The M.A. in History prepares students to become insightful and skilled research scholars, ready for PhD programs in History or a broad range of careers in cultural, academic, policy, or business settings.
Academic Areas of Focus
The History MA program focuses on 19th- and 20th-Century American History, with specific strengths in Social, Cultural, and Urban History. Faculty strengths in American history also include the built environment, labor, the history of sexuality, the history of women and gender, the history of political economy, and the history of popular culture and entertainment. Students in the MA program are required to select a major field in United States history. In addition, they will choose a minor field in Public, Medieval, Modern Europe or Gender and Women's history. Thematic minor fields (such as race and ethnicity or colonialism and empire) may be created with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. Students may also select a minor field from another discipline with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. Students wishing to pursue a minor field in public history must meet with the Public History Program Director and formally declare their intention to do so.
Related Programs
Curriculum
The Master of Arts program requires 30 credit hours, a comprehensive exam, and a research tool. This degree may be completed en route to the PhD with agreement of the Graduate Program Director.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HIST 400 | Contemporary Approaches to History | 3 |
| Nineteenth Century America | |
| Twentieth Century America | |
1 | |
| |
| Total Hours | 30 |
Major and Minor Field
Students in the MA program have a major field in 19th and 20th Century United States History. They will choose a minor field in Public, Medieval, Modern Europe, or Gender and Women's History. The courses listed below are possible options as any actual minor field coursework will be developed with the Graduate Program Director. Thematic minor fields (such as race and ethnicity or colonialism and empire) may be created with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. Students may also select a minor field from another discipline with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. Students wishing to pursue a minor field in public history must meet with the Public History Program Director and formally declare their intention to use public history to do so.
Public History Minor Field Courses
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HIST 479 | Public History Media | 3 |
| HIST 480 | Public History: Method & Theory | 3 |
| HIST 483 | Oral History: Method and Practice | 3 |
Medieval History Minor Field Courses
Modern Europe Minor Field Courses
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HIST 441 | Women's & Gender History: Europe | 3 |
| HIST 464 | Transnational Urban History | 3 |
| HIST 499 | Directed Study | 3 |
Gender and Women's History Minor Field Courses
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HIST 441 | Women's & Gender History: Europe | 3 |
| HIST 442 | Women's & Gender History: U.S.A. | 3 |
| WSGS 401 | History of Feminist Thought | 3 |
Research Tool
All master's level students must demonstrate competence in a research skill (oral history, public history media, or a reading knowledge of a foreign language, for example) appropriate to their major field. They are expected to master this skill before advancing beyond 18 credit hours. Coursework taken to master a language or for oral history and public history media if used for a research tool does not apply toward graduation.
Comprehensive Field Examinations
Toward the end of their graduate program, students must pass a take-home written examination in the major field. The student will produce two 10–15 page historiographical essays based on a reading list developed in conjunction with a two-member committee of history faculty of their choosing. The committee should be established no later than the beginning of the semester in which the student intends to take the examination. Students will have one week to complete the exam, which will be evaluated by the student’s examination committee. In addition, students satisfy the examination requirements in the minor field through earning nine credit hours with at least a B (3.0) average.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for the major. Students should consult the undergraduate program director for assistance with course selection.
Plan of Study Grid
| Year 1 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| HIST 400 |
Contemporary Approaches to History |
3 |
| HIST 450 |
Nineteenth Century America |
3 |
|
3 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Spring |
|---|
| HIST 461 |
Twentieth Century America |
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Year 2 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
|
3 |
|
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Spring |
|---|
|
3 |
|
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| | Total Hours | 30 |
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in History, graduates will be able to:
- Apply the necessary skills to produce original scholarship on a chosen historical topic using primary sources while evaluating the validity of context and biases of primary and secondary sources.
- Identify and criticize interpretive paradigms and methodologies relevant to historical scholarship and the historical profession.
