Note: The UNT history department makes two important distinctions in the master’s program: thesis option compared to non-thesis option and MA compared to MS. Students earning a master’s degree must follow the thesis option to qualify for admission in the department’s doctoral program. Students choosing the non-thesis option will not be eligible for admission to the History PhD program at UNT, as we require a completed MA/MS degree with thesis. The distinction between a History MA and a History MS is that students earning an MA must demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language relevant to the student’s major research focus. Students usually accomplish this by taking at least 12 undergraduate hours of a foreign language with a 2.7 GPA or by passing a proficiency exam administered by the UNT World Languages and Literature department or similar accredited program. This requirement must be met before defending the thesis or sitting for oral exams. Students earning an MS do not have to demonstrate reading knowledge of a foreign language.

History major (thesis option), 33 hours

1. A graduate major in history consists of 27 hours of graduate work in history (including the required historical bibliography class and at least two research seminars) and a 6-hour thesis. The 27 classroom hours may be selected from any courses offered by the department as long as they include the two seminar and historical bibliography requirements above; the 6-hour thesis may be written on any topic approved by the student’s advisory committee.
2. If a student wishes to have an outside (e.g. minor) field, the student may substitute 6 hours in a related field approved by the student’s major professor and the department chair for 6 hours of graduate course work in history.
3. A candidate for this degree must successfully complete an oral examination on the course work and the thesis.

History major (non-thesis option), 33 hours

Students choosing this option will not be eligible for admission to the History Ph.D program at UNT, as we require a completed MA/MS degree with thesis.

1. A student selecting this option must take any two research seminars in history and the required historical bibliography class. The remaining 24 hours may be all in history or may include a minor up to 6 hours in a related field approved by the department chair.
2. A candidate for this degree must successfully complete an oral examination on the course work.
3. Either version of the MA requires that the student demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language relevant to the student’s major research focus. This is usually accomplished by taking at least 12 undergraduate hours of a foreign language with a 2.7 GPA or passing a proficiency exam administered by the UNT World Languages and Literature department or similar accredited program. This requirement must be met before defending the thesis or sitting for oral exams.