George Mason University 2000-2001 Catalog

Catalog Index
Course Descriptions

Search the 2000-2001 Catalog:

History and Art History

History Faculty

Professors: Bakhash (Robinson Professor), J.R. Censer (chair), L. Levine, Rosenzweig (CAS Distinguished Scholar), Wade, Wilkins (Robinson Professor), Zagarri

Associate professors: J.T. Censer, Copelman, Deshmukh, Harsh, Henriques, Holt, Jensen, Lytton, O'Malley, J. Stewart

Assistant professors: Carton, Cheng, Cohen, Hamdani, Hawkes, Karush, Meyer-Fong, Miller, Platt, Smith

Visiting assistant professors: Herman, Orens

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated HIST and ARTH in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

History, B.A.

In addition to the general requirements for the B.A., candidates must complete 36 credits of history, with at least 21 credits at the 300 and 400 levels. Additional credits of history in excess of 36 may be presented as elective credits to be counted toward graduation. No more than six credits with a grade of D may be used for the major. The 36 credits are distributed as follows:

  1. Six credits of U.S. history
  2. Six credits of European history (may include Russian history)
  3. Six credits of global, Latin American, African, Asian, or Middle Eastern history
  4. Three credits of HIST 300 Introduction to Historical Method, with a minimum grade of C or better
  5. Three credits of HIST 499 Senior Seminar in History
  6. Twelve credits of history electives (at the 300 and/or 400 levels if necessary to complete the 21-credit, upper-division history requirement)
HIST 300 and 499 may not be used to satisfy requirements one through three.

Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in history may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing HIST 300 and 499.

Honors Program in History

History majors who have completed 75 credits (a minimum of 15 in history, 6 of which must have been taken at George Mason) with a 3.500 overall GPA and a 3.500 GPA in history are eligible to apply to the history honors program. Candidates must have completed or be enrolled in HIST 300 at the time of application. The statement of application should include two George Mason history faculty members as references. If a major part of the student's work includes transfer credit, transcripts may be required. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements may be accepted into the program.

To graduate with honors in history, students must complete HIST 490 and 491, which are linked, individualized courses normally given by the same instructor. Students must have completed at least one course in the field (or with the professor) chosen for these honors courses. HIST 490 should normally be taken before 491, though they may be taken concurrently. Either may be taken concurrently with HIST 499 Senior Seminar. These six credits must be passed with a minimum 3.500 GPA, and the overall history GPA presented for graduation must be a minimum of 3.500. These six credits may be counted toward the 36-credit major requirement in history, but they do not replace HIST 499.

Minor in History

A minor in history requires 18 credits in history, including 12 credits at the 300 and 400 levels and 9 credits concentrated in a region or topic related, if possible, to the student's major. The program must be approved by the undergraduate coordinator before graduation. A GPA in history courses of at least 2.000 is required.

Interdisciplinary Minors

The department coordinates the interdisciplinary minor in African American studies. See the Interdisciplinary Minors section of this chapter for a description.

Advising
The undergraduate coordinator advises majors and minors. History majors are urged to discuss their programs periodically with the coordinator.

Teacher Licensure (Certification)
History majors who wish to become secondary school teachers in history or in history and social science should consult the secondary education advisor in the Department of History and Art History. The professional preparation component of the state-approved teacher education programs for elementary and secondary school teachers is offered in the Graduate School of Education. See the sections on licensure (certification) under that school's chapter in this catalog.

Graduate Program

History, M.A.

The Department of History and Art History provides graduate training in historical methods and analysis for students with widely varying goals. The four M.A. concentrations that follow are designed to meet those goals.

Admission Requirements
Applicants to the M.A. in History program must fulfill the admission requirements for graduate study and for the Department of History and Art History. These include (1) satisfactory scores on the GRE, and (2) two letters of recommendation from professors of history with whom the applicant has studied or from others directly familiar with the applicant's professional competence and interests.

The GRE requirement is waived for students who received their undergraduate degrees 10 or more years ago or who hold another graduate degree.

Degree Requirements

Within the first three concentrations listed below, students must specialize either in American history, modern European history, or comparative world history.

