¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

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To view the current Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar.html.

| ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar | Fall 2024

History

Master of Arts

The Department of History offers graduate research leading to a master of arts (MA) degree. The major study areas are the Americas, Asia, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the university admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar. Normally, an undergraduate 3.33 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is required in history or its equivalent over the last two years of the undergraduate program. A degree in a discipline related to history may be accepted in exceptional cases.

Program Requirements

Students must complete

HIST 814 - Historical Methods (5)

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Joseph Taylor
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Wed, 1:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HIST 815 - Professional Development Workshop (5)

Students will be provided with support towards professional development, networking and research interests. Includes topics on research skill development, grant writing, academic and public dissemination of work, practical tips for career advancement and presentations of works in progress. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Paul Sedra
TBD

and one of two options

Thesis Option

Three other graduate courses for a minimum of 13 units*

and a thesis

HIST 898 - MA Thesis (18)

Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
TBD
TBD

The thesis should be between 15,000 and 21,000 words, including footnotes (excluding bibliography). A shorter or longer thesis may be submitted with the graduate chair's approval prior to scheduling the defence.

Course Intensive Option

HIST 800 - Field Directed Essay or Project (5)

Students will be required to pass an oral examination of an article length essay (8,000) or project on their major field under the supervision of a faculty member of the department. For details on the format of the examination, students should consult the History website. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: 23 units of graduate coursework.

and six other graduate courses for a minimum of 26 units*

* Students may choose graduate courses in another ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV department, or from another university that is part of the Western Dean's Agreement. Supervisory committee and departmental graduate program committee approval is required.

Accelerated Master's

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV students accepted in the accelerated master’s within the Department of History may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor’s degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor’s program and the requirements of the master’s degree. For more information go to: /gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in four to six terms.

Language Requirements

Supervisors will determine with their students whether reading ability in a language or languages other than English are necessary for the completion of the MA thesis option. Supervisors will submit their recommendation in writing to the GPC for approval by the end of the first term. Reading ability will be evaluated by a time-limited examination consisting of the translation of a passage in the particular language with the aid of a dictionary, or the successful completion of a language training course approved by the supervisor. A student who fails the time-limited examination may retake the test at the discretion of the supervisor. Supervisors will be responsible for determining whether the student has met the language requirements and for so informing the GPC.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.