The M.A. program is designed to introduce students to the basic skills of historical research as well as to the debates about, and the approaches to, historical scholarship in the a specific field. The program can be completed in one year, and includes 9 four-unit courses in a major field. Financial aid is not available for Masters' students, but they may be employed as Readers for departmental courses. The Department offers M.A.s in European history, US history and History of Science and administers an interdisciplinary M.A. programs in Judaic Studies. The department also provides the opportunity for students to design special M.A. programs in areas such as African History, Medieval European History and Pre-Modern Chinese History. In consultation with an appropriate faculty member students may petition the department for approval for a special M.A. Students interested in pursuing an M.A. degree in Latin American Studies are encouraged to apply for admission to the UCSD Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies (CILAS) M.A. degree program. Required courses vary for each major field (see below), but all courses must be taken for a letter grade.