Requirements for all concentrations include the following:

  1. A minimum of 30 credits (36 credits in the teaching concentration) with a GPA of at least 3.000.
  2. Three credits of HIST 610 The Study and Writing of History, taken within the first nine credits.
  3. Except in the teaching concentration, a comprehensive readings course (HIST 790, 791, or 792), designed individually by the student and a professor, must be taken during the last semester of course work. The course is used to round out the student's general historical knowledge and to prepare him or her for the comprehensive exam.
  4. A written comprehensive exam. Failing students will be given the option of a second written exam following the original procedures. The second exam must be taken within the same calendar year.

To remedy possible deficiencies in a student's undergraduate preparation, up to 21 additional credits of foundation courses (e.g., HIST 601 and 602 Themes in U.S. History I and II, and HIST 605 and 606 Themes in Modern European History I and II) may be required, particularly for students who did not major in history as undergraduates. These courses do not count toward the degree.

Concentration in Predoctoral History, or Predoctoral History with a Cultural History Emphasis

This concentration is for students planning to continue into doctoral studies. In addition to HIST 610, it requires the following:

  1. Fifteen credits in the area of specialization (American history, modern European history, or comparative world history), including a research seminar and the comprehensive readings course. The comprehensive readings course for students in this concentration generally require reading beyond what is required in the other concentrations.
  2. Six credits outside the area of specialization, not including applied history courses (HIST 690, 691, 692, 693).
  3. Six credits in HIST 799 Thesis or three credits in HIST 798 Directed Research and Writing in History. HIST 798 requires the completion of a major paper that is a substantial and original contribution to historical knowledge on the model of an article in a scholarly journal. If the major paper option is chosen, students must complete an additional three credits in the major field.
  4. Reading proficiency in a modern foreign language, as demonstrated by course work or an examination.

Cultural History Emphasis

This emphasis is for students with a particular interest in cultural history as well as for students considering future work in the cultural studies doctoral program. Completion of this emphasis does not guarantee admission into the doctoral program; those interested in enrolling in that program should contact the Cultural Studies program directly. In addition to HIST 610, the cultural history emphasis requires the following:

  1. Fifteen credits in the area of specialization (American history, modern European history, or comparative world history), including a research seminar. The comprehensive readings course for students in the cultural history focus generally requires additional reading similar to that in the predoctoral concentration.
  2. CULT 802 Histories of Cultural Studies.
  3. An "approaches to cultural history" course.
  4. Three credits in HIST 798 Directed Research and Writing in History on a topic in cultural history.
  5. One additional course from outside the area of specialization, containing a significant cultural history component as defined by the instructor.
  6. Reading proficiency in a modern foreign language, as demonstrated by course work or examination.

Concentration In Applied History

This concentration is for students seeking expertise in such applied history fields as archival management, museum studies, historic preservation, and historical editing. It is also suitable for professionally employed historians who desire to further their careers. In addition to HIST 610, this concentration requires the following:

  1. Fifteen credits in the area of specialization (American history, modern European history, or comparative world history), including a research seminar and the comprehensive readings course
  2. Six credits of applied history courses (historic preservation, museum studies, archives, or historical editing)
  3. Three or six credits of internship (if the three-credit internship is selected, then the other three credits would be taken in applied history course work)
  4. Proficiency in a relevant research tool (computers, statistics, or a modern foreign language), as demonstrated by course work or an examination

Concentration in Applied History with a New Media and Information Technology Emphasis

In addition to HIST 610, this concentration requires the following:

  1. Fifteen credits in the area of specialization, (American history, modern European history, or comparative world history), including a research seminar and the comprehensive readings course
  2. Six credits in new media and information technology course work
  3. Three or six credits of internship in information technology (If a three-credit internship is selected, the other three credits will be taken in applied history course work.)
  4. Proficiency in a relevant research tool (two courses or equivalent from CS 103 Introduction to Computing, CS 112 Computer Science I, INFT 101 Introduction to Information Technology)

Concentration in Enrichment

This concentration is for students who want to study history for intellectual self-fulfillment or for vocational reasons. It allows more flexibility in the selection of courses and does not require a foreign language. In addition to HIST 610, this concentration requires the following:

  1. Fifteen credits in the area of specialization (American history, modern European history, or comparative world history), including a research seminar and the comprehensive readings course
  2. Twelve credits of electives

Six credits of thesis work are optional. If a thesis is elected, three credits in the major and three credits in electives are assigned to it.

