Capstone Options

For Students Entering the Program Fall 2024 or Later:

Comprehensive Exams

All new students enter the program on the comprehensive exams path. The comprehensive exam path showcases competency across two historiographical fields. In collaboration with two graduate faculty members in History, students choose one field within United States History, and one field from outside of United States History. For both fields, students sit for a written exam, taking two exams in total. Students have seven days to write each exam and receive the results of their exam (pass or fail) within a week of submission. Students who do not pass either or both of their written exams must retake the exam(s), consisting of new questions, within two weeks of the original exam(s). Following the successful completion of both written exams, students sit for one oral exam. Students prepare for their comprehensive exams in 3-6 credits of HIST 6640: Graduate Historiography. Details on the requirements of the comprehensive exams can be found in the 2024-2025 History Graduate Student Handbook.

Thesis

The thesis path requires students to produce an original manuscript of at least 15,000 words based on the student’s original primary source research. We recommend that students seeking to pursue a PhD complete the Thesis track.

Students pursuing the Thesis track must write a thesis proposal. Students will submit the proposal to the Director of Graduate Studies and their Committee Chair (see “Forming a Committee,” above) by the end of their first year.

The proposal must contain the following elements:

• Thesis title
• Overall thesis abstract (250-500 words) 
• List or description of provisionary  primary and secondary sources
• Discussion of methodology 
• Outline of potential chapters (150-200 words each) that include arguments, cohesion statements, and general themes

The Director of Graduate Studies and the Committee Chair determine a student’s request for transfer to the Thesis path within two weeks of its submission. If accepted, the Committee Chair and the student will devise a timeline for chapter submissions, meetings, and feedback. If denied, the student may revise and resubmit.

Theses are completed under the supervision of the Committee Chair. The Committee Chair has full authority over the Thesis and determines if and when a student’s work is acceptable. Students should be in regular contact with their Chair to receive feedback on their work.

Thesis students should be aware that their thesis must conform to the ISU Graduate School’s requirements. The Graduate School is very stringent about these requirements. Please refer to the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation Manual (available as a PDF on their website). The thesis must be submitted to the graduate school within two weeks of the defense (see “Oral Defense” in this handbook).

Capstone Options

For Students Who Entered the Program Fall 2023 or Earlier:

All new students enter the program on the Portfolio path. Students must apply to write a thesis (see “Thesis,” below).

Portfolio

The Portfolio path showcases competency across several categories. Students submit a professional portfolio of their work prior to their defense. In addition to two required elements, students select three additional elements, chosen and prepared in consultation with their Committee Chair.

The student will submit their Portfolio in a digital format (typically PDF) to their Committee Chair for distribution amongst their committee.

General Parameters of Portfolio Elements

The Committee Chair has full authority over the Portfolio Elements and determines if and when a student’s work is acceptable. However, the Department has agreed on these general guidelines for the two required elements:

Historiographical Essay

The Historiographical Essay must be at least 20 pages in length and discuss a minimum of 8 scholarly sources. It should conform to the most recent Chicago Manual of Style.

Research Paper

The Research Paper must be at least 20 pages in length and based on original research using primary sources. It should conform to the most recent Chicago Manual of Style.

Thesis

The thesis path requires students to produce an original manuscript of at least 15,000 words based on the student’s original primary source research. We recommend that students seeking to pursue a PhD complete the Thesis track.

Students pursuing the Thesis track must write a thesis proposal. Students will submit the proposal to the Director of Graduate Studies and their Committee Chair (see “Forming a Committee,” above) by the end of their first year.

The proposal must contain the following elements:

• Thesis title
• Overall thesis abstract (250-500 words) 
• List or description of provisionary primary and secondary sources
• Discussion of methodology 
• Outline of potential chapters (150-200 words each) that include arguments, cohesion statements, and general themes

The Director of Graduate Studies and the Committee Chair determine a student’s request for transfer to the Thesis path within two weeks of its submission. If accepted, the Committee Chair and the student will devise a timeline for chapter submissions, meetings, and feedback. If denied, the student may revise and resubmit.

Theses are completed under the supervision of the Committee Chair. The Committee Chair has full authority over the Thesis and determines if and when a student’s work is acceptable. Students should be in regular contact with their Chair to receive feedback on their work.

Thesis students should be aware that their thesis must conform to the ISU Graduate School’s requirements. The Graduate School is very stringent about these requirements. Please refer to the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation Manual (available as a PDF on their website). The thesis must be submitted to the graduate school within two weeks of the defense (see “Oral Defense” in this handbook).