MA in History

The information found on this web-page is intended to complement rather than substitute information contained in the University Calendar. In the event that there is a discrepancy the University of Alberta Calendar is the final authority.

Entrance Requirements

In addition to general Departmental requirements, applicants should have a BA in History. Applicants with degrees in other fields may be considered on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Director of Graduate Programs in consultation with the Graduate Committee, and may be asked to take a qualifying year.

Program Requirements

The MA in History can be taken as a thesis-based or a course-based program. Both may be subsequently used as a qualification for application to the PhD program. Students must declare at the beginning of their graduate studies which program they intend to follow. Students wishing to change their program category must seek the approval of the Department.

Successful completion of the MA program does not guarantee admission to the doctoral program. Students wishing to go on to a PhD must make a formal application according to standard procedures.

For students specializing in Canadian History, the modern language requirement will normally be French (in appropriate cases, the Department may permit another language to be substituted at the MA level). For all other students, the specific language requirement(s) will be determined in consultation with the student's supervisor.

MA (Thesis-based) in History

Note: the following requirements are for students entering in Fall 2022 and beyond.

For students who entered in Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 see the 2020-21 calendar.

For students who entered before Fall 2020 see the 2019-2020 calendar.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 19 units in coursework and a thesis. Please see the University Calendar for more information.

Required Courses (10 units)

  • HIST 602 (1 units)
  • HIST 700 (3 units)
  • HIST 609 (3 units)
Any one of
  • HIST 603 (3 units)
  • HIST 604 (3 units)
  • HIST 605 (3 units)
  • HIST 606 (3 units)

Elective Courses (9 units)

  • An additional three 3-unit graduate courses. Up to two of these may be graduate classes other than HIST, with approval of Department. No more than one of these may be HIST 699 except with approval of Department.

Thesis

  • Registration in 900-level THES. Students are required to write and orally defend a thesis based on original research. The thesis should normally be not more than 100 pages in length.

Course-Based Program

Students are required to complete a minimum of 25 units including both coursework and a Directed Research Project.

Coursework (19 units)

Please see the University Calendar for more information.

Required Courses (7 units)

  • HIST 602 (1 unit)
  • HIST 700 (3 units)

Any one of

  • HIST 603 (3 units)
  • HIST 604 (3 units)
  • HIST 605 (3 units)
  • HIST 606 (3 units)

Elective Courses (12 units)

  • An additional four 3-unit graduate courses. Up to two of these may be graduate classes other than HIST, with approval of Department. No more than two of these may be HIST 699 except with approval of Department.

Directed Research Project (6 units)

  • Students must successfully complete two consecutive registrations of 3 units in HIST 900, which requires a research paper of 40-50 pages which should reflect a significant use of primary materials and research.

Requirements Common to Both Thesis- and Course-Based

Ethics Requirement
Students must complete INT D 710, a 6-hour, self-paced online course by the end of their first semester in the program.

Professional Development Requirement
Students fulfill four hours of the FGSR Professional Development Requirement through HIST 602. See the Department website for a guideline of Department resources to fulfill the remaining PD hours.

Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate competence in a language other than English according to the procedures specified in the Departmental Language Requirement.

Residence Requirement
The minimum period of residence for both the course-based and thesis-based programs is two four-month terms of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta.

Length of Program
The time required to complete the MA will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of 12 months is normally required.

The maximum time to complete the thesis-based MA program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is four years.

The maximum time to complete the course-based MA program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.