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Programs of Study, 1997-1999
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
HISTORY
Chair of the Department: Charles C. Stewart
Director of Graduate Studies: Nils Jacobsen
Correspondence and Information: Department of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 309 Gregory Hall, 810 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 244-2591. E-mail: judyp@uiuc.edu URL: http://www.spcomm.uiuc.edu/history/index.htm
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: J. D. Anderson, W. L. Arnstein, J. R. Barrett, J. Buckler, R. W. Burkhardt, Jr., O. V. Burton, S. P. Cohen, D. E. Crummey, P. B. Ebrey, P. Fritzsche, K. A. Hitchins, F. C. Jaher, R. W. Johannsen, R. A. Jones, B. B. Kling, D. Littlefield, D. P. Koenker, J. L. Love, J. A. Lynn, R. M. McColley, J. P. McKay, R. E. Mitchell, G. G. Porton, P. W. Schroeder, C. C. Stewart, R. P. Toby, J. E. K. Walker, W. C. Widenor, P.T. Zeleza
Associate Professors: W. Chow, K. Cuno, J. Haboush, C. M. Hibbard, L. Hoddeson, N. Jacobsen, M. H. Leff, H. Liebersohn, M. McLaughlin, E. M. Melhado, S. Michel, E. Pleck, D. Prochaska, J. H. Pruett, B. Uroff
Assistant Professors: C.H. Crowston, M. Garcia, K. Doak, K. Oberdeck, C. Radding, L. Reagan, D. Schneider, M.D. Steinberg,
GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
The Department of History offers graduate courses leading to the master of arts and the doctor of philosophy degrees, complete details of which may be found in the department's brochure on graduate study in history. The master of arts degree may be either the first stage in preparation for the degree of doctor of philosophy or a terminal degree.
Approved areas of specialization are ancient Greece; ancient Rome; Middle Ages; Renaissance and Reformation; Europe and dependencies, 1648-1815; Europe and dependencies since 1789; Russia; Eastern or Southeastern Europe; British Isles to 1688; England and the Empire-Commonwealth since 1688; Near East and Middle East; Africa; China; Japan; South Asia; Colonial North America and Early United States to 1830; United States since 1815; Latin America; history of science; international relations since 1871; military history; African-American history; history of medicine; and history of women. Topical fields may also be arranged with the consent of the graduate advisers.
ADMISSION
For the M.A. program: a grade-point average of 3.25 (A = 4.0) during the last two years of undergraduate work, a reasonable amount of course work in history, and Graduate Record Examination scores (verbal, analytical, and quantitative mandatory; history optional). For the Ph.D. program: a grade-point average of 3.5 for previous graduate-level work and Graduate Record Examination scores (as above). Undergraduate language preparation may be weighted heavily, depending upon the field of specialization. Foreign students whose native language is not English need a TOEFL score of at least 600.
MASTER OF ARTS
Candidates are expected to take at least two units in each of two of the fields of specialization listed above. A minimum of eight units is required, 4 of which must be at the 400 level (excluding History 498). At least one research seminar with a grade of B or better must be included. Students may elect to write a master's thesis, but the thesis does not replace the seminar requirement and may carry no more than two units of credit. A candidate must demonstrate ability to read one foreign language related to his or her field of interest as approved by the graduate advisers.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
A candidate for the Ph.D. degree needs a minimum of 24 units (including those offered for the M.A. degree), of which eight may be for thesis research (History 499). For students who enter the graduate program without an M.A. in history, these must include three research seminars, History 496, either History 490 or History 491, and three additional courses at the 400 level (not including History 499). For students entering the graduate program with an M.A. in history, these must include two research seminars, History 496, either History 490 or History 491, and two additional courses at the 400 level (not including History 499). History 498, while required for students serving as teaching assistants, cannot be counted toward fulfilling these requirements. A candidate must demonstrate ability to read two foreign languages related to his or her field of interest, as approved by the graduate advisers. In certain circumstances, a student in American or British history may substitute courses in quantitative skills for the second language. For the preliminary examination, the candidate customarily offers three fields in history, of which one must involve a period of time before 1815. At least two geographical areas must also be represented by the fields offered for the examination. One of the three fields, however, may be in a specialization outside the Department of History or may be a field of history specially designed by the candidate in consultation with the major adviser (e.g., United States intellectual or European economic history). To fulfill the minimum requirement of 24 units, four units in disciplines other than history may be applied.
CONCENTRATION IN THE AREA OF AMERICAN CIVILIZATION
The Department of History administers an interdisciplinary doctoral program in American civilization. Students are required to take, among their 16 units before preliminary examinations, at least four units in American history, three in literary studies, and three in either the social sciences or the history of art. Course work may be arranged to allow specialization in such interdisciplinary fields as popular culture, urban studies, regional studies, folklore, film, women's studies, and minority cultures. Students may earn a master's degree in American civilization by taking eight units, including three in history, two in literature, and two in either the fine arts or the social sciences. At least four of these units must be at the 400 level, and one should represent an interdisciplinary research project. Students apply for admission and financial aid through the Department of History.
CONCENTRATION IN THE AREA OF HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND SOCIOLOGY OF SCIENCE
The Departments of History, Philosophy, and Sociology jointly offer-for work toward the M.A. and the Ph.D. degrees-a special area of concentration in history, philosophy, and sociology of science. Students interested in this program enroll in and receive their degrees from either the history, the philosophy, or the sociology department, depending on the focus of their interests. Undergraduate background requirements for admission to the program are flexible; although an undergraduate concentration in either history, philosophy, or sociology is usually desirable, so also is a strong background in science, and students with such backgrounds, but only weak training in history, philosophy, or sociology will be considered for admission. The admission procedure is the same as that stated for each of the three departments, as is the information to be submitted with each application for admission. For students in this special concentration, the normal departmental requirements for the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees are modified. Further information is available from the Department of History.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is almost always awarded on an academic-year basis. Applications are due in the department office by February 1. All fellowships and assistantships involve a stipend plus tuition and service fee waiver.
FELLOWSHIPS
Available fellowships include University fellowships for entering M.A. students and for Ph.D. students at the dissertation-writing stage; Babcock, Crawford, and Krueger Fellowships for dissertation-level students; Foreign Language and Area Studies (NDEA VI) Fellowships for those who have special interests in foreign area studies; and Graduate College fellowships for beginning students who have disadvantaged backgrounds.
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
Half-time teaching assistantships are the department's primary form of financial aid to graduate students admitted to the Ph.D. program. Students who progress satisfactorily toward their degrees and demonstrate effective teaching will have their teaching assistantships renewed for a second and, in some cases, a third year.
TUITION AND SERVICE FEE WAIVERS
A limited number of tuition and service fee waivers are available each year both to entering and continuing students at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels.
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