In addition to the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:
Master of Arts (thesis-based)
a) A minimum of one year of full-time study at the University of Calgary.
b) Three full-course equivalents (including History 690) in two semesters of course work. Master's students will complete their coursework through regularly offered History seminars.
Areas of faculty research interests include: Canada, Europe, Israel Studies, Latin America, United States, Britain, China, Atlantic History, History of Science, Intellectual History, Military-Diplomatic History, Political History, Popular Culture, Religious History, History of Gender and Sexuality, Social History, and Western Canada/Borderlands/Frontier.
In cooperation with the Department of Philosophy, the History Department offers a Master of Arts degree in the History and Philosophy of Science. Students who choose this specialization are required to take courses in the relevant departments. Candidates enrolled in the Department of History are expected to work with more than one instructor in History.
Students must take one half course seminar in a field unrelated to the student's research interests. In instances where there are no seminars being offered in the student's research field, students may, with permission of the chair of graduate studies, take one 500-level undergraduate seminar but on the understanding that extra course work will be required.
c) A thesis of 80 to 150 pages, including notes, charts, tables and appendices, but excluding bibliography. Students begin thesis preparation as they undertake their course work and may fulfill the requirements for their Master of Arts degree in twelve months.
d) A demonstration of reading knowledge of a second language related to the major field of study prior to the oral thesis defence.
Master of Arts (course-based)
There is no full-time requirement for this program.
a) A minimum of six full-course equivalents; two may be senior undergraduate courses at the 500 level (but on the understanding that extra course work will be required), two must be graduate seminars and at least two are to be graduate seminars in a secondary field.
b) Completion of History 690 in the first year and History 651 and 653 in the final year of program.
c) A 50–60 page research paper prepared in the final year and defended in an oral examination.
d) A demonstration of reading knowledge of a second language related to the major field of study before the oral examination.
e) Completion of at least one half course per semester.
Doctor of Philosophy
a) A minimum of two years of full-time study at the University of Calgary.
b) Three full-course equivalents at the graduate level, including courses in the primary, secondary and cognate areas. Doctoral students are required to complete 2.5 FCE in History coursework at the graduate level, of which at least 1 FCE must be completed in the primary area and one half course in the secondary area. Doctoral students must also complete one half course outside of History in a cognate area. The areas will be defined in detail by the supervisor and the student in consultation with the Supervisory Committee and must be approved by the Department Graduate Studies Committee. During the candidacy examination, the student will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the primary and secondary areas as well as his or her particular field of research. The secondary area will be selected from an area of history outside of the primary area. The cognate course will consist of a non-history discipline or thematic history subject. The length of the reading list will be 100-150 titles for the primary area (with the understanding that three articles or stand alone chapters in essay anthologies is the equivalent of one book), and 50-75 titles for the secondary area. The availability of secondary areas and cognate/thematic courses will depend on faculty members' expertise. Each of a student's areas must be taught by a different faculty member or as defined by the committee.
Primary Areas: Canada; History of Science, Latin America; Medieval and Early Modern Europe; Military/Diplomatic; Modern Europe and Britain; United States; World.
Secondary Areas (to be chosen from outside of Primary Area): Canada; History of Science; Latin America; Medieval and Early Modern Europe; Military/Diplomatic; Modern Europe and Britain; United States; World.
Cognate Course: Students will complete one half course of graduate-level coursework in an area outside of History. A student's cognate course will be determined in consultation with the supervisor.
c) A thesis normally of 400 pages, including notes, charts and tables, but excluding bibliography and appendices.
d) A demonstration of reading knowledge of a second language relevant to the student's research prior to the candidacy examination.
e) Written and oral candidacy examinations in primary and secondary areas. The Supervisory Committee consists of the primary and secondary area supervisors with the third member being a faculty member whose area of expertise is in the field of study for the student. The History Department urges candidates to take candidacy examinations within 16 months of first registration. Examinations must be completed within 20 months of first registration.
The doctoral program consists of two terms of coursework relevant to the primary and secondary areas, and cognate course. During the third and fourth terms, students read for the candidacy examinations. Four to five terms of thesis preparation will normally follow. Students who have not taken History 690 or its equivalent will be required to take it as part of their program in the first year and in addition to the requirements above.
Copyediting
The graduate program in the Department of History does not permit the use of third-party editors in the preparation of papers and theses.