Graduate Program Handbook

The Graduate Student Handbook is a comprehensive guide to policies, procedures, and processes (academic and otherwise) that will affect you as a graduate student. It is each graduate student’s responsibility to review all of the information in the handbook.

Questions should be directed to the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Benjamin Johnson (bjohnson25@luc.edu) and/or the Public History Program Director, Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin (pmooney@luc.edu).

Academic honesty is an expression of an ethic of interpersonal justice, responsibility and care, applicable to Loyola University Chicago faculty, students and staff, which demands that the pursuit of knowledge in the university community be carried out with integrity. The Graduate School Academic Integrity policy guides what happens in the History graduate programs. The complete is available on the Graduate School Academic Policies website.

Graduate students in History are also guided by the standards set forth by the American Historical Association and the National Council on Public History.

Although academic dishonesty can take many forms, in our field it often centers on plagiarism. The Graduate School Catalog defines plagiarism as ““the use of ideas, language, or work of another without sufficient public acknowledgement that the material is not one's own.” As a graduate student, you very likely have a good understanding of the boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not. If you are ever uncertain, it is of course best to consult the Graduate Program Director or another faculty member.

The penalty for an instance of plagiarism is, at a minimum, failure on the assignment, which may well be equivalent to failure in the course. A serious breach or a pattern of dishonesty can lead to expulsion from Loyola.

It is ordinarily expected that all work for the master’s degree will be completed at Loyola University Chicago. Upon the recommendation of the Graduate Program Director, however, and with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, up to six hours of credit for graduate work at another university may be counted toward the M.A. degree.

For students entering the Ph.D. program with prior graduate work, up to thirty hours of credit may, with the Graduate Program Director’s recommendation and the Graduate Dean’s approval, may be counted toward a Loyola University Chicago PhD. The precise number of hours credited toward advanced standing is worked out by the Graduate Program Director during a student’s first semester in the program.

Each degree-seeking student has a faculty academic advisor throughout the period of graduate study. The faculty academic advisor plays a major role in working with the student to ensure a planned, disciplined, and well-supervised approach to graduate study. The Graduate Program Director advises all students in the non-degree, MA History, and the doctoral programs. This includes students in the BA/MA program. At the dissertation stage, the Dissertation Director also serves as an advisor for that part of the process. The Public History Program Director advises all MA Public History and MA Public History/MLIS students.

The relationship between advisor and advisee is reciprocal and requires mutual effort in the planning and execution of all aspects of the student's progress. The faculty academic advisor, as a mentor, is to be diligent in providing guidance by being available for regular consultation. The student is responsible for actively seeking the guidance of the faculty advisor and, when appropriate, the dissertation advisor for all matters pertaining to the student's progression through the program including degree completion.

All students are required to meet with either the Public History Program Director or Graduate Program Director to plan the next semester’s schedule and to review their progress in their program. MA students are encouraged and doctoral students are required to develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and share it with their advisor each semester. The IDP is a planning tool designed to assist with graduate school and career planning. We recommend using the assessments and IDP template at ImaginePhD for this.

The History Department is committed to supporting students in identifying their career goals, developing an array of skills, and pursuing diverse career pathways. You can find Professional and career resources can be found at the Career Pathways for Historians blog.

Additionally, the University’s Career Development Center, host a very helpful website with many resources. Should students have any questions, feel free to contact them at careercenter@luc.edu.

Communication

Keeping in touch with the Graduate Program is very important. Both the Graduate School and the History Department use the Loyola email system to distribute important information to graduate students. If a response is warranted, it is the student’s responsibility to reply to all such Department e-mails in a timely manner. For reasons of confidentiality, as well as efficiency, communications to students will be sent to students’ Loyola email accounts and not to any other email address. Students are responsible for checking this account frequently and/or setting up e-mail forwarding.

If you prefer to primarily use a non-LUC e-mail account please see directions below for ensuring e-mails sent to your LUC account are properly forwarded to another account of your choosing.

Students using Loyola's Outlook Web Access (OWA) site (http://outlook.luc.edu) can activate its forwarding service for sending University email to other accounts.

Instructions

1. Sign in to Loyola OWA at http://outlook.luc.edu using your username and password

2. Click the Gear icon sitting in the upper right hand corner.

3. In the Settings Menu, click on 'Mail' found towards the bottom.

4. Click the triangle symbol next to 'Accounts,' then click 'Forwarding.'

5. Click the 'Start forwarding' radio button and then fill in the destination address of your forwarded Loyola email.

6. Sign out of Loyola OWA.

Note: The forwarding service will begin within an hour of making the change. The same time frame applies to a request for stopping mail forwarding.

Contact Information

It is important to keep the University informed of your current home address and phone number.

The Graduate School and the University should be notified of any changes through LOCUS.

MA Field Examinations and MA-Public History Programs Examinations

Introduction

Comprehensive field examinations assess a graduate student’s knowledge of a historical field, ability to think historically, and competency to undertake independent research. These examinations measure a student’s ability to think as a historian, to contextualize information, and to demonstrate command of a body of knowledge in a defined field. At the master’s level, these examinations serve as a capstone requirement that demonstrates a specific level of training in history.

Major Field Examination in U.S. History

The comprehensive field examination covers a field of study broadly defined. The student should expect that they will be asked to demonstrate an acceptable level of understanding of the entire breadth of a historical field in terms of various subject areas as well as the chronological coverage of that field. Core readings for each field will serve as the basis of student reading lists. In general, the comprehensive field examination focuses on historiography and historiographical debates. Some faculty, however, may emphasize content; students should discuss the focus of the examination with each individual faculty member on the committee. Students should consult the suggested reading lists that faculty have compiled for designated chronological and thematic areas.

For the MA. major field examination in U.S. history, students will be examined in 19th and 20th century U.S. History. They should also choose one thematic area for the examination.

Thematic areas include:

Urban
Women and Gender
Sexuality
Indigenous America
Cultural
African-American and Race
American West and Borderlands
Immigration and Ethnicity
Labor
Environmental
Legal

Other thematic fields are possible with the approval of all committee members.

