History (MA)

Expected duration: 1 year

Students in the Course-based MA program must complete:

• 21 credit hours of coursework including:
  • At least 18 credit hours of History courses at the 7000 level, including HIST 7110 (6 credit hours)
  • 3 credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level if the course is outside of History
• A written comprehensive exam in the major field, followed by an oral exam

Students pursuing the course-based MA must be competent in at least three areas of historical study. Two of these are classified as minor fields and include the Ancillary. From the major field 12 credit hours are normally chosen. At least one of these courses must be a research course.

The Course-based MA stream does not fulfill the primary research component required by some funding agencies.

Expected duration: 1 year

Students in the Major Research Paper MA program must complete:

• 21 credit hours of coursework including:
  • At least 18 credit hours of History courses at the 7000 level, including HIST 7110: Advanced Historical Methodologies.
  • 3 credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level if the course is outside of History
• A major research paper 

Students meet with their advisor and develop a topic for the paper. The paper will be a piece of original writing based on research that includes primary sources. It will be roughly 8,000-10,000 words in length. 

Expected duration: 2 years

Students in the Thesis-based MA program must complete:

• 12 credit hours of coursework at the 7000 level selected from two areas of historical study, where 6 credit hours must be from HIST 7110: Advanced Historical Methodologies
• A thesis and oral examination

After an advisor has been determined, the student will prepare a thesis project form in consultation with their advisor.

The thesis will be a piece of original writing based on a variety of research sources and will make a contribution to the study of its particular field. 

Expected duration: 2 years

The Joint Master's Program in History offers an Archival Studies stream. Students in the stream prepare to enter the archival profession. 

Students in the Archival Studies stream must complete:

• 21 credit hours of coursework including:
  • HIST 7110: Advanced Historical Methodologies
  • HIST 7372: History of Archiving and Archival Records
  • HIST 7382: Archiving in the Digital Age
  • 3 credit hour elective course in History at the 7000 level
• A summer internship
• A major research paper (8,000 to 10,000 words, based on research that includes primary sources) 

All graduate students in History are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second language, relative to the candidate’s research program.

Candidates who major in Canadian History must display a reading knowledge of French and English.

To satisfy the language requirements, students must do one of:

• Pass a language competency test by way of a translation exam;
• Complete an introductory language course and obtain a grade of B or better;
• Provide proof of successful completion of undergraduate coursework in the appropriate language

• HIST 7760 A01: History of Aboriginal Rights (6 credit hours)
• HIST 7910: Studies in World History: Global Economic History (6 credit hours)
• HIST 7772: Getting Graphic with the Past: Comics, Graphic Novels and History (3 credit hours)
• HIST 7772: Canada's Left: National and International Perspectives (3 credit hours)
• HIST 7240: State and Society in Latin American History (6 credit hours) 
• HIST 7372: History of Archiving and Archival Records (6 credit hours)
• HIST 7382: Archiving in the Digital Age (6 credit hours)  
• HIST 7640: Social History of Health and Disease in Modern Canada (6 credit hours)

For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.