Changing Area of Specialization?

[SimilarlyDifferent]

The short version of my question is the following: If you have been accepted to an MA program and you wrote in your statement of purpose the area you were interested in studying, are you bound completely to stay within that area? Is there freedom to take courses in other areas? Do many people do this?

My reasons for asking is that my undergrad institution trains mostly future K-12 teachers. As such, in order to graduate with a degree in History, we could not focus in one geographic area, as a matter of fact, we were not allowed more than 12 credits in one geographic location (which I really didn't like). As such, I never really developed a specific field of knowledge. My undergrad thesis, and all of my current research for it, is in the area of early American religious history. When I applied to grad schools, I listed this as my primary research interest. I was accepted for an MA program with a generous scholarship.

Upon looking through the course offerings from my school, I am not super excited about their American History courses. From reading the listings and looking at the courses they have offered over the past few semesters (the program is only a couple of years old) most of their American History focuses on political history rather than cultural or intellectual. Course titles are things like "Democracy in America" and "American Foreign Policy" no offense to anyone who enjoys these types of history, but they aren't really my cup o' tea.

Upon reading the course listings and readings for other sub fields of history (European Intellectual, and thematic history such as "History of the Book") I think I'd find myself enjoying these more. Many of the listed readings are things that I have read before on my own for enjoyment which further leads me to believe that it is more of a right path for me. I understand that this sort of research on courses is something I should have done before writing my SOP, but I was feeling a little pressure from my LOR writers and thesis adviser to continue in the field I was working in. So my question, as stated above, is it possible for me to shift my focus? I know that when accepted to a PhD program you are accepted to work with a certain professor and that area changing is not really much of an option, is that different for MAs? Although I have been accepted to a program, I have not yet gotten any information about who my adviser will be and I don't know if this is something I should ask at admitted students day, or wait and talk to my future adviser about when I finally get one.

At first I was a bit discouraged at getting into the MA rather than PhD, but now I think it might have been exactly what I needed in order to more fully explore what I truly want to study. Any thoughts on the subject are quite welcome.

[Sparky]

I applied for MA programs intending to study 20th century Africa.

Within two weeks of my medieval church history class, even the professors were saying to me, "You're doing medieval, right?"

In other words: it's totally not a problem. In fact, it's probably expected. I also think it's pretty common to be more attached to a thematic type of history (e.g. cultural-intellectual) rather than era-area. We pick a regional and temporal specialization for dissertation/hiring purposes, of course, but you find a decent number of people who publish across those boundaries but within their 'flavor' of scholarship.

[sankd]

Short answer: No, yes, probably.

I changed from German history to Middle Eastern history during my MA, for instance.

[TMP]

The question is: Even if you can, can YOU do the legwork for the language requirement?

[sankd]

The question is: Even if you can, can YOU do the legwork for the language requirement?

Oh yeah, I should have noted in my case that I came in knowing German and then took two years of Arabic (summer intensive + 2 semesters) during my MA. Changing fields is some work, I agree.

[SimilarlyDifferent]

I applied for MA programs intending to study 20th century Africa.

Within two weeks of my medieval church history class, even the professors were saying to me, "You're doing medieval, right?"

In other words: it's totally not a problem. In fact, it's probably expected. I also think it's pretty common to be more attached to a thematic type of history (e.g. cultural-intellectual) rather than era-area. We pick a regional and temporal specialization for dissertation/hiring purposes, of course, but you find a decent number of people who publish across those boundaries but within their 'flavor' of scholarship.

This is what I was hoping for. I'm interested in cultural history and I tend to lean toward the study of religions and religious institutions.

As far as the language requirement goes, I have foundations in French, but I'm not where I would need to be. I have been planning to continue with the language whether or not I change subject matters because I enjoy it. There will just be the added pressure of getting good enough at it to be able to use it for research (not to mention to pass an exam).