Visit Graduate Studies Electronic Forms, fill out a “Request to Change Program Form,” and submit for approval. Also reach out to the Director for the Center of War and Society, Dr. Greg Daddis at [email protected], to discuss entering into the concentration and its requirements.

Visit the Graduate Studies Electronic Forms, fill out a “Permission to Enter an Advanced Certificate Form,” found under the Advanced Certificate tab, and submit for approval. Also reach out to Dr. David Cline at [email protected], to discuss requirements.

You may choose Plan A if: You enjoy doing research based on primary sources; want to work closely with a faculty member whom you have identified on a source-based project; are considering continuing into a Ph.D. Program and would like some primary source research to show potentially Ph.D. programs that you are capable fo research and strong writing.

You may choose Plan B if: You enjoy learning studying the secondary scholarship of two particular fields of history more in-depth but do not necessarily see yourself using primary sources to study them; would like to study a field where sources are more difficult to access or are in a foreign language that you do not speak; have a restricted time-line for finishing your thesis and feel that Plan B (Comprehensive Exams) are a way to be sure to finish your degree in a timely manner. 

Do feel free to discuss these choices with faculty members with whom you are working or want to work and also with the graduate adviser. 

For the thesis you will need to work with two history department faculty members. You would choose faculty who work somewhat closely to the field you wish to write your thesis in, and with whom you think you may be able to collaborate well. Try to find a primary thesis advisor (a first reader) first. Your third reader will be a fulltime faculty member outside of the history department. You might look at profiles of faculty in other departments to identify them, consult with your thesis advisor or consult with your graduate advisor. You do not need to select a thesis advisor until your second or third semester. 

For the comprehensive exam directors, they should be two faculty members in the history department, relatively familiar with the fields you want to focus on. Some faculty members insist that you have taken a course with them before they will consent to direct your comprehensive exams. You should approach them and ask them about this possiblity and their requirements. Feel free to talk to your graduate advisor about selecting comps directors.How do I enroll in HIST 799A (for Plan A)? To enroll in HIST 799A, the final semester thesis writing seminar, you need to have identified all three readers. You should email the graduate advisor with their names, the title of your thesis, and your Empl ID and they will file a form on your behalf which generates the code to enroll in HIST 799A.

To graduate, you need to have passed all requirements (check your audit in my.SDSU for this), Advanced to Candidacy, passed your Foreign Language Competency and completed your thesis or comps. In the semester when you wish to graduate, you will apply for graduation in the first month of the semester (the university sends out announcements about the deadline each semester). You will need to submit your thesis to Montezuma Publishing before the “safe deadline.” The thesis must be published before the end of final´s week usually. Finally, you need to send either the dated front page of your thesis  or your comps directors need to report that you successfully passed your comps to the graduate advisor so that she can file the Form of Final Completion  on your behalf. 

While this is not a requirement, there are opportunities for graduate students. Visit the Graduate Student Programs page on the SDSU Global Education Office site.

Office: Student Services East (SSE), Room 1410
Phone: 619-594-5213
Email: [email protected]

https://grad.sdsu.edu

Phone: (619) 594-7552
Email: [email protected]

https://www.montezumapublishing.com

Office: Student Services West (SSW), Room 1551

https://registrar.sdsu.edu

Office: Student Services West (SSW), Room 3615
Phone: (619) 594-6871

https://sacd.sdsu.edu/financial-aid

Cal Coast  Student Financial Center

https://sacd.sdsu.edu/sfc

Graduate Student Health Insurance Program

https://grad.sdsu.edu/current-students/insurance

Title IX (Students) 619-594-3069

https://titleix.sdsu.edu