Examination Format

The take-home examination format for the MA major field examination requires students to answer two examination questions (out of a possible four questions) by writing two 10-15-page essays. The student has one week to complete the examination. Each professor supplies two questions, and the student must answer ONE from each professor. The student will thus answer two questions for the MA major field.

Examination essays should quote when necessary from readings and use formal citations of endnotes or footnotes in accordance with the University of Chicago Press’s Manual of Style http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html, Kate Turabian, Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, or the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd edition.

To ‘pass with distinction’ (the only other option outside of pass and fail), students must receive a ‘high pass’ from all members of the exam committee on all examination questions. Please make certain you mark which questions you are answering--this will eliminate some initial guessing on the examiners’ part when grading.

Comprehensive Field Examination Form
The Comprehensive Field Examination Form can be accessed here.

Field Examination Committee and Reading Lists

Setting up the Examination Committee

Students should complete a Comprehensive Field Examination Form no later than one semester before they wish to take the examination. Once a student has identified the History Department faculty member they wish to have as committee Chair, the student and faculty member should meet to discuss the fields and potential other committee members. Students will ask other professors to be a member of their committee. In general, students should work with professors with whom they have taken classes or worked with in a scholarly capacity. The major field examination for the MA degree committee consists of two examiners, one of whom is the Chair of the committee.

All committee members must sign the student’s Comprehensive Field Examination Form. The form then goes to the Graduate Program Director, who will review the form and the student’s file. Upon approval and file review by the Graduate Program Director, the committee is established.

Creating the Examination Reading List

The student will confer with each committee member, discuss the parameters of the fields, and determine the relevant reading list for which they will be held responsible during the examination. Students should consult the suggested reading lists below for assistance in creating their own customized comprehensive field examination reading lists. Once a preliminary reading list is assembled, students must distribute this list to all members of the examination committee for their approval. Please remember that committee members have the right to revise the list. The final examination reading list MUST be approved by all members of the committee at least one month before the examination date. All members of the committee must have an electronic copy of the final exam reading list.

MA major field reading lists generally include 50-70 publications.

Suggested Reading Lists

Meeting with Committee Members

Students should meet with EACH individual member of their committee at least once during the exam preparation process. Students should make sure that the final examination reading list is approved and that each member has an electronic copy of the final reading list. Meetings with each individual faculty member should occur at least one month before the examination date.

Students are encouraged to meet with committee members to discuss potential topics for examination questions, and to ask questions about particular readings in preparation for these meetings as well as the exam itself. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate regularly with the examination committee prior to taking the exam.

Formalizing the Committee and Scheduling the Examination

Receiving the Examination

Submitting the Completed Examination

PhD minor field examinations are due one week later at the same time that the examination was originally obtained. PhD major field examinations are due two weeks later at the same time that the examination was originally obtained.

Answers to each question should be written as separate Microsoft Word documents. The beginning of each document should include the student's name and the chosen question. Microsoft Word documents should be e-mailed to all faculty examiners, the Graduate Program Director, and the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant by the aforementioned time. Do not e-mail shared document links (e.g. SharePoint links).

Grading the Examination

Once the student has been notified, each member of the examination committee will receive a summary ballot which is collectively completed/signed by all members of the examination committee. The summary ballot should be e-mailed to the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant. The summary ballot is used to record the examination decision with The Graduate School through GSPS (Graduate Student Progress System).

The examinations and original ballots will be kept in the student’s file.

The oral examination portion of the Ph.D. major field examination should be scheduled within one week of passing the written comprehensive field examination. The student, working with all members of the examination committee, finds an appropriate date to take the two-hour oral examination. It is permissible and sometimes advisable to establish a date for the oral examination prior to taking the written component of the comprehensive field examination. The Chair of the examination committee works with the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant to schedule a time and place to meet for the oral examination.

Students taking the oral examination in public history arrange the date of the examination in consultation with the Public History Program Director.

Public History Major and Minor Field Examinations

The public history oral examination for PhD minor and major field examination is a two-hour oral examination. The examination covers the field of public history and reflects readings and assignments in every public history course. It also includes a discussion of the public history portfolio.

Students arrange the examination by meeting with the Public History Program Director. The examination committee is chaired by the Public History Director and includes one member of the public history faculty. During the meeting, the examiners and exam time will be determined. Students should meet with both examiners before the examination takes place to discuss the examination expectations. After the oral examination, the committee will confer and share the results of the with the student.

Unsuccessful Examinations

In cases where the examiners determine that the student has failed a part of the examination, the student will be required to retake only the failed parts of the examination. For example, if a student taking a major field examination passes two questions but fails the third question, they will have to retake the examination in the subject area of the third question. The time allowed for retaking examinations should be proportional to the number of questions originally required. In the example above, the time frame limit would be five days (i.e., one third of the total exam time). The student must retake the examination within three months of the original examination date.

If a student fails one element of the public history examination, the student will be required to answer written questions about the material. This is typically done within one week of the examination. If the entire examination needs to be retaken, it must be done within three months of the original examination. In cases where all or part of an examination must be retaken, the membership of the committee must remain unchanged. Only the Graduate Program Director can grant exceptions under extraordinary circumstances to reconstitute an examination committee for a comprehensive field examination.

If the student fails either part or all of the examination twice, they will be disqualified from continuing in the program and dismissed from The Graduate School. The student will have an opportunity to petition the Department and The Graduate School for re-statement through the Departmental and The Graduate School academic grievance procedures.

Presentation of conference papers is an important part of students’ professional development, and Ph.D. students in particular should aim to give at least two papers during their graduate careers—preferably including professional and not just graduate-student conferences.

The Graduate School funds some graduate student travel for the purpose of presenting papers or chairing sessions at conferences. Since funds are limited, students should apply immediately upon acceptance of their papers or sessions. More information and relevant forms are available on the Graduate School Financial Assistance and Funding website.

Typically, the History Graduate Student Association (HGSA) allots some of its funding to support student presentations at conferences. The amount available varies by year. HGSA shares this information with the graduate student body when it has received its annual budget.

