The M.A. is conferred upon students who meet the requirements listed below within six years of entering Lehigh. The MA may be either a terminal degree or a step toward the doctorate. Those wishing to go on for a Ph.D. at Lehigh must apply separately for that program by the beginning of the final MA semester, with the principal requirement being that they must have the agreement of a faculty adviser who will direct their graduate capstone project. All students must maintain a 3.3 grade point average on Lehigh's 4.0 scale. Students must submit their plan for completion of the Master's Degree as soon as possible after they have completed 15 credits toward their degree.
The MA requires the successful completion of 30 hours of course work that must include: 1) the 401 Research Methods seminar (three credits); and 2) one of the following capstone exercises, agreed upon with a faculty mentor or mentors: a) a primary-source based thesis (six credits over two semesters); b) an extended secondary-based research essay (three credits); c) a two-field Masters Comprehensive Examination (three credits); or d) a Composite Graduate Portfolio (three credits; which may include any of the following: digital research elements such as maps or data sets, multi-media presentations, annotated archival sources, syllabi and lesson plans, etc.). The capstone must be prepared under the direction of a member of the History Department and reviewed by at least one member of the department other than the director and accepted by both.
Graduate Courses Offered
HIST 401. Historical Research (3) Techniques of research in history: training in the critical handling of documentary materials, in measuring the value of evidence, and in formal presentation of the results of research. Students will write an original research paper using primary materials. Required of all graduate students in history.
HIST 404. Readings in the History of the Atlantic World, 1500-1900 (3) Core readings offering a comparative and integrative approach to studying the development of nations, economic systems and trade, colonization, and cultural encounters among the people of Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
HIST 405. Readings in the History of Industrial America (3) Core readings in the history of technology and the larger framework of intellectual, social, economic, and political history. Includes comparative studies in the history of industrializing Europe and Japan.
HIST 412. Readings in the American Revolutionary Era 3 Credits
Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member on the historiography of the era of the American Revolution. Course may be repeated.
HIST 421. Readings in Topics in the Atlantic World 3 Credits
Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member on a particular topic in the history of the Atlantic World. Course may be repeated.
HIST 426. Readings in Topics in American History 3 Credits
Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member on a particular topic in U.S. history across several centuries. Course may be repeated.
HIST 438. Techniques in Public History (2 or 3) Designed to introduce students to a variety of public history techniques. Instructor will focus on one of the following topics each term: archives, documentary film, exhibit design, historical editing, material culture, oral history. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 credits.
HIST 440. Readings in Colonial American History (3) Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member of the literature of the 17th and 18th centuries. May be repeated for credit with the permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 441. Readings in Nineteenth Century American History (3) Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member of the literature of the 19th century. May be repeated for credit with the permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 442. Readings in Twentieth Century American History (3) Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member of the literature of the 20th century. May be repeated for credit with permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 443. Readings in English History (3) Study in small groups, under the guidance of a faculty member, of the literature of a particular period, problem, or area of English history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 444. Readings in Latin American History (3) Study in small groups, under the guidance of a faculty member, of the literature of a particular period, problem, or area of Latin American history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 445. Readings in the History of Science (3) Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member on the history of science. May be repeated for credit with permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 446. Readings in the History of Technology (3) Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member of the history of technology. May be repeated for credit with the permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 447. Readings in European History (3) Study in small groups, under the guidance of a faculty member, of the literature of a particular period, problem or aspect of European history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the faculty advisor.
HIST 452. Research in American History (3) An intensive research seminar on a phase of American history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department chair.
HIST 453. Research in English History (3) An intensive research seminar on a phase of English history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department chair.
HIST 454. Research in Latin American History (3) An intensive research seminar on a phase of Latin American history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department chair.
HIST 455. Research in History of Science and Technology (3) An intensive research seminar on a phase or aspect of the history of science and technology. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department chair.
HIST 457. Research in European History (3) An intensive research seminar on a phase of European history. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department chair.
HIST 458. Readings in Gender History 3 Credits
Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member on the literature of an issue, period, country or culture within gender history. Course may be repeated.
HIST 471. Special Topics in History (1-3) Individual study under the direction of a faculty member of a topic in history. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 472. Special Topics in History (1-3) Individual study under the direction of a faculty member of a topic in history. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 473. Special Topics in History (1-3) Individual study under the direction of a faculty member of a topic in history. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 482. Special Topics 3 Credits
HIST 490. Thesis 1-6 Credits
HIST 499. Dissertation 1-15 Credits