Associate Professor Robert J. Haws, Chair
310 Bishop Hall

Professors Eagles, Jordan, Namorato, E. Payne, Skemp, and Wilson
Associate Professors Esposito, Field, Gispen, Laurenzo, Ownby, J. F. Payne, Sullivan-Gonzalez, and Watt
Assistant Professors Bercaw, Ross, Grayzel, Howard, Neff, and Ward

The History Department offers graduate students the opportunity to work closely with their advisers to pursue varied and flexible programs of study. Students are expected to show dedication and achieve a high level of performance.

Graduate Committee
The various aspects of the graduate programs will be administered by a three-member graduate committee appointed by the department chair.

MASTER OF ARTS

Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting Graduate School requirements, prospective students will normally be expected to have an undergraduate major in history and should show evidence of a strong undergraduate record overall. The Department's graduate committee will decide on admission upon evaluation of the applicant's undergraduate and other academic records, faculty recommendations, aptitude scores of the Graduate Record Examination, and a short written statement of purpose.

Thesis and Nonthesis M.A.
Students have the option of following one of the two paths leading to the M.A. The thesis option requires 24 hours of course work and 6 hours of thesis work. The nonthesis option requires 36 hours of course work.

Course Work
Students should pursue a rationally structured course program, to be designed on an individual basis in close consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee. As part of this program, students must take the Historical Methods course (550), at least three other 500-level courses, and at least one 700-level research seminar. Students may, with the prior approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee, take 3 to 9 hours of graduate credit (500 level or above) outside the History Department.

Foreign Language and Quantitative Skills Requirement
Students who choose the thesis option may be required by the thesis director to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language and/or a quantitative technique.

Examinations
Nonthesis option students must pass an oral examination to be administered by a three-member ad hoc examination committee. This committee will be constituted and convene for the examination upon consultation between the student and the graduate committee.

Students opting for a thesis should by the end of their second semester have selected a faculty member in the department who is willing to direct their thesis. The thesis director in consultation with the student and the graduate committee will select two additional faculty members willing to serve as readers and members of a thesis committee. The thesis director will be the student's primary adviser and liaison with the graduate committee, and together with the other two members of the thesis committee conduct and pass judgment on the final oral examination as well as evaluate the thesis.

Return to Top of Page

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

In addition to the Graduate School requirements for the Ph.D., the doctoral program in history includes the following specific requirements and regulations:

Admission
Admission is limited to those whose scholastic record shows distinct promise of success in graduate study. The M.A. in History or its equivalent is required. At the discretion of the graduate committee, students who have obtained the M.A. in History from The University of Mississippi may be admitted to the Ph.D. program. Holders of an M.A. degree from other institutions must submit the same application materials as described under the heading "Admission Requirements" in the section dealing with the M.A. program.

Advisers
Each graduate student is expected to select an adviser in the intended research area (or area of specialization), who is willing to act in that capacity, not later than the end of the second semester in the program. That adviser will consult with the student on the student's schedule. Students also shall be advised and have their schedules approved by the Department's Graduate Advisory Committee.

Foreign Language Requirement
Students must meet a minimum requirement of proficiency in one foreign language. The requirement may be met by either of the following methods:

1. Attainment of a passing grade of B or better in a fourth-semester (202-level) language course taught at The University of Mississippi. An equivalent course which has been completed within three calendar years prior to enrollment in the graduate program will satisfy this requirement.
2. Attainment of a passing grade on a departmentally administered translation exam or certification from another history department that the student has passed an equivalent translation exam within three calendar years prior to enrollment in the graduate program.
   

In certain fields a second language may be required. Students whose native language is not English are excused from the foreign language requirement.

Admission to Candidacy
An applicant will be admitted to candidacy when the language is satisfied, a minimum of 60 semester hours has been completed (including the program for the master's degree but not including 18 hours of dissertation credit), the written and oral comprehensive examinations on the area of specialization and minor areas have been passed, and the graduate faculty of the department considers that the student is adequately prepared to proceed to the development of a dissertation. A prospectus describing the topic to be researched and the research materials to be used must be approved by the Graduate faculty of the History Department before the title and topic are reported to the Graduate School.

Ph.D. Examination Fields
Students are required to concentrate on one major field and pursue additional work in two minor fields. The five major fields among which students may choose are:

• United States to 1877
• United States since 1877
• Medieval Europe
• Early Modern Europe to 1815
• Modern Europe since 1789

A student choosing a major field in United States history must have at least one minor field outside of United States history, and a student choosing a major field in European history must have a minor field outside of European history.

The minor fields are:

• Any one of the five areas designated as major fields above
• Modern Latin America
• Africa
• Other fields inside or outside the department, to be selected and designed by the student with the approval of the graduate committee.