After you return, you will be asked to supply all original receipts as well as boarding passes, etc., for your trip, and proof of attendance (conference registration receipt and program copy with your session). The Reimbursement Request Form is available on the Graduate School Financial Assistance and Funding website. Once travel has been completed, please submit your receipts, related conference documents, and a completed reimbursement form to the Awards Coordinator in the Graduate School. More information about the Graduate School conference support is available on the Graduate School Financial Assistance and Funding website. For HGSA funding, once travel has been completed, please submit your receipts, related conference document and a completed reimbursement form to the HGSA treasurer. In both cases, you must submit your reimbursement material within 30 days of travel to insure that the reimbursement will work its way through the system with dispatch.

Academic Advising Appointments
All new and continuing graduate History students must complete the process of registration before every semester in which they are either attending classes or writing their dissertations.

All graduate History students have a faculty advisor. Dr. Benjamin Johnson, Graduate Program Director, advises all PhD, MA, BA/MA, and non-degree students. Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin, Public History Program Director, advises all MA Public History and MA Public History/MLIS students.

Each semester, all students are required to meet with their academic advisors. During these advising appointments, students will discuss course registration for the following semester. Academic advising appointments are arranged by contacting your faculty advisor directly, no later than one month prior to course registration time to arrange a time to meet. The registration access schedule is available on the University Calendars and Schedules website.

Course Loads
A full-time student will usually carry three courses per semester. Course loads for part-time students are worked out on an individual basis. All students on assistantships are considered full-time.

Course Offerings
A schedule of courses for the upcoming semester is available shortly before academic advising appointments take place. Course titles, numbers, descriptions, days/times, location, and instructor information are available in LOCUS.

LOCUS Account Holds
Students should check their LOCUS accounts for holds prior to scheduling their academic advising appointments each semester. Holds can be placed on a student’s LOCUS account by different University offices (Wellness Center, Bursar’s Office, etc.). If you have a hold, please work diligently to get the issue resolved. Students cannot register for classes until all account holds are resolved and removed. It is the student's responsibility to resolve all account holds in a timely manner.

Registering for a Course
All students register themselves for all their classes through LOCUS, except for public history course.

Public history courses:
HIST 479 Public History Media
HIST 480 Public History: Method & Theory
HIST 481 Management of Historic Resources
HIST 482 Archives & Record Management
HIST 483 Oral History: Method and Practice
HIST 484 Material Culture
HIST 487 Public History: Museums
HIST 581 Practicum in Public History
HIST 582 Public History Internship
HIST 584 U.S. Local History Seminar

Academic advisors will contact the Graduate Program Assistant with the names of students that need to be registered for public history courses for the following semester. As this information is received, the Graduate Program Assistant will register those students for the public history course. Please remember, the Graduate Program Assistant cannot register any student that has a hold on their LOCUS account.

Dropping a Course
All students needing to drop a class should do so themselves through LOCUS. It is the student’s responsibility to be mindful of deadlines for dropping a class.

More information on grading and potential transcript notation for dropped courses is available on the Academic Semester Calendars website.

More information on potential refunds for dropped courses is available on the Office of the Bursar website.

Student Schedule in LOCUS
It is the student’s responsibility to check LOCUS to verify their registration each semester. Students must maintain continual registration throughout their years in the program or risk having to apply for reinstatement and pay both a penalty and back fees.

For more information on continuous enrollment and student enrollment status, please visit the Graduate School Academic Policies website.

Directed Primary Research (HIST 599 Master's Essay)
This form must be completed and submitted by the student to the Graduate Program Director before registering for this course in LOCUS for course registration to be considered complete.

Request for Course Title (HIST 499 Independent Study)
This form must be completed and submitted by the student to the Graduate Program Director in a timely manner for course registration to be considered complete.

Requirement Form – MA Students

Requirement Form – Public History MA Students

Requirement Form – Public History MA/MLIS Students

Requirement Form – PhD History

Requirement Form – Public History/American History PhD Program

Students apply to receive a MA or PhD degree through LOCUS (Loyola's Online Connection to University Services). They should select a degree conferral term at the end of which they expect to complete all degree requirements.

Deadlines for degree conferral application are:
Fall (December): August 1
Spring (May): December 1
Summer (August): February 1

More detailed information regarding degree conferral application can be found here: https://www.luc.edu/gradschool/academics/graduation/.

Required Courses - All Programs

BA/MA 5-Year Program

MA in History

MA in Public History

MA/MLIS Dual Degree Program with Dominican University

PhD in History

Public History/American History PhD Program

Name	Title	Office	Email	Phone
Dr. D. Bradford Hunt	Department Chair	Crown Center, Room 515	dhunt1@luc.edu	773-508-2217
Dr. Benjamin Johnson	Graduate Program Director	Crown Center, Room 523	bjohnson25@luc.edu	773-508-3082
Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin	Public History Program Director	Crown Center, Room 535	pmooney@luc.edu	773-508-2228
Dr. Kelly O'Connor	Undergraduate Program Director	Lewis Towers, Room 926	kocon6@luc.edu	312-915-7292
Tim Libaris	Graduate Program Administrative Assistant	Crown Center, Room 501	tlibari@luc.edu	773-508-2182
David Hays	Administrative Assistant	Crown Center, Room 539	dhays1@luc.edu	773-508-2221

Each graduate History student is assigned a mailbox in the History Department Mail Room, located in Crown Center, Room 502.

These mailboxes should be checked regularly. Since the boxes are not locked, please be careful about what you leave in your box.

Links to Graduate School Forms:

Instructions for Thesis and Dissertation‌
Dissertation Defense Announcement Template - Students should create an announcement for their dissertation defense using this template as a guide. Once completed, it should be e-mailed to the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant at least one week prior to the date of the defense. The Graduate Program Administrative Assistant will e-mail the announcement to all History faculty and graduate students.
Approval Ballot for Text and Oral Defense - The student is responsible for printing this, completing the section at the top of the ballot, and bringing it to the oral defense along with a pen. Upon conclusion of the defense, the ballot should be signed and dated by all committee members then placed in the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant's mailbox. The Graduate School requires a scanned copy of this.

