Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

General Information

[See also IU School of Liberal Arts Graduate Bulletin]

Course Loads

The normal course load each semester for full-time students is a minimum of eight (8) credit hours. Part-time students take only one or two courses a semester. The minimum full-time equivalency for students holding an assistantship or internship is six (6) credit hours per semester.

Course Offerings

The required courses, History H500 (The History of Historical Thought) or H501 (Historical Methodology), and other 500-, 600-, and 700-level seminar-style courses required of students whose areas of specialization are U.S., European, and Public History, will be offered during Fall and Spring semesters, whenever possible during week-day late afternoons or evenings for the convenience of part-time students. Likewise, every effort will be made to offer a selection of lecture courses for graduate credit in the evening as well as during the day.

Time Limit for Degree

Students must complete all requirements for the M.A. degree within five (5) years. Extension of the five-year time limit is covered in the IU Graduate School Bulletin. Transfer credit also falls within this five-year limit. Any courses that have been taken more than five (5) years before the degree is completed must be revalidated if these courses are to count toward the M.A.

Revalidation of Courses

If it becomes necessary for a student to revalidate course work, the departmental Director of Graduate Studies will arrange for an oral examination to be conducted prior to (and generally immediately preceding) the thesis defense. Whenever possible, current and/or former instructors of the course(s) in question will provide the student with a list of suggested readings in advance and will participate in the examination. The Director of Graduate Studies will inform the Graduate School of the results of the examination (when appropriate, via a memo attached to the "Recommendation for Advanced Degree" form).

Transfer Credits

A maximum of eight (8) credits taken for graduate credit at other institutions may be counted toward the M.A. in history. Such transfer credits must be in graduate-level courses for which a grade of B (not B-) or better has been earned. The transfer of graduate credits is not automatic and must be approved in writing by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School. No such approval shall be sought until the student has satisfactorily completed three graduate courses in the history department.

Course Work on Other IU Campuses

Graduate courses that are taken at Indiana University campuses other than IU-Indianapolis may count toward the M.A. in history. Any courses taken at other IU campuses must be preapproved in writing by the Director of Graduate Studies if these courses are to count toward the M.A. in history. Correspondence courses from IU or elsewhere shall not count toward the M.A. Course credits earned at other IU campuses may be in addition to the maximum of eight (8)transfer credits from institutions outside the IU system.

Students may take courses previously approved for graduate credit from departments on other Indiana University campuses that do not have a graduate program if the following conditions are met: a) the student has been admitted to the IU-Indianapolis degree program; b) the course is taught by a full or associate member of the University’s graduate faculty; and c) the Director of Graduate Studies (in consultation with departmental colleagues when appropriate) judges that the course requirements are adequate for graduate credit. In addition to syllabi, students may be asked to submit evaluative work such as exams or term papers. {Reference: Minutes of Graduate Council meetings, Dec. 16, 1996, Feb. 17, 1997.}

Student’s Graduate Committee

Before the completion of fifteen (15) graduate credits, each student must select a graduate committee composed of a thesis director, who must be a member of the history graduate faculty, and at least two other faculty members. The thesis director will chair the student’s graduate committee and direct the thesis or Public History paper. When appropriate, a member of another department or a public historian not on the IU-Indianapolis faculty may be a member of the committee. The student shall see that the departmental form designating the thesis director and committee members is signed by the thesis director and returned to the Director of Graduate Studies to be placed with the student’s records.

The student’s graduate committee shall conduct the oral examination required of each student upon completion of the thesis. The members of the committee will sign the thesis and inform the Director of Graduate Studies of the completion of this requirement. The thesis director will be listed as the instructor for the student enrolled in History H898, M.A. Thesis and will determine the student’s grade for these credits.

The student’s graduate committee reserves the right to require a student to take a comprehensive written or oral examination before satisfying the requirements for the M.A. degree in history. Whenever administered, such an examination will be conducted under the direction of the student’s graduate committee.

Registration for Classes

Prior to registration students should make an appointment to meet with the graduate director or their advisor concerning their course work for the next session. Faculty members may not be available for counseling on a regular basis from the week of final exams in May until shortly before registration begins in August. Students should plan ahead and make appointments in advance.

IUPUI Graduate Studies Office

The IUPUI Graduate Studies Office, Union Building, UN-207, (317) 274-1577, gradoff@iupui.edu, handles matters on the Indianapolis campus for the IU Graduate School. These include: inter-campus transfer forms (required to enroll on another IU campus), details concerning the preparation of the thesis or public history paper, and application for graduation (an application for the degree must be filed at least 60 days before the date anticipated for conferral of the degree).