History - Binghamton University

ADVISER AND GUIDANCE
COMMITTEE
Students are advised by staff or a faculty
member in their field of concentration during
their first semester in the graduate program.
Before the beginning of the second semester,
the student selects an appropriate member of
the faculty as principal adviser (sponsor) and
chair of a guidance committee. The student in
consultation with the principal adviser solicits
two additional faculty members to serve on the
guidance committee. The chairperson of the
guidance committee, with the assistance of
colleagues and the vice chairperson for graduate
studies, aids students in their choices of courses,
advises them on the fulfillment of other
academic requirements and in general guides
them through the graduate program. Normally,
the guidance committee forms the core of the
student’s oral comprehensive examination
committee. In most cases, too, a student’s
guidance committee eventually serves as a
three-person dissertation committee.
Normally, full-time matriculated students
take three courses per semester. A student’s
coursework should be closely correlated with
the proposed major and minor fields, and
should include a balance between general
colloquia and specialized research seminars.
Students are encouraged to work with a number
of different professors to broaden their exposure
to different historical styles, methods and
theories. In addition to the work completed for
their courses, students are expected to pursue a
coherent program of readings in preparation for
their comprehensive examinations. Independent
readings courses may be arranged with
individual instructors to cover special topics,
but must not be used to satisfy more than onethird
of a student’s degree requirements.
No faculty member is required to accept a
particular student as an advisee. By the same
token, a student may, for reasonable cause,
petition the vice chairperson for graduate
studies for a change of principal adviser or
guidance committee.
Master of Arts Program
The master of arts in history is granted on
completion of the following requirements.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Thirty-two graduate credit hours, with a B
average or better. Specialization in one of the
following fields: Europe since 1450, United
States history, ancient history, medieval history,
Middle Eastern history, Russian and East
European history, Latin American history,
African history, East Asian history, history of U.S.
women, history of European women, or Jewish
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history. In addition, all master’s students are
required to take HIST 592 (Historiography) and
one 600-level research seminar. Master’s-level
students who choose to write a master’s thesis
are not required to take the 600-level research
seminar for the master’s degree. All master’s
students must pass the master’s examination.
Twenty-four of the credits offered must be
taken in residence.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
REQUIREMENT
Master’s level students in non-U.S. history must
meet the language requirement at the master’s
level.
THESIS AND NONTHESIS OPTIONS
With the approval of the guidance committee, a
student either elects to write a master’s thesis
that demonstrates scholarly ability, or satisfactorily
completes up to eight additional credit
hours in history or in a related discipline.
MASTER’S EXAMINATION
The master’s examination is a three-hour written
examination in the student’s field of specialization.
Examinations are offered once each
semester, and should be taken during the
semester in which the student completes all
other degree requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
ADMISSION
Admission to the PhD program is determined by
the department when the student has completed
work for the MA degree or its equivalent. All
students who enter the program with an MA
degree in history from another institution will
have their work reviewed by the department at
the end of their first semester to confirm their
admission to the doctoral program.
ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
At least two semesters must elapse between
admission to candidacy and the granting of the
degree. Requirements are as follows:
1. Coursework. Not fewer than 56 graduate
credits (excluding credit for the dissertation, but
including credits earned toward the MA), with
an average of B+, as follows:
Courses in a major field
Courses in two minor fields
HIST 592*
Two 600-level research seminars (one of
which must have been taken at the
master’s level)
*Students are encouraged to fulfill the requirement
of HIST 592, Historiography, early in their program.