History Department and Graduate School Requirements and Deadlines:

A first step for all dissertating students is to reflect on their writing process and habits and develop an individualized plan for research and writing that includes daily goals, interim deadlines, and target completion dates. It should also include strategies for managing time, assistantship responsibilities, self-care, and interactions with your adviser.

Students at the beginning of the process will spend more time researching than writing but researching and writing go hand-in-hand. Use your writing as a way to make sense of your material as it is fresh in your mind. This is informal writing, but it helps you keep some intellectual control over the process. Be sure to set up a regular schedule of interaction with your adviser. The frequency will vary over the course of the project, but it is important to stay in communication about your research progress, to discuss challenges, to review work, etc.

Once students have selected a committee, they load the committee information into GSPS. Once the form is submitted, it will go to the Dissertation Director for approval, then to the GPD, and then to the Graduate School for final approval. When the dissertation proposal is approved by the committee, the student loads the information into GSPS. Once the form is submitted, it goes to the committee for formal approval, to the GPD, and then to the Graduate School.

Dissertation/Thesis Formatting– Graduate School

The informtaion on the the Dissertation/Thesis Formatting website shoudl be thoroughly reviewed. Download the Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations. Read through the FAQs: Format Check and Final Copies. Go to a formatting session as you begin to write and near the end of the process. The more you format correctly at the beginning, the easier it is at the end.

Graduate School Dissertation Deadlines

December Graduation

August 1: Last day to apply for a December degree conferral.
October 1: Last day to submit for the format check.
November 1: Last day to submit final copies.

May Graduation

December 1: Last day to apply for a May degree conferral.
March 1: Last day to submit for the format check.
April 1: Last day to submit final copies.

August Graduation

February 1: Last Day to apply for an August degree conferral.
June 1: Last day to submit for the format check.
July 1: Last day to submit final copies.

History Department & Dissertation Committee Deadlines

Each PhD candidate's experience will be slightly different depending on their chair and committee, but there are some general guidelines to follow. Be sure to review these with your chair and add relevant dates to the Graduate School schedule, above.

Time to Degree
There are time limits to degree completion.

Depending on how you enter the PhD program, you have either six years (entering with a significant number of transfer credits) or eight years (entering with a BA and virtually no transfer credit) to complete your degree. If you exceed this time limit, you will need to apply for an extension through GSPS. These are given in yearly increments and are based on process, a plan, and your advisor’s approval. Typically, you need to apply by June 1.
You need to defend your dissertation within five years of becoming a PhD candidate. If you do not, you will need to pass a second PhD examination.
More information can be found on the Graduate School website under Academic Policies, Time Limit for Degree Completion.

Departmental Monitoring
Each semester, all dissertation chairpersons are required to meet with their dissertators, assess their progress by completing and submitting a HIST 600 Progress Report, and recommend a P (Pass) or NP (No Pass) for History 600. For any questions regarding this process please e-mail the Graduate Program Director.

Research and Writing Resources

Graduate students will conduct original research and write research papers and other materials for coursework, publications, and public audiences. The following resources are meant to supplement any research or writing assistance received by faculty advisers, mentors, and instructors.

Loyola Resources

Information regarding the History Library Subject Specialist, Research Guide for History, and a complete list of All Research Guides, can be found at these respective links. Library subject specialists can provide customized guidance for research in all academic disciplines. The History Library Subject Specialist maintains the subject guide for History, which helps students and faculty navigate Loyola's library databases and other resources, and the Specialist works one-on-one with students looking for assistance with history projects and materials. The History Specialist is also available to consult with students on finding and obtaining materials needed for classroom or research purposes.
The research guide for government information, may be particularly helpful to students navigating sources related to the United States government.
The History Department has several copies of Dr. Karen Single's Demystifying Dissertation Writing guide available for loan in Crown Center, Room 558. This guide will be a helpful resource for dissertating PhD candidates, as well as MA students working on Master's Essays.
Loyola's Graduate School offers periodic writing workshops as part of its Graduate Writing Series. The Graduate School announces workshops in the email newsletter it sends to all graduate students.
The Loyola History Graduate Student Association runs a Dissertation Writing Group (DWG) that meets throughout the year to provide support for students navigating the dissertation process. For more information and to participate, contact the HGSA DWG co-chairs.
For Loyola students who have to apply to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for research clearance, the Graduate School usually offers a workshop on how to navigate this process. Check the Graduate School website and email blasts for updates throughout the year. The Graduate Program Director can also assist students applying for IRB clearance.
The Wellness Center often hosts a Dissertation and Thesis Support Group.

Other Resources

The Craft of Research (4th edition), by Wayne Booth, et. al., and published by the University of Chicago, is a helpful guide for anyone conducting in-depth historical research.
Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers' A Pocket Style Manual walks writers through several citation formats, including Chicago Style, the format most historians use when citing their work.
Dr. Tara Gray's Publish and Flourish: Become a Prolific Scholar provides helpful advice about time management and goal-setting for anyone undertaking a writing project.
Dr. Eviatar Zarubavel's The Clockwork Muse: A Practical Guide to Writing Theses, Dissertations, and Books provides useful advice for students working on any long-form writing projects.
Dr. Raul Pacheco Vega maintains a popular blog about research and writing. He is not a historian, but much of what he writes is applicable to humanists.
"A Guide to Writing Good Academic Prose," from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Below is the policy governring appropriate use of History Department letterhead by faculty, staff, and graduate students:

Faculty, staff, and graduate students currently enrolled and in good standing at Loyola can use official Departmental letterhead, but only for official correspondence related to the work of the Department and the education of students or their future careers. The use of letterhead is restricted to official correspondence that includes activities such as:

Applications for employment, fellowships, internships, or grants, including academic and non-academic opportunities
Requests for research assistance, access to libraries, or access to other institutions to advance research, teaching, or service
Correspondence with journals, presses, or other academic organizations about research, teaching, or service
Correspondence with other LUC Departments in response to official requests or inquiries

Letterhead may not be used to conduct activities that a reasonable person would find unrelated to the work of the History Department or the greater mission of LUC, including but not limited to:

Conducting personal business, like correspondence with banks, insurers, government agencies, or companies on matters of personal interest
Conducting the business of outside organizations, including academic organizations, such as soliciting funds or organizing meetings

When in doubt, faculty, staff, and graduate students are advised to ask the History Department Chair or the Graduate Program Director for permission to use Departmental letterhead.

