Graduate Program Degrees

The University of Texas' graduate program in history is designed primarily for students seeking to pursue the doctorate; only in exceptional circumstances do we admit students for the master's as a terminal degree. Most students either enter our program already holding an M.A. from another program or institution or earn an M.A. in our program en route to the Ph.D. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree may also choose to proceed directly to a Ph.D. without taking an M.A.

Full details on requirements and procedures for earning both the M.A. and Ph.D. can be found in the Official Guide to Graduate Study in History (PDF, 123K). More information about graduate examinations is provided in the Guide to Comprehensive Qualifying Examinations (PDF, 160K) document. There are also sample degree plans in PDF format at the bottom of this page.

There are three ways to earn an M.A. in history.
1. Thesis option requires:
– completion of 30 hours of graduate coursework
– master’s thesis (approximately 100 pages in length)
– reading knowledge of one foreign language (U.S. history students excepted)

2. Report option requires:
– completion of 33 hours of graduate coursework
– master’s report, (approximately 50 pages in length)
– reading knowledge of one foreign language (U.S. history students excepted)

3. M.A. as ABD option requires:
– completion of coursework required for the doctoral degree
– admission to candidacy
– approval of dissertation committee

No more than 6 credits earned at another institution may be applied toward a master’s degree.

To earn a Ph.D. in history at the university, a student must complete at least 36 hours of graduate coursework. Specific requirements are laid out in the Official Guide. Students who completed an M.A. at another institution may transfer up to 12 hours of credit, as applicable.

In addition to the required coursework, students earning a Ph.D. must pass a written and oral comprehensive qualifying examination in their major field of study, meet the foreign language requirements set for that field, and complete and defend a dissertation that constitutes a substantial piece of original research.

Sample Degree Plans

• B.A. to Ph.D., bypassing the M.A. (PDF, 36K)
• B.A. to M.A. to Ph.D. (PDF, 36K)
• M.A. to Ph.D. (PDF, 36K)