The History Track (MA)

The Master of Arts Program in History offers a rigorous set of individually selected courses and supervised research and writing. Both demanding and flexible, the History Track is designed for students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. degree; for secondary school teachers who wish to improve their knowledge of the field; and for students who seek to test their capacity for graduate work. The program is designed to accommodate teachers with a demanding schedule but who wish to pursue their M.A. degree part time.

Persons who desire to pursue advanced study for their own intellectual enjoyment and development can also benefit from the program’s design, and the department welcomes prospective students who have been out of school for a long time or who have majored in other areas of study and now wish to pursue the study of history.

All graduate courses consist of small seminars of no more than fifteen students, which affords all students close faculty attention and support. Not all students enter the graduate programs in history directly from college: the student body includes individuals who beginning graduate work after long absences from school. Applicants do not need to have majored in history as undergraduates, but they may be asked to pursue a program of coursework designed to remedy deficiencies in their preparation for graduate study.

Knowledge of a foreign language is not required for the Master of Arts in History. Thesis advisors may require a foreign language if they determine that competence in a particular language is necessary for students to conduct research on the topic on which a student will write his or her thesis. In that case, students must demonstrate competence in the foreign language to the satisfaction of their advisors.

The History Teaching Track (MA)

The teaching track is specially designed to meet the needs of current and prospective secondary-school teachers of History and Social Studies. It emphasizes extensive and varied coursework in history, culminating in a teaching-oriented capstone project. This program does not confer teacher certification. Students seeking teacher certification should consult with the Teacher Education Program in the Graduate College of Education. The History MA Program will assist students in coordinating teacher certification and history requirements.

Please note that a foreign language is not required for the History Teaching track.

NEW! The Public History Track (MA)