The full-time graduate student should expect to spend a minimum of three semesters working on the master's degree. Applicants to the graduate program must have a minimum of 15 semester hours of upper-level history courses or equal competency. Students accepted into the program without the 15 semester hours will be required to correct the deficiency before taking graduate level courses. A maximum of 6 of the 15 semester hours may be at the graduate level and may be applied to the graduate program upon permission of the Chairperson and Graduate Committee.

In addition to general University requirements, students must write a thesis (6 semester hours) or take HIS 6911 and write a substantial research paper under the direction of a history faculty member. Students who write a thesis must defend it in an oral examination with the thesis committee. The graduate committee may require a student to present a foreign language if essential to the major research project. Students must earn at least a "B-" in each graduate course to receive credit toward their graduate program.

Students must apply for advancement to candidacy upon completion of 15 semester hours. The thesis or research paper advisor will then be appointed as the academic advisor.

Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix at Course Listings/Descriptions. For courses with a dash in the course number, contact the offering department for information.

Students may count one 3 semester hour course outside history toward degree requirements. Before taking the class, they must obtain approval from their advisor and petition the history faculty, who will make the final decision.

Students must complete graduate work within five years. Students may petition for extension of the five-year rule if circumstances do not permit completion of the requirement.

At least 18 semester hours in a program of 33-36 semester hours program must be at the 6000 level.

The Department of History offers the following two programs for the traditional M.A. degree.

Plan A
As part of the requirement, the student will write a thesis and pass an oral examination covering both the thesis and its general historical context. The program requires 33 semester hours of graduate history course work including thesis. Students will select 15 semester hours in the major field (United States or European) and 6 semester hours in thesis.

Plan B
This program is designed for the student who prefers a wide range of studies in history. A student must take 33 semester hours of graduate history course work distributed in the following manner: 9 semester hours in European history, 9 semester hours in United States history, 12 semester hours of electives, and 3 semester hours of research seminar (HIS 6911).

The Public History track (36 semester hours) within the UWF history department will train students in the various aspects of public, or applied, history. Public history is basically the study of history outside the academic setting. Students will learn about the numerous ways in which public historians think and operate as professionals. Beginning with an introductory seminar, students will then develop both traditional and public history skills and techniques. Students will work in two or more areas of public history specialization including community history, museology and museum studies, policy history, environmental history, and/or media history. Coursework is offered through both the history department and through other university departments and programs. To facilitate the learning of various skills and research techniques, students will participate in a six-credit internship with an appropriate agency or organization. As an additional non-thesis option, students will complete and defend an extensive report on their internship experience. The combination of traditional and applied skills with the practical application of public history in the field will provide students with the resources to secure employment following graduation.

This 36 semester hours program is designed for students with a bachelor's degree in history or anthropology/archaeology who want to pursue a professional career in archaeology and/or history or continue a doctoral program in either discipline. This degree will qualify the graduate for entry level professional positions in cultural resource management, some aspects of public archaeology and history with private consulting firms, government regulatory branches, or university research institutes.