University of Texas at El Paso Academic Catalog

Academic Catalog

M.A. in History

Admission Requirements 

  1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or proof of equivalent education in a foreign institution
  2. Satisfactory subject preparation and grade point average (GPA)
  3. A two- to three-page statement of purpose
  4. Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the student’s academic abilities
  5. Applicants whose degrees are from non-English speaking institutions are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please consult the Graduate School website for required scores.
  6.  An academic writing sample, approximately 10 pages in length

Degree Plan

There are two concentrations for students interested in an MA in History, the Standard Concentration and the Borderlands Concentration. In both cases, a student can choose the Thesis option (36 hours), Comprehensive Exam option (36 hours), or Public History Project option (36 hours). Under the thesis option, students will register for one thesis writing course, HIST 5398, to expand a previously written research paper and complete the thesis. Under the comprehensive exam option, students will register for HIST 5393 to complete readings and sit for a comprehensive exam in their final semester. Under the public history option, students will register for HIST 5393 to undertake independent research related to their public history projects. Spanish language competency is also required for the Borderlands Concentration: students must complete fourth semester Spanish with a grade of B or better, or successfully complete an approved Spanish language competency examination.  In addition, the department offers a Graduate Certificate in Public and Oral History (12 hours) and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching History (18 hours).

M.A. in History, Standard Concentration, Thesis Option

Required Credits: 36 credit hours

All courses require a grade of C or betterThesis Option
HIST 5303Intro to Grad History3
Research Seminars:
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Studies Courses:
Select 4 courses from the following:12
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Literature & Methodology
Select 1 course from the following:3
Lit./Method. Borderlands Hist.
Lit/Meth Mex/L. Amer. History
Lit/Method. of U.S. History
Lit/Method of Transn/Wrld Hist
Other Electives:
Select 3 courses from the following:9
Intro to Public History
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Independent Reading
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Public History Internship
Problems in Historical Resrch
Thesis
HIST 5398Thesis3
Total Hours36

M.A. in History, Standard Concentration, Comprehensive Exam Option

Required Credits: 36 credit hours

All courses require a grade of C or betterExam Option
HIST 5303Intro to Grad History3
Research Seminars:
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Studies Courses:
Select 4 courses from the following:12
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Literature & Methodology
Select 1 course from the following:3
Lit./Method. Borderlands Hist.
Lit/Meth Mex/L. Amer. History
Lit/Method. of U.S. History
Lit/Method of Transn/Wrld Hist
Other Electives:
Select 3 courses from the following:9
Intro to Public History
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Independent Reading
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Public History Internship
Problems in Historical Resrch
Thesis
HIST 5393Independent Research3
Total Hours36

M.A. in History, Standard Concentration, Public History Option

Required Credits: 36 credit hours

All courses require a grade of C or betterPublic Hist
HIST 5302Intro to Public History3
HIST 5303Intro to Grad History3
HIST 5304Studies in Public History3
Research Seminars:
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Studies Courses:
Select 4 courses from the following:12
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Other Electives:
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Independent Reading
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Public History Internship
Problems in Historical Resrch
Revised Paper
HIST 5393Independent Research3
Total Hours36

M.A. in History, Borderlands Concentration, Thesis Option

Required Credits: 36 credit hours

All courses require a grade of C or betterThesis Option
HIST 5303Intro to Grad History3
Research Seminars: at least two must focus on Borderlands History
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Studies Courses: at least two must focus on Borderlands History
Select 4 courses from the following:12
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Lit./Method Bordlands History
Lit/Meth Mex/L. Amer. History
Literature & Methodology
HIST 5351Lit./Method. Borderlands Hist.3
Other Electives:
Select 3 courses from the following:9
Intro to Public History
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Independent Reading
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Public History Internship
Problems in Historical Resrch
Thesis
HIST 5398Thesis3
Total Hours36

M.A. in History,  Borderlands Concentration, Comprehensive Exam Option

Required Credits: 36 credit hours

All courses require a grade of C or betterExam Option
HIST 5303Intro to Grad History3
Research Seminars: at least two must focus on Borderlands History
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Studies Courses: at least two must focus on Borderlands History
Select 4 courses from the following:12
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Lit/Meth Mex/L. Amer. History
Literature & Methodology
HIST 5351Lit./Method. Borderlands Hist.3
Other Electives:
Select 3 courses from the following:9
Intro to Public History
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Independent Reading
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Public History Internship
Problems in Historical Resrch
Comprehensive Exam
HIST 5393Independent Research3
Total Hours36

M.A. in History, Borderlands Concentration, Public History Option

Required Credits: 36 credit hours

All courses require a grade of C or betterPublic Hist
HIST 5302Intro to Public History3
HIST 5303Intro to Grad History3
HIST 5304Studies in Public History3
Research Seminars: at least two must focus on Borderlands History
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Studies Courses: at least two must focus on Borderlands History
Select 4 courses from the following:12
Studies in Public History
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Lit./Method. Borderlands Hist.
Other Electives:
Select 2 courses from the following:6
Studies in United States Hist
Studies in World History
Studies in Latin American Hist
Studies in Borderlands History
Studies in European History
Independent Reading
Seminar-United States History
Seminar in Borderlands History
Seminar in World History
Seminar-Latin American History
Seminar: European History
Public History Internship
Problems in Historical Resrch
Public History Project
HIST 5393Independent Research3
Total Hours36