More information on financial resources can be found here: https://www.luc.edu/gradschool/FundingGrad.Education.shtml.

The History Department offers a limited number of Graduate Assistantships to students enrolled in the doctoral program. We only accept Ph.D. students who are funded through these GAships, and the number available depends on Graduate School support from year to year.

Grades

The grading system used in the Graduate School is as follows:

A 4.00

A– 3.67

B+ 3.33

B 3.00

B– 2.67

C+ 2.33

C 2.00

C- 1.67

D+ 1.33

D 1.00

F 0.00

I Incomplete

W Withdrawal

WF Withdrawal, Failure

P Credit

NP No Credit

AU Audit

Graduate students in the Department of History are expected to maintain an average of not less than B (3.0). Those who fail to meet this requirement may be dismissed. In any case, PhD students who find themselves receiving primarily B’s (or below) should consider seriously whether pursuing a doctorate in History remains the most gainful use of their time.

Withdrawals

If a student withdraws from a course before the published withdrawal deadline, their transcript will show no record of the course. If they withdraw after the withdrawal deadline, but before the WF deadline, their transcript will show a W for the course. If a student withdraws after the University’s WF deadline, they will receive a WF for the course. The WF is a penalty grade, and is figured into students’ GPAs.

Withdrawal from graduate classes is uncommon; however, students who do withdraw from a course must first consult with the Graduate Program Director before dropping through LOCUS. Students should check the Graduate School Academic Calendar for deadlines on withdrawing for full or partial refunds, and with a W or WF grade. More information regarding refunds for withdrawals is available on the Office of the Bursar website. Students are responsible for withdrawing themselves from classes through LOCUS.

Incompletes

Faculty may assign the grade of I to a student who has not completed the assigned work by the end of the term. This grade is not assigned automatically; rather, it is up to the student to make a request to the instructor and, if granted, work out a plan with the instructor, including a deadline for completing the work for the course. The Graduate Program Director must be notified about all incompletes.

If the student does not turn in the work by the deadline, the I will automatically become an F. The Graduate School has absolute deadlines for finishing incomplete courses. The deadlines are posted on the Graduate School Academic Calendar.

Please read the policy on the Graduate School Academic Policies website as follows:

“The Graduate School expects students to complete all coursework by the end of the term during which the courses were taken. However, if a student and the instructor make arrangements in advance, a student may receive a grade of I (Incomplete) at the end of the term. The student is to complete the outstanding work and submit it to the instructor according to a schedule approved by the instructor, subject to the following Graduate School policies. The student must complete and submit all outstanding work to the instructor by the last day of the semester following the term in which the I grade was assigned. (For purposes of incomplete grades, the summer sessions are counted together as one term.) If the student does not turn in the work by the deadline, the I will automatically become an F. The Graduate School will not approve a change of grade if the student does not complete and submit the work to the instructor within one term of the assignment of an I grade.”

It is of course better to avoid taking an incomplete. Making up an incomplete course often proves harder than students expect, particularly if much time has elapsed since the end of the course. In any case, faculty members have various policies regarding Incompletes, so it is advisable to discuss the matter with your instructor as early as possible if you anticipate the need for an Incomplete.

Too many incompletes may raise questions about a student’s ability to progress through the program and could affect a student's chances for University fellowships. For students on a merit award with more than one incomplete at the beginning of the academic year the Graduate School might not renew their award.

For further information on Loyola’s grading policy, including Withdrawals and Incompletes, please consult the Graduate School Academic Policies website.

Teaching Opportunities

Teaching assignments are generally limited to Teaching Assistants. The History Department Chair, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, assigns all classes. Occasionally, additional teaching opportunities are available to experienced graduate students. Summer sessions are offered through the Department each year, running from May to August, which may be available for qualified instructors.

Be aware, however, that there are always more prospective teachers than available courses. The criteria used to assign some summer classes or other opportunities to graduate students include: experience and proven success in the classroom; good progress toward the degree; and preparedness to teach the courses available. Contact the History Department Chair for further information.

The complete Graduate School academic calendar, is available on the Graduate School Academic Calendar website.

You are required to familiarize yourself with these dates and deadlines and check this calendar regularly for updates.

These policies are available on the Graduate School Academic Polices website.

More information on Graduate School staff can be found here.

GSPS is a database for everything related to graduate student progress and allows us to monitor students, provide administrative oversight, and document student milestones.

GSPS can be accessed here: https://gsps.luc.edu/Secure/Login.aspx

Almost all of the forms necessary for your progress are to be filled out in GSPS and are initiated by you or the Graduate Program Director.

You will find the following forms in GSPS: Change in Degree Seeking Status, Comprehensive Examination Sign-off, Leave of Absence, Research Tools, Dissertation Committee, Dissertation Proposal, Dissertation Defense, Doctoral Candidacy, Extension of Time, and Transfer Credits.

Students, faculty, and administrators are strongly encouraged to resolve any problems they encounter in the academic process through informal discussion. If students are unable to resolve a problem with a member of the faculty, or if they wish to lodge a formal complaint on academic matters, they should first meet with the Graduate Program Director (GPD). If the problem cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the GPD, it will be taken up by the Department Chair who, if necessary, will refer it to the History Department Grievance Committee. In the event an academic grievance involves the Department Chair, a student may lodge a formal complaint directly with the Graduate School. Students wishing to initiate a grievance after the departmental process must do so in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School. Further information can be found on the Graduate School Academic Policies website.

