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2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog
History, MA
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 Return to: Programs of Study
The Master of Arts degree program in history provides intensive graduate training in European, Latin American, Public, and United States history. The program prepares students to pursue doctoral or other professional studies, to teach history at the secondary or community college levels, or to find employment in public history and other fields, and it provides rigorous study in the humanities for those seeking non-academic professions.
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Prerequisites
Students applying to the M.A. program in history should have twenty-one hours of undergraduate history, including 6 hours each of European and American history or the equivalent. For regular admission to the program, students must submit three letters of recommendation, transcripts, a writing sample (8-12 pages), and a statement of purpose. Students choose between Thesis Track, Exam Track, and Public History concentration. Thesis and Exam track students choose a major and minor field, and Public History concentrators choose a minor field (see Areas of Graduate Study below). Students are admitted to the program and choose concentration or track and major and minor fields during advising for their second semester. Thesis Track:
Required courses: Electives: Other requirements: - 30 hours total of graduate History courses (6 hours may be taken in a discipline other than history with the approval of the student’s committee chair and the Graduate Coordinator)
- At least 18 hours at the 500-level and above
- No more than 12 hours of HIST 515 , HIST 525 , or HIST 535
- Successful completion and defense of a thesis prospectus, normally during the second semester of full-time enrollment in the program
- Successful completion and oral defense of a thesis
Exam Track:
Students may choose the exam track at any point in their progress through the program. Required courses: Electives: Other requirements: - 33 total hours of graduate courses (6 hours may be taken in a discipline other than history with the approval of the student’s committee chair and the Graduate Coordinator)
- At least 15 hours at the 500-level and above
- No more than 12 hours of HIST 515 , HIST 525 , or HIST 535
- Successful completion of a comprehensive written and oral exam
History M.A., Public History Concentration
Public History Concentration: Required courses: Electives: - 9 hours in public history courses
- 6 hours in minor field, including graduate readings seminar (HIST 511 , HIST 511 , or HIST 561 )
- 3 hours free graduate history elective
Other requirements: - 36 total hours of gradute courses (6 hours may be taken in a discipline other than history with the approval of the student’s committee chair and the Graduate Coordinator)
- At least 15 hours at the 500-level and above
- No more than 12 hours of HIST 515 , HIST 525 , or HIST 535
- Completion of an Internship, which may necessitate travel to an internship site
- Successful completion and defense of a Capstone prospectus, normally during the third semester of full-time enrollment in the program
- Successful completion and oral defense of a Capstone project
Areas of Graduate Study
Graduate History Courses are offered in four fields: European, Latin American, Public, and U.S. history. Variable content courses can count toward any field depending on content. Students in the Thesis and Exam tracks choose a major and a minor field from these areas in consultation with their committee chair and the Graduate Coordinator in History. Students in the Public History concentration have Public History as a major field and choose a different minor field. Available courses by field are as follows: European History Courses
Latin American History Courses
Public History Courses
United States History Courses
Dependent upon subject
Language Requirements
The department does not require knowledge of an approved language other than English for the master’s degree. Reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages may be required depending on area of specialization, however. The language examination must be satisfactorily completed before any part of the comprehensive examination is taken. Comprehensive Requirement
Each candidate for a Master’s degree is required to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of their fields of study. Towards this requirement, students in the exam track are required to complete a comprehensive examination including written and oral components that assesses students’ familiarity with the historical narrative and significant scholarship in their chosen major and minor fields during the final semester of study. Thesis-track students meet the comprehensive requirement through successful completion of an oral defense upon completion of the thesis. Public History concentrators meet the comprehensive requirement through successful completion of an oral defense upon completion of the capstone project. Procedures
- Following admission to the M.A. program in history, students will consult with the Graduate Coordinator in registering for courses.
- Generally during advising in their second semester, students will declare a track or concentration and major and minor fields in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator.
- After the completion of 12 hours of graduate history coursework, students will consult with the Graduate Coordinator to select a committee chair and members, and students on the thesis track or Public History concentration will declare a thesis or capstone topic.
- The chair of the student’s committee will aid in choosing other members and will assume the functions of comprehensive, long-range planning and advise the student regarding each semester’s registration. The Graduate Coordinator will continue to advise the student each semester.
- It is expected that full-time students will complete all requirements for the M.A. degree within two years.
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Return to: Programs of Study
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