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It will have taken me three years (part time), but the first year I took a few classes as a non-degree student because I didn't apply in time to be considered as a degree-seeking student. Those credits were then applied to my regular program once I was accepted into the regular program. I've also taken a class in each of the last two summers to help take care of some of my credits, so it's been pretty regular studying for the past few years for me.
I think other programs might be shorter though, and if you take it full time I believe they can normally be done in two.
It will take me about 3 years. I have taken some pretty significant summer breaks for the past two years though. I could have finished it in 2 but decided I wanted to avoid burn-out. I would hate it if I studied myself into hating history, I would give up school for a good long while first I think.
I am approximately half way done. A junior. I am pretty certain I want to go to grad school and what I want to do. What if anything should I be doing now and what should I be looking for? How often do you attend class a week in grad school? The only schools around here who offer what I want or may want are in Boston. It's not that far away or undoable, but it is a hassle, although if I got accepted to Tufts, that would be awesome.None of the local schools (except Brown) offer exactly what I want. Here's Prov. Coll. and URI's graduate schools for history. They don't offer what I want unless what I want is too specific. Or maybe I just need to begin thinking about having to deal with going to Boston?http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/grad.htmlhttp://www.providence.edu/Academics/Graduate+Studies/Degree+Programs/History.htm
So…what is it you want to do with a Masters, might I ask? (not that you have to tell me) Also, would you want to go straight out of undergrad or take some time off?In my field, which might be different than your field, you often are admitted to a Phd program from your undergraduate institution, which means you get your Masters + Phd over the course of your time in the program. However, there are also programs like the one I'm in where it's a terminal Masters program, since my school doesn't offer Phds in my field. That's why I have to look elsewhere. Something to think about in your field, as well.In my type of program, it's accessible for people to complete if they're working, so classes meet in the evenings, once a week for 3 hours at a time. I know that the graduate program at a neighboring school that offers the Masters + Phd together, classes are during the day so you can't really work in a regular job at the same time.If you want to beef up your chances of getting into a program, you may want to consider submitting a paper or two to conferences, give a presentation in your area, or something similar. If you take some time off, that may be something to do in the meantime.
So...what is it you want to do with a Masters, might I ask? (not that you have to tell me) Also, would you want to go straight out of undergrad or take some time off?
Very likely no time off, maybe a month or so but that's it. I'm not 100% sure yet what I want to do. I may want to be a teacher but not in secondary, preferably at the college level. It seems some of the Masters programs I'm looking at around here focus on being an educator. If possible (or realistic), I'd like to be a full-time professor somewhere. I'm willing to move for trhat type of job, but not willing to move while getting an education. That's too risky and my current job pays fairly well. But then again, it might be necessary.
In my field, which might be different than your field, you often are admitted to a Phd program from your undergraduate institution, which means you get your Masters + Phd over the course of your time in the program.
That's something I've seen but don't know really know the requirements.If I want that full-time professor job, this may be my best option, but I don't know where to look and what it entails. If I do that, is it still possible to work at my present job until I complete my education? If I do well as an undergrad are my chances good getting accepted into that type of program? What should/can I do now to enhance my chances? Should I just go to public lectures and historical societies and start networking and kissing butt?
If you want to beef up your chances of getting into a program, you may want to consider submitting a paper or two to conferences, give a presentation in your area, or something similar. If you take some time off, that may be something to do in the meantime.
How do I do that and where would I submit it? I assume you mean submit some type of senior thesis? Or could I just submit some of the papers I've already written? If so, maybe I'll post them here for critique.
The funny thing is AMU has an interesting Masters program (scroll down to Concentration in Ancient and Classical History). But they seem to focus a lot on warfare, which is fine, but I'd like more art, literature, and language courses which AMU doesn't offer. Tufts has much more specific courses I can choose from, plus they have Greek and Latin language. Mainly I don't want to get both degrees online, unless that's not considered a bad thing these days. Right now, I'm sort of concerned my online BA might hinder my chances of getting into a program elsewhere.