Concentration in Teaching

This concentration is intended for students already licensed for teaching, or seeking licensure. Unlike the other three concentrations, it requires a minimum of 36 credits and does not include the comprehensive readings course. Though it includes course work in history and education, completion of this concentration alone is not sufficient to qualify for licensure. That program is offered by the Graduate School of Education, and admission is limited. Students are advised to consult with the Graduate School of Education for specific requirements regarding licensure. In addition to the general M.A. in History requirements, this concentration requires the following:
  1. Twenty-four credits in history, including three credits in HIST 610 The Study and Writing of History; at least three credits each from U.S., European, and non-Western history course offerings; and one research seminar
  2. Twelve credits in graduate education courses, including EDCI 567

Art History Faculty

Professors: ffolliott (coordinator), Mattusch (Mathy Professor of the History of Art)

Associate professors: Butler, Todd

Assistant professor: DeCaroli

Adjuncts: Mason, Poole, Simons, Thayer

Undergraduate Programs

Art History, B.A.

As a liberal arts discipline, art history emphasizes the analysis of visual data in historical context. The major program prepares students for graduate study in art history, as well as for professional work.

In addition to the general degree requirements for the B.A., students majoring in art history must complete 39 to 40 credits as follows:

  1. Studio art elective (3 to 4 credits): ARTS 103, 104, 351, 392, or others with permission of the Division of Art Studio in the Institute of the Arts
  2. Three to six credits in art history (ARTH) at the 100 or 200 level, including three credits from ARTH 200 or 201
  3. ARTH 394 or 594
    1. If taking ARTH 394, 21 to 24 credits of ARTH at the 300 level
    2. If taking ARTH 594, 24 to 27 credits of ARTH at the 300 level
  4. Six credits of ARTH at the 400 level or above, including three credits from ARTH 400, 420, 430, 440, or 471

Up to six credits at the 300 level or above in related fields and up to six credits in art history internships may be applied toward requirements for the major with prior written approval of the departmental advisor.

It is strongly recommended that students participate in a study abroad program. Students contemplating graduate study in art history should acquire a reading knowledge of French and/or German.

Students contemplating museum or arts administration careers should consider taking electives from the following: ACCT 201, COMM 330, ENGL 410, ENGL 503, and PUAD 505, and are strongly encouraged to complete an art history internship (ARTH 393 or 593).

Forty-five credits at the 300 level or above are required for graduation. These may be taken in art history; up to six credits at the 300 level may be taken in other programs and substituted for ARTH credit, with prior approval of the advisor or art history coordinator.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in art history fulfill the university's writing-intensive requirement by successfully completing any 400-level ARTH course.

Honors Program in Art History

Art history majors who have completed 75 credits (a minimum of 15 in art history, with 6 taken at George Mason) with 3.500 overall GPA and 3.500 GPA in art history are eligible to apply to the art history honors program. Eligible students should apply to the undergraduate coordinator by November 15 or April 15 with a statement of application including the names of two George Mason art history faculty members to serve as references; transfer students may also submit transcripts. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements may be accepted into the program. Selection is made by the Art History Committee.

To graduate with honors in art history, students must complete ARTH 492 and 493, which are linked, individualized courses that culminate in a research paper. Students must have completed at least one course in the field (or with the professor) chosen for these honors courses. ARTH 492 should normally be taken before 493, though they may be taken concurrently. These six credits must be passed with a minimum 3.500 GPA and the overall art history GPA presented for graduation must be a minimum of 3.500. These six credits may be counted toward the 39- to 40-credit major requirement in art history, but they do not replace the six required credits in ARTH 400, 420, 430, 440, or 471.

Minor in Art History

The minor in art history requires 18 credits and covers a broad spectrum of periods, cultures, and themes, with an emphasis on historical context. Requirements for the minor are as follows:

  1. Three to six credits of 100- or 200-level art history courses
  2. Nine to 12 credits of 300-level art history courses
  3. Three credits of 400-level (or above) art history courses

ARTH 393 is not required for the minor, but is strongly encouraged.

Interdisciplinary Minor

The art history program coordinates the interdisciplinary minor in ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology. See the Interdisciplinary Minors section of this chapter for a description of the minor.

Courses in Support of Graduate Programs

Although a graduate degree program in art history is not available, these courses are offered in support of other graduate programs: ARTH 593, 594, 596, 599, and 699. See the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.


George Mason University:2000-2001 University Catalog: Catalog Index: College of Arts and Sciences: History and Art History