The History Department and Loyola University Chicago take seriously complaints of unethical or discriminatory behavior. Such conduct is covered under Loyola University’s Comprehensive Policy and Procedures for Addressing Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, Retaliation and Other Related Offenses. To move forward with complaints, students can contact the EthicsLine and the Center for Student Assistance and Advocacy.

Loyola University Chicago's HGSA has been serving the interests of full-time and part-time history graduate students for over a decade. The purpose of the HGSA is to represent the interests of the History graduate students to Loyola faculty, staff, and administration. Additionally, the HGSA cultivates academic excellence and community among the graduate students. More information can be found here: https://www.luc.edu/history/historygraduatestudentassociationhgsa/.

Most graduate students choose to find their own off-campus apartments. The only on-campus housing option for graduate students is Baumhart Hall located on the Water Tower Campus in downtown Chicago.

Please note, all history classes will be held at the Lake Shore Campus and the History Department is located at the Lake Shore Campus as well.

For additional information regarding on-campus housing for graduate students please visit http://luc.edu/reslife/halls/.

Internships and practicums provide hands-on experiences for graduate students and allow them to explore specific career pathways. Public History students are required to take a public history internship as part of their course of study. Doctoral and MA-History students can explore other career avenues by taking the Career Diversity Internship or, if a public history minor, can sign up for a public history internship in consultation with the Public History Program Director.

Practicums are special topic projects in the area of public history. Many times, the public history internship format works for this course. At other times, it is a specific public history project or set of readings. Students interested in the practicum should discuss their ideas with the Public History Program Director.

Internship Forms

Official leaves of absence are intended for students who wish to temporarily discontinue their graduate studies due to special circumstances (e.g., medical, personal, or professional reasons). A leave of absence postpones all deadlines concerning completion of degree requirements for the duration of the leave. A student requesting a leave must complete a Leave of Absence form in GSPS and contact the Graduate Program Director, who then makes a recommendation on the student’s behalf to the Graduate School. Decisions regarding the approval of leaves of absence rest with the Graduate School.

Leaves of absence may be requested for a semester or for a full academic year. In order to be reinstated to active status, the student must notify the Graduate School in writing upon returning from a leave. Unless the student is granted a renewal of a leave, they must return to active status in the semester following its expiration. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal from the program.

The complete Leave of Absence policy is available on the Graduate School Academic Policies website.

The History Department sponsors an annual award for the best research paper by a graduate student. More information can be found here: https://www.luc.edu/history/mccluggageawardcompetition/.

The complete policy is available on the University Nondiscrimination Policy website.

This policy refers to full-time graduate students at the LUC lakeside campuses who are in good academic standing, funded by an assistantship through the Graduate School and/or extramural agencies, and who are to become a parent, or take on the commitment as the parent of an infant or young child.

The complete policy can be found at the Graduate School Academic Policies website.

The Graduate School Progress System (GSPS) provides places to record your professional activity. This activity is an important element of your graduate education. Please keep your information up to date in GSPS. Doing so allows us to showcase your achievements. After graduation, please send this type of information directly to the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant, the Graduate Program Director, or the Public History Program Director.

The Department of History supports graduate study in Public History and US and Social and Cultural History with specialties in Urban history, Digital history, Women’s and Gender history, and Transnational history. We offer master's programs in history and public history; a master's program in public history and library information science (jointly with Dominican University); and a doctoral program in history and public history. History master’s and doctoral students work closely with faculty in and out of the classroom as they train to become academic historians, public historians, teachers, archivists, museum professionals, and researchers as well as possess sufficient preparation to pursue other career pathways.

We offer the following graduate degree programs:

BA/MA 5-Year Program

The combined BA and MA degree program in History integrates Loyola University Chicago’s current History degree programs at the undergraduate and master levels. The program provides specially selected History majors with the opportunity to more efficiently move through two degrees and thereby jump-start their professional development by completing two degrees in five rather than six years. Graduates of this program are well prepared to pursue a PhD in History, to apply to a professional school, or a wide range of positions in a variety of employment sectors. The combined degree is available for only the MA degree in History (not the program for the MA in Public History or the dual degree Public History/MLIS degree with Dominican University). The program outcomes are the same as for the MA in History.

MA in History

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA in History, graduates will be able to:

Apply the necessary research skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity of context and biases of primary and secondary sources.
Identify and criticize interpretive paradigms and methodologies relevant to historical scholarship and the historical profession.

Career Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA in History, graduates will be able to:

Perform historical research in archives and libraries and evaluate the provenance, context, validity, and biases of these sources from the past.
Demonstrate the ability to deploy multiple forms of communication (written, oral, and new media) to discuss their own historical scholarship and graduate-level knowledge of their chosen fields.

MA in Public History

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA in Public History, graduates will be able to:

Apply the necessary research skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity of context and biases of primary and secondary sources.
Demonstrate knowledge of the field of public history and its approach to understanding and presenting the past as well as illustrate facility with a variety of public history subfields.

Career Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA in Public History, graduates will be able to :

Use public history methods and theories to share historical interpretation with a broad range of public audiences.
Apply new media digital tools to the preservation and presentation of archival material.
Utilize the best professional practices to preserve, catalog, and present historical artifacts and records.
Understand and employ local, state, and federal preservation rules to establish the significance of historic properties.
Demonstrate the ability to work with public history institutions to make the past relevant to diverse communities.
Perform historical research in archives and libraries and evaluate the provenance, context, validity, and biases of these sources from the past.
Demonstrate the ability to deploy multiple forms of communication (written, oral, and new media) to discuss their own historical scholarship and graduate-level knowledge of their chosen fields.

MA in Public History/MLIS Dual Degree Program with Dominican University

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA in Public History and MLIS in Library and Information Science at Dominican University, graduates will be able to:

Apply the necessary research skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity of context and biases of primary and secondary sources.
Demonstrate knowledge of the field of public history and its approach to understanding and presenting the past as well as illustrate facility with a variety of public history subfields.

