History & Geography

Why consider graduate studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

While many graduate degrees in history traditionally lead to positions in higher education, the successful completion of a graduate degree in history is excellent preparation for entering a variety of fields — archival and museum work, government policy and research positions, historical publishing as well as careers in both public office and private business. Although students can obtain graduate degrees at many other institutions, the Department of History and Geography at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers opportunities and special fields of study not necessarily available at other institutions. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers specializations in Public History as well as European, Latin American, and United States history. We invite you to peruse our history faculty pages to learn more about the diverse interests, projects, and fields of study in which our faculty specialize.

Who can I contact to discuss my specific fields of interest and the possibility of graduate studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

Our Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, will be the most helpful person to contact regarding the possibility of graduate studies in history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Certainly, Dr. Farmer-Kaiser can suggest a specific faculty member who might share your interests and be willing to supervise your graduate studies here. She can also direct you to current graduate students to give you the student perspective. Additionally, if interested in pursuing a degree in public history, Dr. Robert Carriker, Director of the Public History Program, and Department Head, will be of assistance. Finally, the history faculty pages also will direct you to faculty members who might share your research interests.

What are the entrance requirements?

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Graduate School maintains a complete list of requirements necessary for admission to UL-Lafayette as a graduate student, and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with those requirements in general. To gain admission to the M.A. program in history, applicants must possess an acceptable undergraduate grade point average as well as have achieved an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Exam. As part of the application process, applicants to our program must submit:

Official transcript(s). Completion of 21 hours of history courses as an undergraduate is required for admission to the program.

Official scores for the GRE.

Letters of recommendation from three individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic work or other experience relevant to historical training.

A writing sample reflective of academic study. Most applicants submit a research paper of 8-12 pages in length.

A short statement of purpose that describes the applicant’s research interests and career plans.

What are the application deadlines?

Students should follow the deadlines provided by the Graduate School.

How do I apply?

There are a variety of ways you can apply for admission for graduate studies in history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. You may request an application packet by writing us at:

Department of History and Geography

554 Griffin Hall

P.O. Box 42531

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA 70504-2531

Or you may request an application packet by calling us at 337-482-6900 or emailing Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, the Graduate Coordinator, at Kaiser@louisiana.edu.

What about financial assistance and assistantships?

The Department of History offers Graduate Teaching Assistantships to qualified students on a competitive basis. Stipends are approximately $5500 for the academic year. Graduate Teaching Assistants also receive a tuition waiver. The Department of History also encourages prospective graduate students to contact the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s financial aid office both to apply for financial assistance and to learn about funding opportunities outside of the department.

What options are available for graduate studies in history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

Master of Arts / Thesis Option: The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate courses, with at least 18 hours in courses numbered above 500. At least 24 of the 30 hours must be taken in graduate history courses including History 590, Historiography; History 505, Research Writing Seminar; 9 hours in the student’s major field and 6 hours in the student’s minor field; and History 599, Thesis.

Master of Arts / Non-Thesis Option: The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate courses, with at least 15 hours in courses numbered above 500. At least 27 of the 33 must be taken in graduate courses in history including History 590, History 505, 12 hours in the student’s major field and 6 hours in the student’s minor field.

Public History Thesis Option - 36 hours.

Public History Non-Thesis Option - 36 hours.

How can I arrange to visit the Department of History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

We encourage any perspective graduate student to visit us and meet with faculty and graduate students before coming to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. A visit may be arranged by contacting the Graduate Coordinator or the department’s main office at 337-482-6900.

What courses are available to graduate students in history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

Graduate Courses

420(G). EUROPEAN HISTORY SEMINAR. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

430(G). AMERICAN HISTORY SEMINAR. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

440(G). LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY SEMINAR. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

451(G). APPLIED PUBLIC HISTORY SEMINAR. (1-3). Systematic examination of archival administration, museum management, historical editing, oral history, historic site management and preservation, and other areas. Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

461(G). APPLIED PUBLIC HISTORY INTERNSHIP. (1-6). Professional on-site work experience tailored to student’s career orientation. Students may be required to reside off-campus. Grading Option: S/U.

471(G). ISSUES AND THEMES 1,11. (3, 0, 3 ea.). Examines one issue or theme to be announced each semester. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit

497(G)-498(G). SPECIAL PROJECTS. (1-3). Individual research or writing projects. Restr: Permission of department head and instructor required.

505. RESEARCH WRITING SEMINAR. (3).

511. EUROPEAN HISTORY SEMINAR. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

515. EUROPEAN HISTORY STUDIES. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

525. AMERICAN HISTORY STUDIES. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

535. HISTORICAL STUDIES. (3, 0, 3). African Asian, or Latin American fields. Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

545. APPLIED PUBLIC HISTORY STUDIES. (3, 0, 3). Includes use of archives and museums, application of archaeology and geography, historical editing and publishing, family and community history, material culture, and site interpretation, preservation and management. Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

551. LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY SEMINAR. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

561. AMERICAN HISTORY SEMINAR. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 hours credit. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

570. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN AFFAIRS SEMINAR.(3, 0, 3). Topics include the impact of telecommunications, medicine, transportation, manufacturing, and computers. Content varies. Alternate subtitles will appear on students’ transcripts.

590. HISTORIOGRAPHY. (3). Seminar in the analysis of works of important historians from Herodotus to the present: consideration of schools, theories, philosophies, and functions of history.

597. DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL STUDY IN HISTORY. (3). Students pursue in depth advanced projects on the graduate level. Prereq: Approval of department head and instructors.