Duquesne's Department of History offers two M.A. programs in History and Public History
to provide you with a supportive and holistic approach to graduate education. Master
the past to prepare for your future.
Duquesne University offers a 25% tuition award for select graduate degrees, including
History. Note: students receiving a tuition scholarship from the Department of History are
not eligible to receive the 25% University award.
The Department of History gives financial aid to most of its graduate students. This
financial aid is merit-based and is available in the form of assistantships as well as tuition scholarships. Both are awarded upon a student's admission to the graduate program and continue
as long as he or she remains in good academic standing. Students who do not receive
financial aid from the Department of History and who meet eligibility requirements
will receive the 25% award as noted above. Also, graduate students are eligible for
federal and state loan programs.
Assistantships
Assistantshipscover all tuition and fees andinclude a $4,000 stipend for each fall and spring semesters. The Department of History awards three of these
assistantships each fall semester to incoming students. Graduate assistants help professors
in the Department with their classroom responsibilities (such as grading and/or proctoring,
but not teaching or course prep) and research on a part-time basis of approximately
ten hours per week. Provided students awarded assistantships maintain good academic
standing, their assistantships are typically renewed each academic year through the
duration of their programs.
Tuition Scholarships
Most graduate History students receive departmental tuition scholarships to pay for
a portion of their tuition. The amount of tuition scholarships typically ranges from
one-third to two-thirds of tuition each academic year.
We know how expensive a graduate education can be. As a result, the Department of
History helps fund students' expenses related to certain academic activities, such
as conference registration fees and travel, as well as poster printing for conference
sessions. Also, the Dean's Office of the McAnulty Graduate School may fund a student up to $500 for conference expenses each year. In addition to the Dean's funding, the History
Department will fund an additional $250 towards conference funding once funding from the Dean's Office has been exhausted.
Through a generous gift to future students here at Duquesne, recently retired faculty
members Steven and Agnes Vardy have established The Drs. Steven Bela Vardy and Agnes Huszar Vardy International Research and Study
Grant. This grant provides $1,250 to support one graduate History or Public History student in conducting research
overseas between July 1 and June 30 of the following year. The Department of History
will provide up to an additional $500 to the winner of the Várdy Grant. These monies can be applied to any aspect
of overseas research, including but not limited to airfare, local transportation,
accommodations, food, and photocopying. The winner will also be required to submit
a 500-word report to the Department of History chairperson summarizing the results
of his or her research/study trip within four months of their return to the United
States.
FAQ's
for History's Graduate Programs
The University provides special floors in residence halls for graduate and law students.
Many graduate students live off-campus either in nearby apartment houses or in one
of Pittsburgh's many interesting neighborhoods. For a large city, housing costs in Pittsburgh are reasonable and there is a wide
range of options available for off-campus living. The Office of Commuter Affairshas information regarding off-campus housing.
Yes. Whether you live on- or off-campus, there are meal plan options available to
you. Check out the dining website for more information.
The University's Counseling and Wellbeing Center provides support that enables students to live a meaningful life based on a mind/body/spirit
approach to wellbeing, an approach that honors the fundamental dignity of the human
person by valuing him/her in his/her totality. As a graduate student, you have full
access to every resource within the Counseling and Wellbeing Center.
Typically our graduate students can finish their programs in four semesters if they elect to take nine credits (three classes) per semester. The McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts requires that all Master's students complete their degrees within six years of matriculation.
Absolutely. Some of our students have full-time jobs, families, and/or other responsibilities
that require them to take only 3 credits (one class) per semester. Keep in mind, however,
that part-time students will take longer than four semesters to finish their programs. The McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts requires that all Master's students complete their degrees within six years of matriculation.
Under special circumstances, a student who is a degree candidate may be given a leave
of absence for one semester (serious illness, job transfer out of the country, uncertainty
about completing the degree and needing a time of discernment, or military duty).
The student writes a letter to the department chair or graduate program director outlining
in detail the reasons for requesting a leave. The chair/director will determine the
appropriateness of granting the leave, add his/her recommendation to the letter and
forward it to the Dean. If the request is approved by the Dean, the Graduate School
office will place the student on hiatus. Extension of the leave beyond one semester
may be granted, upon review by the Dean. The student must submit a written request
to the department chair or program director for the extension.
Yes, some do. Because your graduate coursework will be more demanding than what you
experienced as an undergraduate, it will be important for you to find the right balance.
Some students who work while in our program only take one or two courses. If you are
offered an assistantship in our program and find that you still need outside employment, you are required
to fill out and submit to us a Graduate Assistant Outside Employment Approval Form.
The McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts considers six credits (two classes) each
semester to be full-time. You may take six credits each semester in our graduate program,
but doing so will require more than four semesters to complete the degree.