Career Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA in Public History and MLIS in Library and Information Science at Dominican University, graduates will be able to:

Use public history methods and theories to share historical interpretation with a broad range of public audiences.
Apply new media digital tools to the preservation and presentation of archival material.
Demonstrate the ability to work with public history institutions to make the past relevant to diverse communities.
Perform historical research in archives and libraries and evaluate the provenance, context, validity, and biases of these sources from the past.
Demonstrate the ability to deploy multiple forms of communication (written, oral, and new media) to discuss their own historical scholarship and graduate-level knowledge of their chosen fields.
Demonstrate expertise in archival management.
Employ strategies and best practices for preservation planning and management of archival preservation programs and resources.
Assume professional responsibilities in the library and information field.

PhD in History

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD in History, graduates will be able to:

Apply the necessary skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity of context and biases of primary and secondary sources.
Identify and criticize interpretive paradigms and methodologies relevant to historical scholarship and the historical profession.

Career Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD in History, graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to deploy multiple forms of communication (written, oral, and new media) to discuss their own historical scholarship and graduate-level knowledge of their chosen fields.
Advance the knowledge of the discipline.
Conduct cutting edge research.
Engage respectfully in debates about the nature of the past in order to enrich historical understanding and generate new questions and investigatory avenues.
Identify career goals and develop an array of skills to pursue diverse career pathways.

PhD in Public History/American History

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Program in Public and American History, graduates will be able to:

Apply the necessary skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity of context and biases of primary and secondary sources.
Identify and criticize interpretive paradigms and methodologies relevant to historical scholarship and the historical profession.

Career Outcomes

Demonstrate the ability to deploy multiple forms of communication (written, oral, and new media) to discuss their own historical scholarship and graduate-level knowledge of their chosen fields.
Advance the knowledge of the discipline.
Conduct cutting edge research.
Engage respectfully in debates about the nature of the past in order to enrich historical understanding and generate new questions and investigatory avenues.
Use public history methods and theories to share historical interpretation with a broad range of public audiences.
Apply new media digital tools to the preservation and presentation of archival material.
Utilize the best professional practices to preserve, catalog, and present historical artifacts and records.
Understand and employ local, state, and federal preservation rules to establish the significance of historic properties.
Demonstrate the ability to work with public history institutions to make the past relevant to diverse communities.

MA Steppingstones

PhD Steppingstones

Graduate students preparing to conduct research involving the use of human subjects, whether or not such research is pursued in connection with a thesis or dissertation, must secure approval of the University's Institutional Review Board for Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) prior to undertaking the research.

More information about using human subjects in research is available on the Institutional Review Board website.

Public History Portfolios: Putting It All Together

The public history portfolio plays a key role in the oral examination that caps the public history program. Hence the question of what should go into your portfolio is necessarily an important one. What follows are a few features that go into a strong portfolio.

The portfolio is made up of a current resume and examples of all your public history class products. You should include products from History 479, History 480, 481, 482, 487, and 483 if you took that course. If you are taking your exam before the final product is finished in 481, 482, or 487, include to the extent possible a draft of the final product
The resume should reflect all your professional experience including internships, volunteer or paid employments in the field, as well as class projects with genuine clients. Client-directed class projects should NOT be listed as “schoolwork” but rather as you working for the client. So, for example if your museum class worked on an exhibit for the Frances Willard House, list the work as being done for the Willard House NOT History 487.
Your internship report ranks among the most important elements of your portfolio.
One week before the oral examination e-mail the Public History Program Director and Graduate Program Administrative Assistant the portfolio as a single PDF. Please do not e-mail shared document links (e.g. SharePoint links). There is no need to submit a physical copy of the portfolio to the History Department. If one of your examiners wishes to have a hard copy, please make sure that examiner gets the hard copy one week before the examination.
Bring a laptop to the oral examination so that you can use see your portfolio during the examination.

If you have any questions regarding your portfolio or the public history exam, direct them to Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin (pmooney@luc.edu).

The Rambler Card is Loyola's official identification card and identifies all members of the Loyola community. This card provides access to the resources you need at Loyola University Chicago. It also provides access to campus buildings.

We expect you to have this card by the week before school begins. For updated information regarding the Campus Card Office hours, location and contact information, and the process of obtaining your ID, please visit the Campus Card Office website.

Loyola Resources

Information regarding the History Library Subject Specialist, Research Guide for History, and a complete list of All Research Guides, can be found at these respective links. Library subject specialists can provide customized guidance for research in all academic disciplines. The History Library Subject Specialist maintains the subject guide for History, which helps students and faculty navigate Loyola's library databases and other resources, and the Specialist works one-on-one with students looking for assistance with history projects and materials. The History Specialist is also available to consult with students on finding and obtaining materials needed for classroom or research purposes.
The research guide for government information, may be particularly helpful to students navigating sources related to the United States government.
The History Department has several copies of Dr. Karen Single's Demystifying Dissertation Writing guide available for loan in Crown Center, Room 558. This guide will be a helpful resource for dissertating PhD candidates, as well as MA students working on Master's Essays.
Loyola's Graduate School offers periodic writing workshops as part of its Graduate Writing Series. The Graduate School announces workshops in the email newsletter it sends to all graduate students.
The Loyola History Graduate Student Association runs a Dissertation Writing Group (DWG) that meets throughout the year to provide support for students navigating the dissertation process. For more information and to participate, contact the HGSA DWG co-chairs.
For Loyola students who have to apply to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for research clearance, the Graduate School usually offers a workshop on how to navigate this process. Check the Graduate School website and email blasts for updates throughout the year. The Graduate Program Director can also assist students applying for IRB clearance.
The Wellness Center often hosts a Dissertation and Thesis Support Group.