That's something I've seen but don't know really know the requirements.If I want that full-time professor job, this may be my best option, but I don't know where to look and what it entails. If I do that, is it still possible to work at my present job until I complete my education? If I do well as an undergrad are my chances good getting accepted into that type of program? What should/can I do now to enhance my chances? Should I just go to public lectures and historical societies and start networking and kissing butt?
I'm not entirely sure how you should proceed as an undergraduate, but one thing is that you'll need good recommendations. This is especially helpful if you know a professor who likes you who has another professor friend at a school with a Masters program where you could potentially get in. You'll also need to get good grades as an undergrad. Obviously, you'd have to make some life choices in regard to study and work. If you can find a program that offers evening classes, that might be your best option.
How do I do that and where would I submit it? I assume you mean submit some type of senior thesis? Or could I just submit some of the papers I've already written? If so, maybe I'll post them here for critique.
There are organizations that send out "calls for papers" from time to time. It's not unusual to see them be open to graduate and undergraduate papers. I'm going to present at two conferences this Fall, one in Boston and one in Mississippi. Where do you find these calls for papers? The history dept at your school may get them and post them in some newsletter. The following site lists some conferences on classical topics in my field, but as you can probably tell there's some overlap into general history as well:http://www.apaclassics.org/Classics/calls.html
As far as the papers, I think I'm going to wait and get more experience with writing. That Sport History organization I joined has paper submissions but I need to look into it more on how to do that. There are a few professors at AMU who I liked but have never asked anything like this. (scout, should I talk to Blodgett, the head of the history department, about my future goals?)Unless I get a good starter job after I graduate, changing jobs is a scary thought. Boston really isn't that much of a drive, it's just that I'm surprised none of these RI local universities offer anything. Maybe I should go speak with a history department adviser at PC or URI? Perhaps they do have some type of graduate program I'd be interested in that's not listed (or I can't find) on their websites. URI has a new Hellenic Studies center, maybe they have degree plans coming in the near future. They have an UG Classical studies major (which is more language intensive than history IMO), but not grad. So are you coming to Boston or doing this via the web? Is it open to the public?
So are you coming to Boston or doing this via the web? Is it open to the public?
Yes, I will have to fly out to Boston. I'm not sure if it's open to the public. Actually, probably not since I had to pay a registration fee for the conference. 🙁
Ski,I can tell you that I have networked with a few of my professors at AMU. But it was always the professor that intiated the contact. I have one or two that I took classes from for my undergrad that I stay in touch with and one who I took a grad class from. I think I impressed them with my writing, at least that is what one told me. Personally, I would be forward and talk to one of your history professors before I would talk to Blodgett. Have you taken a class from Brian Carey? He is one of the better and more accessible undergrad profs. I am a member of several associations and they all announce calls for papers in their journals. I have not submitted one yet but am working on one. I think I will try to get published in a journal before I submit a conference paper, I also want to attend a few conferences first.I am not so concerned with getting into a PhD program, I have decided that I would rather write popular history after I retire and finish school. I may teach on the side but I don't think that academia and I are a great fit.The best advice I can give re: Profs is to approach one and see what happens. He may blow you off but more than likely he will offer some good advice and may begin to mentor you. I have one of my undergrad profs as my thesis advisor. I asked him because I was so impressed with the way he handled the two classes I took from him. Plus he also lives in Germany so it makes it easier to talk to him.
Brian Carey?
Yes! I didn't like his method of teaching at first, but I later realized how much I learned from him. Had him for West Civ II and will probably have him for Ancient Warfare. He did compliment my WWI paper. There's 2 independent study senior classes I'm interested in and if it's a professor choice rather than being assigned a professor I will ask for Carey or my Greek and West. Civ I professor Dorothy Slane. Not many people liked her, but I liked her a lot because she was very knowlegeable, matter-of-fact, and strict with citations and writing. If I do grad work at AMU, she teaches a lot of the courses too.
