丁香园AV

Department of History | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
丁香园AV Calendar 2013 Summer

The Department of History offers graduate research leading to a master of arts (MA) degree.

The major study areas are Canada, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa. Only those who wish to specialize in one of the specific fields covered by the list of MA courses will be considered.

The department reserves the right to accept candidates only when a qualified supervisor is available and the University resources (including library facilities) are deemed adequate for the stated research priority.

Program of Study

Upon graduate program admission, students are assigned a provisional supervisor. See 1.6.4 Supervisory Committee in the graduate general regulations. Students and supervisors should consult with each other in the first term about the composition of the supervisory committee, which consists of the supervisor and usually one other member of the history department.

The supervisory committee should be formalized as soon as possible after the student's entry into the program. Students should consult with their supervisors regarding course selection.

In most circumstances, students will complete course work in 12 months. In the fall term, HIST 814 and one optional course is completed. In the spring term, students complete HIST 815 and two optional courses. Of the three optional courses, at least one must be from area two (regional courses) and one from area three (thematic/comparative courses), and students are expected to enrol in at least two seminars. For a list of courses in each area, visit http://www.sfu.ca/history/graduate.htm

The course HIST 815 helps students prepare to research and write their theses. Students receive a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade for this course. At the conclusion of the workshop, students defend their prospectuses to their committees in a formal setting.

When students have completed the course work, they write their language exam, and research and write their theses. Language exams are expected to be written by the end of the third term. Students enrol in HIST 898 while researching and writing their theses. During these terms, students will be expected to participate in monthly candidate seminars where portions of their own work-in-progress is presented at least once per term.

Program Requirements

Students complete 25 units including HIST 814 Historical Methods (5) and HIST 815 Prospectus Workshop (5), defend their thesis prospectus, and write a thesis of between 15,000 and 21,000 words, including footnotes (excluding bibliography). Shorter or longer thesis may be submitted only with the graduate chair's prior approval. If a thesis will exceed the word limit, the graduate chair must give formal approval prior to scheduling the defence.

Students enroled in HIST 898 MA Thesis (6) will participate in the monthly candidate seminars conducted by the graduate chair. Students are required to present portions of their own work at least once per term.

Language Requirements

Students must demonstrate a reading ability in a language other than English that is acceptable to their supervisory committee. Students proposing to study Canadian history must demonstrate an ability to read French. Ability is determined by a time limited examination consisting of the translation of a passage of history in the particular language. A dictionary is permitted.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.

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