The National Archiives and Records Administration is a government entity entrusted with keeping and preserving documents related to United States history. It is an archive on a grand scale that can be difficult to navigate for beginners. Many students do head to NARA for help with their research projects at WVU. Langbart provided a powerpoint that walks students through navigating the National Archives. It is a great introduction for students who are heading to NARA for the first time. Find the power point attached here. 
Colloquium is a one-credit course taken by all full-time Master's students and all Doctoral students who have not completed their comprehensive examinations. It provides exposure to different areas of the field and facilitates discussion on historical work.