History 601 is the introduction to graduate study in history. It is required of all graduate students in the department and should be taken during your first semester. Proseminars are variable content courses of reading and discussion in the literature of a particular period or topic. You are exposed to a variety of interpretations will be expected to develop a critical understanding of the nature of historical writing. The subject of each course will be announced in the schedule of classes for each semester.
Seminars are courses of intensive training in the techniques of historical research and writing.
Under the direction of a graduate faculty member, you will do research in primary and secondary materials, and then write a scholarly paper. The essay is criticized by the professor and the other members of the seminar. The subject of each course will be announced in the schedule of classes for each semester. Great care should go into the selection of a research topic to ensure that adequate primary materials are available and that the topic has not been overworked by other scholars. You will be expected to make an original contribution as a result of your work.