Course Work
Ph.D. students should pursue a rationally structured course program, to be designed on an individual basis in close consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee. In addition to Graduate School requirements, the following Departmental course requirements must be met. Students who have not previously taken a graduate-level bibliography/methods course must take History 550 as soon as it is offered. Before they may petition to take the comprehensive examination, all Ph.D. students must take at least one 700-level research seminar, at least two 600-level courses, and at least 6 hours of graduate course work in each of their minor fields. Students are strongly urged to take more than the prescribed minimum of course work. Upon consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee, students may take 3 to 12 hours of graduate-level courses related to one or more of their fields outside the department. Up to 12 hours of such outside course work may be taken in one discipline to constitute a minor field outside the department.

Comprehensive Examinations
Ph.D. students are required to take written examinations in each of their two minor fields and a combined written and oral examination in their major field. The written and oral examinations for the minor fields and the major field are to be prepared, conducted, and evaluated by a committee of at least three faculty members in each case. The examination committees are appointed by the Graduate Advisory Committee in consultation with the student and the dissertation director. If one of the minor fields is outside the department, the examination committee in that field is to be composed of two faculty members from the outside department(s) and one faculty member from the History Department. A student who fails a comprehensive examination is allowed to retake the examination one time. Comprehensive examinations will be offered two or three times per year at designated times. These times will be publicized and made available to all graduate students and faculty.

Ph.D. Dissertation
Ph.D. students must select a faculty member in the department who is willing to direct a dissertation in their major field no later than the end of their third semester. The dissertation director in consultation with the student and the Graduate Advisory Committee will select two additional faculty members willing to serve as readers and members of a dissertation committee. The dissertation director will be the student's primary adviser and liaison with the Graduate Advisory Committee, and together with the other two members of the dissertation committee pass judgment on the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination
The final oral examination is directed primarily to the defense of the dissertation.

Return to Top of Page

Course Descriptions

History - HIST

The Department of History will offer 500-level courses for graduate credit at the off-campus centers of The University of Mississippi as scheduling permits. However, students should not expect to be able to take all of their course work at off-campus centers. All 500-level courses in history can only be taken for graduate credit.

505. HISTORIOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION. An examination of the major issues, sources, theories, and interpretations from the exploration and settlement (or invasion) of North America by Europeans through the Reconstruction period in United States History. (3).

506. HISTORIOGRAPHY OF UNITED STATES HISTORY SINCE RECONSTRUCTION. An examination of the major issues, sources, theories and interpretations from the Civil War to the present. (3).

509. HISTORIOGRAPHY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY. An introduction to the research methodology and principles of historiography as applied to specific events and issues in African-American history. The course will focus on how African-American history has been and is being written. Topics include the major historians, philosophies of history, types and uses of evidence and fields in investigation. (3) (May not be used to complete History Department M.A. 500-level historiography requirements.) (3).

550. HISTORICAL METHODS AND PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY. An introduction to advanced historical research tools and methods and an examination of the different varieties of historical interpretation. (3).

551. HISTORIOGRAPHY OF EUROPEAN HISTORY TO 1815. An examination of the major issues, sources, theories and interpretations from late antiquity through the French Revolution. (3).

552. HISTORIOGRAPHY OF EUROPEAN HISTORY SINCE 1789. An examination of the major issues, sources, theories, and interpretations from the French Revolution to the present. (3).

605. READINGS IN UNITED STATES HISTORY THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

606. READINGS IN UNITED STATES HISTORY FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

607. READINGS IN SOUTHERN UNITED STATES HISTORY. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

651. READINGS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY TO 1815. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

652. READINGS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY SINCE 1789. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

653. READINGS IN RUSSIAN HISTORY. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

681. READINGS IN BRITISH HISTORY TO 1815. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

682. READINGS IN BRITISH HISTORY SINCE 1815. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

691. READINGS IN MODERN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY. Selected periods and topics since 1825. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

692. READINGS IN AFRICAN HISTORY. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

693. READINGS IN GENERAL UNITED STATES HISTORY. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

694. READINGS IN GENERAL EUROPEAN HISTORY. Selected periods and topics. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

697. THESIS. (1-12).

698. SPECIAL TOPICS. Prerequisite: consent of adviser and committee. (3).

701. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN UNITED STATES HISTORY THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

702. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN UNITED STATES HISTORY FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

751. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN EUROPEAN HISTORY TO 1815. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

752. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN EUROPEAN HISTORY SINCE 1789. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

781. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN BRITISH HISTORY TO 1815. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

782. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN BRITISH HISTORY SINCE 1815. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

791. RESEARCH SEMINAR IN MODERN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

797. DISSERTATION. (1-18).

Return to Top of Page