The Master's committee has four members, three from the History Department and one drawn from outside the History Department. All committee members must be members of the UNLV Graduate Faculty. For students writing a thesis, all members of the committee may be Americanists or Europeanists. For students not writing a thesis, one member of the committee must represent the minor field. Faculty who agree to serve on a master's committee are obligated to fulfill their duties while they are on leave.
Temporary faculty have no obligation to assume graduate committee duties.
The History Department administers M.A. comprehensive examinations three times a year, in September, February and April. A comprehensive examination must be held at least three weeks before the last day of instruction of any given term. Students preparing for examination may ask to see sample exam questions. The examination committee drafts and approves all questions for the examination. The exam questions strive to place specialized knowledge in a larger conceptual framework.