Other Resources

The Craft of Research (4th edition), by Wayne Booth, et. al., and published by the University of Chicago, is a helpful guide for anyone conducting in-depth historical research.
Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers' A Pocket Style Manual walks writers through several citation formats, including Chicago Style, the format most historians use when citing their work.
Dr. Tara Gray's Publish and Flourish: Become a Prolific Scholar provides helpful advice about time management and goal-setting for anyone undertaking a writing project.
Dr. Eviatar Zarubavel's The Clockwork Muse: A Practical Guide to Writing Theses, Dissertations, and Books provides useful advice for students working on any long-form writing projects.
Dr. Raul Pacheco Vega maintains a popular blog about research and writing. He is not a historian, but much of what he writes is applicable to humanists.
"A Guide to Writing Good Academic Prose," from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Graduate School students who are approved in advance for a Research Funding Request may receive reimbursement of up to $500 for expenses related to the research and preparation of a dissertation, thesis, or major research paper if applicable. The Graduate School will only grant one research funding award per student, and reimbursement for the funds must be claimed within the same academic year. To apply, please submit a Research Funding Request Form.

For more infomration on research funding from the Graduate School please visit the Financial Assistance and Funding website.

In support of the University Mission and in accordance with federal regulations effective January 2010, Loyola University of Chicago has implemented a new Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship program that incorporates ethics education into the curriculum for all students. All doctoral students are required to takes this course no later than the end of their second year in their graduate program.

More information is available on the Office of Research Services website.

For information regarding your rights and responsibilities when using electronic University resources, please visit the Information Technology Services Rights and Responsibilities When Using Electronic University Resources website.

Students seeking academic accommodations for a learning issue must meet with the Student Accessibility Center (SAC) to verify the learning issue and to establish eligibility for accommodations. Students may email sac@luc.edu or visit https://www.luc.edu/sac/ to begin the process.

Students should schedule an appointment with their instructor to discuss any academic concerns and/or accommodations within the first two weeks of the semester.

Wellness Center

The Wellness Center has many resources and programs to promote the phycial and mental wellbeing of our students. More information can be found by visiting the website for the Wellness Center.

The Line

The Line is Loyola's confidential hotline for support and resources related to gender-based violence (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment). The Line is staffed by highly trained, confidential Loyola Advocates who can help members of the Loyola community process instances of gender-based violence and navigate possible next steps, including reporting to Loyola, medical and mental health care, or legal options. Please consider saving The Line phone number (773) 494-3810 in case you or someone you know is ever looking for support.

More information can be found by visiting the website for The Line.

Parking

If a student plans to commute to Loyola, there are different parking lots available for use. The main parking structure, adjacent to Sheridan Road and the Halas Sports Center, houses the Parking Office. For a complete list of Lake Shore Campus parking options, locations, costs, and accepted forms of payment, please visit: http://luc.edu/campustransportation/generalinformation/lakeshorecampus/.

At peak class times, available parking can sometimes be scarce. Street parking in the community immediately surrounding campus is restricted to residents during certain hours, so be sure to read street signs and posted notices carefully to avoid getting a parking ticket.

Parking is also available near the Water Tower Campus, although it is more expensive. Parking stubs can be stamped at the information desk at the 25 E. Pearson building to receive a modest discount. For a complete list of Water Tower Campus parking options, locations, costs, and accepted forms of payment, please visit: http://www.luc.edu/campustransportation/generalinformation/watertowercampus/.

Shuttle Bus

Loyola offers an intercampus shuttle that runs express between the Lake Shore Campus and Water Tower Campus, Mondays - Fridays during the Fall and Spring semeter when classes are in session. Use of the shuttle is free for LUC students.

For more information on the shuttle, plese visit: http://www.luc.edu/campustransportation/services/intercampusshuttle/.

8-Ride

For more infomration about the University's van shuttle service please visit: https://www.luc.edu/campustransportation/generalinformation/alternativetransportation/8-ride/.

Additional general information about campus transportation can be found here: https://www.luc.edu/campustransportation/generalinformation/.

Questions should be directed to the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Benjamin Johnson (bjohnson25@luc.edu) and/or the Public History Program Director, Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin (pmooney@luc.edu).

Ve'Amber Miller, MA in Public History ('21)

"What I enjoyed most about the Public History MA program at Loyola was the connections I made with my cohort. Quite often, teamwork became less of a c

Ruby Oram, PhD in Public History and American History ('20)

"This program is ideal for prospective students who want a foot in both worlds. I left the program feeling confident that I could work with cultural institutions as a public historian or pursue an academic career as a US historian in a four-year university. I currently do both as a faculty member at Texas State...."

Learn more

Tara Hinkley, MA/MLIS Dual Degree Program ('21)

"Loyola's dual MA/MLIS program with Dominican has helped me hone my skills in librarianship, archives work and museum oriented work. My classes at Loyola provided connections with professionals doing history in many different ways and it truly opened my eyes to the incredible breadth of opportunities available to public historians..."

Bryan Escobar, MA in History ('14)

"Combining the traditional master’s program at Loyola with a minor focus in public history was an amazing experience for me. Going into graduate school I knew I wanted to work in the museum field but considered going through the traditional history route..."

Graduate Program Handbook

Academic Integrity

Advanced Standing/Transfer Credits

Advising

Career Resources

Communication/Contact Information

Communication

Instructions

Contact Information

Comprehensive Field Examinations - MA Level Students

Comprehensive Field Examinations - PhD Level Students

Conference Presentations and Travel Funding

Course Registration

Course Registration Forms

Degree Completion Forms

Degree Conferral/Graduation

Degree Program Requirements

Departmental Administration

Departmental Mailboxes

Dissertation Materials

Departmental Letterhead Usage Policy

Financial Resources

Grades

Graduate Assistants

Graduate School Academic Calendar

Graduate School Academic Policies

Graduate School Administration

Graduate Student Progress System (GSPS)

Grievance Procedure

History Graduate Student Association (HGSA)

Housing

Internships and Practicums

Leave of Absence

McCluggage Essay Competition

Nondiscrimination Policy

Parental Policy for Graduate Students

Presentations, Posters, Publications, External Awards, Outcomes, and Academic Honors

Program Overview

Program Steppingstones

Protection of Human Subjects in Research

Public History Portfolio

Rambler Card

Research and Writing Resources

Research Funding

Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship

Responsible Use of Electronic University Resources

Student Accessibility Center

Student Wellness

Transportation