Department of History 500 Main Hall West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383	(610)436-2201 http://www.wcupa.edu/

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

As a comprehensive state university West Chester offers one of the most affordable masters' level graduate programs in the region.  The Department offers both the Master of Arts (M.A.) in History and the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Social Studies: History Concentration.  A full range of late afternoon and evening graduate courses and seminars enables both full-time and part-time students to complete either program at their own pace, within a six-year limit.

With fifteen full-time faculty members, the Department has specialists in many areas of European and American history as well as African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern studies.  The Department believes that close interaction between faculty and students in an integral part of graduate education.  As part of that philosophy, the faculty values both excellent teaching and active scholarship.

Admission Requirements
The Department of History requires a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in history and a 2.75 overall GPA for admission to its graduate program.  A statement of professional goals, a writing sample of no less than two pages on a historical topic, and three letters of recommendation, preferably academic, also are required.  In both programs, admission to full-degree candidacy requires a GPA of 3.0.  Students interested in graduate studies in history may also take two graduate courses before formal admittance to either graduate program.

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis.  Students so admitted may then apply for full-degree candidacy upon completion of 12-18 semester hours of applicable course work with at least a 3.0 GPA.  In both programs students must pass written comprehensive examinations at or near completion of their course work.

For application materials contact the Office of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research, (e-mail gradstudy@wcupa.edu or telephone 610-436-2943.  For further information about the history graduate programs contact Professor William Hewitt, Coordinator of Graduate Studies, Department of History, (e-mail whewitt@wcupa.edu or telephone 610-436-2345).

MASTER OF ARTS in HISTORY
Students in the Master of Arts (MA) program concentrate in United States, European, or World/Comparative history.  The MA degree in history provides a broad base for teaching excellence, a platform for studies leading to the Ph.D., and skills for informed decision-making in the public and private sectors.  Students with permission of the graduate coordinator, may take up to six semester hours in a discipline related to their major field of study.  The MA in history may be earned by completing either a thesis or non-thesis program. The non-thesis option is designed for students who desire more content courses as background for their own teaching, further academic work, or personal enrichment.  The thesis option is designed for students who wish to conduct original research on the Master's level. MA graduates from the West Chester program have gone on to Ph.D. programs at the University of Chicago, University of Florida, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, Temple University, and other Ph.D. granting institutions.

Degree Requirements: (33 semester hours)

MASTER OF EDUCATION in SOCIAL SCIENCE
Concentration History
The Masters of Education in Social Science is a cooperative program of the Department of History and the Department of Professional and Secondary Education designed for certified secondary school teachers to gain additional professional education training while increasing their historical knowledge.  Please note that this program is not designed to prepare post-baccalaureate students for initial certification.

Degree Requirements: (36 semester hours)
Professional Education Requirements- 12 semester hours
History Courses (under advisement) - 15 semester hours
Seminar (in American, European, or Non-western history) - 3 semester hours
HIS 500 Methods and Materials of Research in History* - 3 semester hours
Electives (professional education or academic) 3 semester hours

* May be waived with permission of Department Chair or Graduate Coordinator.

Six semester hours of 400-level course work may also be used to satisfy degree requirements in both programs.

Assistantships
The Department offers full-time and part-time graduate assistantships.  Full-time graduate assistants, in return for twenty hours of assigned duties per week, receive full tuition remission and a stipend of $5,000 for the academic year.  Half-time assistants do ten hours of work per week, for which they receive six hours tuition remission and a $2,500 stipend.  Graduate assistants' duties include tutoring undergraduates in general education courses and/or working with professors on scholarly projects.  Application for assistantships is made through the Office of Graduate Studies.  For maximum consideration for financial support, applications for the fall semester should be submitted by March 15.  For additional information on financial aid see the Graduate Catalog.

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