Non-Thesis Option
Students who choose the non-thesis option will complete six hours of HI 640, Directed Research and Study, and a comprehensive exam (HI 698).
To register for HI 640, you must first contact a faculty member who is willing to offer you the class in which you engage in independent research directed by a faculty member and produce a major writing project. Generally, you would make this request of a faculty member with whom you have already taken coursework, but that is not a requirement. You should do this sooner, rather than later. To register, you must email the Graduate Coordinator, the supervising instructor, and the Senior Administrative Assistant to request to be enrolled in HI 640. When registration closes, we are unable to register you for the course, and we cannot make exceptions as this is a University policy, not a departmental policy. You should not expect to take HI 640 in the summer as faculty are not always available. Some exceptions can be made, but there is no guarantee of that.
As you approach graduation, generally in your last semester, you should schedule your comprehensive exam. To register, you must email the Graduate Coordinator and the Senior Administrative Assistant to request to be enrolled in HI 698 Comprehensive Examination. When registration closes, we are unable to register you for the comprehensive exam and that WILL delay your graduation. You should not expect to complete your comprehensive examination in the summer as faculty are not generally available. Some exceptions can be made, but there is no guarantee of that.
Completion of HI 698 (Comprehensive Exam):
It is the student’s responsibility to contact three faculty members with whom the student has taken graduate coursework. Once the three faculty members have agreed to serve, contact the Graduate Coordinator with a list of the faculty who comprise your examination committee. You will also need to complete the Comprehensive Exam Form & return it to the Graduate Coordinator.
The Graduate Coordinator will ask each faculty member to submit one written question to be included on the exam.
The Graduate Coordinator will email you about scheduling the exam. The comprehensive exam is given online through Canvas. The student will have 48 hours (2 days) to complete the comprehensive exam.
EVALUATION
The Graduate Coordinator will post the three comprehensive exam questions in Canvas under “HI 698.” The student is required to upload their response to each of the three questions. The following guidelines will be used:
1. The comprehensive exam will cover general historical knowledge related to each of the three subject areas.
2. The comprehensive exam will include 3 subject areas (based on previous courses the student has taken with the faculty examiner).
3. The student will be given (through Canvas) all 3 exam questions at the start of the exam period.
4. The exam will take place over a 48-hour (2 day) period.
5. Each subject area response should be 5-7 pages, double-spaced, in length.
6. Faculty will grade comprehensive exams using the following Rubric: (a) Thesis statement (responses should include a main argument/thesis statement; (b) Organization of response (responses should be well organized); (c) Original Historical Analysis (responses should reflect the student’s historical analysis; (d) Content Knowledge & Understanding; (e) Use of Historical Texts (students are expected to use & cite historical texts in their responses); (f) Mechanics (response uses correct grammar & is well written).
7. The student is required to pass all 3 subject areas; if the student fails a subject area, the student may retake the failed section of the exam one time.
The Graduate Coordinator will add each faculty examiner to HI 698 as a “Teacher” so each faculty member has access to the student’s online responses.
Each faculty examiner will determine whether the student has satisfactorily responded to their question & will communicate their evaluation to the Graduate Coordinator. The student must satisfactorily answer all three questions to pass the comprehensive exam. The Graduate Coordinator will post a grade of “S” (Satisfactory) or “U” (Unsatisfactory) for HI 698 with the Registrar & will record the grade in the student’s “Program of Study.”