BYU graduate studies in history

[_deacon blues]

I read recently in a response to a Deseret News article that BYU no longer offers graduate courses in history. Checking a course catalog seems to confirm it. Does anyone know these graduate courses were discontinued? and why?

[Guest]

That's curious. The only thing left in the graduate catalog that even allows some element of historical research appears to be French Studies.
http://graduatestudies.BYU.edu/content/ ... studies-ma

[_ldsfaqs]

I don't know, are they trying to be more "practical", having graduate courses that can be more benefit for more people career minded?
Not exactly many careers that a Graduate degree in History can provide. Likely other colleges that have better programs for that.

[_hagoth7]

A masters in Comparative Studies would be another degree that at least allows advanced training in history.
http://graduatestudies.BYU.edu/content/ ... studies-ma

[_hagoth7]

I don't know, are they trying to be more "practical", having graduate courses that can be more benefit for more people career minded?...

Perhaps.

[_MsJack]

It was discontinued shortly after I left the university, between 2007 and 2009 (I think). Don't know why.

When you consider that most of the people looking to get graduate degrees at BYU have also gotten bachelor's degrees there... unless you're going to live/work/teach in Utah, getting two liberal arts degrees from one single religious school with a pretty narrow worldview probably isn't the best idea. History is a liberal arts degree that regularly appears on lists of "worst master's degrees for your career." If you aren't going to get a PhD in history, it's not the best choice for a career (and I say that as someone who's finishing a history MA at another religious school and has struggled to re-enter the work force). If you are going to get a PhD in history, and you have a BA from BYU, you're better off doing your MA at another school.

I know someone who did a BA and MA (both in liberal arts, but not history) at BYU, excelled at her classes there, taught classes there, and... got rejected from every PhD program she applied to across the country. I have to wonder if getting both her degrees from BYU wasn't part of what did her in.

[_Kishkumen]

BYU has always focused on providing quality undergraduate education. I think it is still a shame to lose graduate programs, but I am thinking from the perspective of a faculty member who loves the quality interaction one gets from working with grad students in graduate courses and on graduate research projects.

[_Chap]

When you consider that most of the people looking to get graduate degrees at BYU have also gotten bachelor's degrees there... unless you're going to live/work/teach in Utah, getting two liberal arts degrees from one single religious school with a pretty narrow worldview probably isn't the best idea. History is a liberal arts degree that regularly appears on lists of "worst master's degrees for your career." If you aren't going to get a PhD in history, it's not the best choice for a career (and I say that as someone who's finishing a history MA at another religious school and has struggled to re-enter the work force). If you are going to get a PhD in history, and you have a BA from BYU, you're better off doing your MA at another school.

I know someone who did a BA and MA (both in liberal arts, but not history) at BYU, excelled at her classes there, taught classes there, and... got rejected from every PhD program she applied to across the country. I have to wonder if getting both her degrees from BYU wasn't part of what did her in.

BYU has always focused on providing quality undergraduate education.

From MsJack's note above, it looks as though they would be wise to stick with that, seems there seems to be a problem with other universities recognizing that the combination of their graduate programs with their undergraduate courses provides the quality they are looking for in candidates for further studies.

Or maybe they just hate Mormons.

[_Kishkumen]

I was accepted into almost every PhD program I applied to, and I had two degrees from BYU.

[_MsJack]

I was accepted into almost every PhD program I applied to, and I had two degrees from BYU.

You were also in classics, and we both know BYU has one of the best undergraduate classics programs in the country.

Anyhow, not saying it can't be done. I just think it isn't a good idea. It can be a bad idea in general and a really bad idea when it's a conservative religious school with a narrow worldview:

http://ask.metafilter.com/130429/Going- ... r-bad-idea