Shared-Credit Degree Program in History

The Shared Credit Degree Program in History allows outstanding undergraduate history majors to take graduate courses while they are finishing their undergraduate degree. This is a great opportunity to get a taste of History graduate training and get a head start on graduate studies. 

Students who plan ahead can get their Master's Degree in just ONE year of graduate school after their Bachelor's. But the Shared Credit Program is not just about reducing time in graduate school, but getting a better sense of whether graduate seminars and History graduate school is it a good fit. The graduate training that the student receives is exactly the same of a graduate student who enters our MA program after attaining a BA.

YOU MUST PLAN AHEAD! Applications are due in November if your Junior year. If you think the program might be a good fit for you, please contact the Director of Undegraduate Studies to consult about your situation ASAP.

Traditionally, students are not able to begin the MA program until the BA degree is completed. In a shared credit program, however, students are allowed to apply up to 18 credit hours of shared coursework to their graduate degree while they are completing their undergraduate degree. Between 6 and 18 graduate credits (2-6 courses) are taken during a student’s BA degree program and are applied to both the BA and MA degree requirements. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Being accepted into the shared credit program is NOT THE SAME as being accepted into Graduate school. If you still want an MA in History at this point, you still must apply and follow the UNM Graduate School application deadline--usually around mid December.

You don't have to be in the shared credit program to take a graduate seminar. If you are interested in taking a graduate seminar while finishing your undergradute degree, you can speak with the professor for permission, and  if admitted, use that course for undergraduate credit. The shared credit program is for applying many graduate courses to your undergraduate degree, and is not necessary for taking one or two graduate courses as part of your undergraduate degree.

Get advice early! Especially if you are interested in completing your BA + MA in 5 years, you must plan out For questions about finishing your BA in History, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (dushistory@unm.edu). For questions about applying to graduate school or graduate requirements for the MA, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies (dgshistory@unm.edu).

REQUIREMENTS

All the following "requirements" are more like rough guidelines to help students be prepared for challenge of graduate seminars and to avoid anxiety about finishing their BA on time. These are timed for students who plan to graduate in the Spring, so move them up one semester if you aim for a Fall graduation, and be sure you're in communication with the DUS and DGS!

 

FALL of Junior Year (the term applications are due)
  • ~3.5 GPA
  • On track to complete TWO upper-division History courses by the end of the term
  • On track to complete 90 creditsby the end of the term
  • Discuss with faculty member a graduate seminar for Spring semester
  • Apply by November 15

 

SPRING of Junior Year 
  • Take first gradute seminar
  • Continue progress toward BA requirements, and potentially HIST 491
  • Discuss with Director of Graduate Studies what graduate courses make sense for next Fall

 

FALL of Senior Year 
  • Enroll and complete 2 graduate seminars
  • Be on track to complete both 491 and 492 by the end of the year in addition to graduate seminars
  • Apply to UNM Graduate School
    • CAREFUL! Being accepted into the shared credit program is NOT THE SAME as being accepted into Graduate school. If you still want an MA in History at this point, you still must apply and follow the UNM Graduate School application deadline--usually around mid December.

  

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  • Prepare a ~2-page letter of intent describing your interest in the program, your qualifications, and career interests
    • Be sure to describe in particular how your background has prepared you for the more intensive reading, discussion, research, and writing in a graduate seminar.
  • Provide names of 2 UNM faculty members (at least one from the History Department), who can serve as recommenders and speak to the liklihood of your success.
  • An unofficial transcript
  • All application materials must be submitted by NOVEMBER 15 to our History Graduate Administrator, Dana Ellison (dellison@unm.edu).

FUNDING THE SHARED CREDIT PROGRAM

Students in this program will be eligible for one year of departmentally controlled graduate funding in their last year of school. Until they receive their BA, students will continue to have undergraduate status and, thus, will continue to be eligible for undergraduate scholarships or Pell Grants.