
One online 6-week 500-level courses (3 credits)

Notes:

• Only two of these courses will be offered each summer.
• Because students are required to register for their six 500-level summer credits while they are still undergraduates, they must call the Office of the Registrar no later than the drop period for the summer semester to change their registration to graduate level

Fall Semester, fifth year
Two 500-level HIST-coded courses (6 credits)
HIST 690 (3 credits) Research methods course.

Spring Semester, fifth year
Two 500-level HIST-coded courses (6 credits)
HIST 690 (3 credits) Research methods course.

Total: 30 Credits

Outline for degree completion of the Accelerated B.A. with a Secondary Teaching emphasis and M.A. in History

Fall Semester, Junior year
Meet with faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies and apply for the program

Fall Semester, Senior year
HIST 580 Senior Seminar (3 credits, double-counted)
HIST 500 Historiography (3 credits, double-counted)

Spring Semester, Senior year
Student Teaching

Summer after Senior year
Two online 6-week 500-level courses (6 credits)

Notes:

• Only two of these courses will be offered each summer.
• Because students are required to register for their six 500-level summer credits while they are still undergraduates, they must call the Office of the Registrar no later than the drop period for the summer semester to change their registration to graduate level

Fall Semester, fifth year
Two 500-level HIST-coded courses (6 credits)
HIST 690 (3 credits) Research methods course.

Spring Semester, fifth year
Two 500-level HIST-coded courses (6 credits)
HIST 690 (3 credits) Research methods course.

Total: 30 Credits