History Department

Randi Storch, chair
Brett Troyan, acting chair, fall; graduate coordinator, spring
Kevin Sheets, graduate coordinator; acting chair, spring

Old Main, Room 222
(607) 753-2723
Fax: (607) 753-5598

Overview

Why do humans create and destroy? What can we learn from the remnants of past civilizations? How does information in the historical record help us create a better and brighter future? Explore these questions and more as you engage your love of history and pursue the M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: social studies (7-12) - history concentration at SUNY Cortland.

Program Highlights

Expand your skills in historical reading and writing as you enjoy interacting with our outstanding faculty, who bring their excitement for history’s reach into enthusiastic exchanges in small classes. You’ll also benefit from interactions with your professional peers, most of whom already are teaching and can share their real-world classroom experiences.

Gain additional perspective from the guidance of our dedicated faculty mentors while conducting personally motivated research. Topics may range from women on the Oregon Trail or African Americans in the Civil War to issues in European or non-Western history such as the Holocaust and Latin American revolutionary movements. Internships may involve helping collectors with cataloging or projects at local historical societies and museums.

Take advantage of our flexible scheduling, with classes beginning at 4:20 p.m. to accommodate your current employment situation.

Culminating Experience

You’ll also write a master’s thesis or sit for a comprehensive written examination based on course work and mastery of the content and historical literature in your concentration or a combination of your concentration and a secondary field.

Career Potential

When you complete the M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: social studies (7-12) - history concentration at SUNY Cortland, you will achieve the terminal master’s degree required for permanent certification to teach adolescence social studies and history in the public schools of New York state. You may also choose to continue on to a Ph.D. program, and you’ll be well prepared for a career in a wide range of fields, including museums, archives, social work, library science, urban planning, public history, geography, political science, business, law or state and federal civil service.

Graduate Admissions

 Evaluation Policy

At the State University of New York College at Cortland, we seek a diverse and academically strong student body. Our admission policy and practice will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or marital status.

Required Materials

1. Completed online Graduate School Application - Apply Now
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to SUNY Cortland Graduate Admissions Office
   Note: candidates for admission must present evidence of bachelor's degree conferral prior to the start of their academic program.
3. A resume, submitted online with the application
4. A statement of educational and professional goals, submitted online with the application
5. Two letters of recommendation with at least one from an instructor in your undergraduate social science major or concentration, submitted online with the application
6. Documentation of an initial/provisional certificate, or a certificate of qualification for initial or provisional certification, in adolescence/secondary or elementary social studies issued by the New York State Education Department

Admissions Criteria

Minimum admissions criteria include:

1. A minimum of 18 credit hours in history or geography and a minimum of 21 credit hours combined in history and geography.
   For candidates with exceptional circumstances, this requirement may be modified. Please contact the department's graduate coordinator.
2. Evidence of satisfactory completion of the three-credit-hour Fall 2011 New York state requirement of a course on the subject of teaching students with disabilities
   This requirement may be met concurrently with graduate study.

Preference will be given to candidates with the following:

1. An overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
2. An overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 or above in social science major

Deadlines

Fall semester applications: July 1
Spring semester applications: Dec. 1
Summer semester applications: April 1

Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on a space availability basis.
Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at (607) 753-4800 to check availability.