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Programme description - Master’s Degree Programme in History
Degree
The Master’s degree programme in History leads to a Master of Philosophy in History. Duration of the programme is 2 years (120 ECTS credits).
Programme Coordinator
History Institute, Social Sciences Faculty, University of Tromsø. The Programme Board.
Language of instruction
Norwegian.
Application deadline: 15. April
Admission requirement
In order to be accepted onto the master’s degree programme in History, a completed bachelor degree with a specialization of at least 80 points (ECTS) in History is required, or equivalent. This specialization will take the form of at least 30 points at HIS 2000 (intermediate) level, or equivalent. An academic minimum requirement is set of grade C, which is calculated from the average of the grades awarded for specialization subjects. (An exception concerning specialization in History is made in the case of the bachelor degrees in Russian Studies and Multicultural Norway, Past and Present. In each case, 70 specialization points will be sufficient as a basis for acceptance.)
Programme description
Through the master’s degree study programme students will acquire a deeper insight into historical research and historical problems than that offered by the bachelor degree study programme. This will increase an understanding of historical research methods and theories, and develop a more independent attitude to historical source material and historical accounts. This will be achieved partly through seminar teaching and partly through work on a historical dissertation.
Competence objectives
The master’s degree study programme in History offers both a deeper analysis of society from an academic historical point of view, but also a competence in critical analyis generally, a skill that is transferable to other fields. The study of History qualifies students for teaching and research positions at university and polytechnic (høyskole) level. It also provides a qualification for commissioned research work for public and private commissioning bodies. Otherwise, many people with a master’s degree in History choose to work in schools, the field of culture, archives, media and museums, or in an executive officer capacity in the public and private sector.
Subject organization
The master’s degree study programme in History consists of two main sections. Each of the two sections comprises 50% of the study programme, each equivalent to 60 points. The first part consists of an introductory course (HIS 3001), sources and methods (HIS 3002), historical theory (HIS 3003), historiography/scientific history subject (HIS 3012-3020) and historical didacticism (HIS 3004). Students must choose two subjects from HIS 3012-3020 with emphasis on research debate.
The subjects within scientific theory, theory and sources, and method (HIS 3001, 3002, 3003 and 3004) are usually compulsory, but may be replaced by approved alternatives upon application. Students must choose two subjects within historiography/scientific history (HIS 3012-3020).
The second part consists of work on an independent master’s degree dissertation, based on a self-selected or appointed subject (HIS 3900). Each student is appointed to a supervisor towards the end of the first semester for academic support, particularly in connection with the preparation and execution of the work on the master’s degree dissertation. The work on the dissertation must be linked to a seminar series that assumes active and obligatory student participation.
The first section of the study programme is normally accomplished during the first and second semesters, with the exception of historical didacticism (HIS 3004), which is taught in the third semester. The second section of the study programme (HIS 3010) is mostly carried out during the third and fourth semesters, but the preparation takes place at the very end of the first semester, in collaboration with the academic supervisor, and towards the end of the second semester students must submit a notification of their master’s degree dissertation with an outline of the theme, issues and organization (approx. 10 pages, space and a half format).
Student exchange
Parts of the master’s degree study programme in History may be undertaken at one of the History Institute’s partnership universities, and students should normally assign such a period of study abroad to the second, third or fourth semester. During a period of study abroad, students may work on subjects that will replace the subjects offered by the Institute, or work on sections of their dissertation. Approval of a period of study abroad will take place upon application.
Teaching and examination procedures
The teaching linked to courses HIS 3001-3004 and 3011-3018 is seminar-based, with lectures, discussions and writing short assignments on a “work in progress” basis (essays up to 5 pages in length, space and a half format). Student activity is emphasized. The work on the master’s degree dissertation (HIS 3900) is linked to a seminar series that assumes active and obligatory student participation.
Examination procedures vary between essay-writing, take-home assignments, examination lectures and portfolio assignment. The examinations for HIS 3001-3002 are in the form of an essay (5-10 pages) during the first semester, and portfolio assignment. HIS 3003 is in the form of an essay (5-10 pages) during the second semester, and HIS 3011-3018 is in the form of a take-home assignment (5-10 pages), also in the second semester. HIS 3004 takes the form of a 20-minute lecture during the third semester, and HIS 3900 takes the form of a master’s degree dissertation, in which the assessment of the written work is followed by an oral examination towards the end of the fourth semester. The completed dissertation should be 70-100 pages in length (space and a half format). The deadline for submission of the master’s degree dissertation is 15 May during the Spring semester and 20 November during the Autumn semester.
The final grading for HIS 3900 will be decided upon after the oral examination. All the examinations use a grading scale incorporating five levels of pass (A-E) and F (fail), except for HIS 3001, which uses a grading scale of pass/fail.
Progression
| HIS-3001 * |
Introduksjonskurs til mastergradsprogram i historie * |
| HIS-3002 * |
Kilder og metoder * |
| HIS-3003 * |
Historieteori * |
| HIS-3004 * |
Historiedidaktikk * |
| HIS-3005 * |
Introduction to the History of Indigenous Peoples: Colonisation and Revival * |
| HIS-3012 * |
Europa i Afrika - utvikling eller underutvikling? * |
| HIS-3013 * |
Samene og nasjonalstaten * |
| HIS-3014 * |
Identitetsskaping i historia * |
| HIS-3015 * |
Demografi og migrasjon 1800-1900. Norden, Europa og Nord-Amerika * |
| HIS-3016 * |
Den skandinaviske polarforskninga * |
| HIS-3017 * |
Russland og Europa. Teorier om egenarten ved Russlands historie * |
| HIS-3019 * |
Middelalderens flerkulturelle Nord-Norge * |
| HIS-3020 * |
Byene i den nordeuropeiske middelalderens samfunn * |
| HIS-3900 * |
Mastergradsoppgave i historie * |
| HISTHF-300 * |
Historie hovedfag, deleksamen i fellespensum * |
* Not translated, showing original language
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