The Department of History offers an M.A. program in World History that introduces students to the methods and approaches used by historians to study global and transnational phenomena. It also engages students in comparative and thematic work exploring the history of at least two world regions. Students must undertake study of two regions of the world, one of which will be designated the major field and one as the minor. The available regions are Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and North America. Students must elect at least one field outside of Europe and North America.
Students in the World History M.A. program complete 32 points of course work. The core curriculum depends upon the student choice of writing either a master’s essay or a master’s thesis in fulfillment of the capstone requirement. The following courses are required regardless of option: the M.A. Proseminar, HIST-GA 2022, Methods and Approaches to World History, HIST-GA 2168, three courses in the major field of study (12 points), two courses in the minor field of study (8 points), and one course covering comparative or transnational themes (4 points). If the master’s essay is chosen, it should address some of the thematic or comparative questions encountered in the core courses, must receive a grade of A- or higher. If the thesis option is chosen, students must also register for HIST-GA 3019, Master’s Thesis, during which they will produce an original piece of historical scholarship that builds a strong and compelling argument based on a comprehensive knowledge of the appropriate primary and secondary sources.
The thesis option provides an opportunity for students in New York University’s M.A.in World History program to build their skills as historians while engaging in rigorous independent scholarship under the mentorship of a member of the Department of History. The goal in writing the M.A. thesis is to produce a polished article-length work with the potential for publication.
Students must also demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language that has direct relevance to their area of study. The choice of language must be approved by the student’s advisor. Students may satisfy proficiency by either passing the proficiency examination in the language given by the Graduate School of Arts and Science or by having earned a grade of B+ or better in an intermediate or advanced language course in a college or university no more than two years prior to enrollment. Exceptions may be made, by which a student’s adviser may specify some other procedure to demonstrate sufficient competence.