History

Program Director: David Ulbrich
Associate Program Director of Academics: John Broom

Mission

The Master of Arts in History program:

• provides students with a base of historical knowledge within the field of history,

• builds awareness of differing historical interpretations and the ability to synthesize diverse types of historical knowledge,

• build and refine student research, writing, analysis, and presentation skills,

• provides students with an introduction to historical pedagogy,

• provides students with a foundation for developing a professional identity as a historian and,

• helps students “learn to think like a historian” and develop “historiographical sensibilities” and “historical habits of mind.”
   

The Master of Arts in History curriculum is guided by the goals for history M.A. degrees outlined by the American Historical Association. The curriculum provides students with a base of historical knowledge, graduate-level historical research skills, an introduction to historical pedagogy, the foundation for an identity as a historian, and the “habits of mind” of a professional historian.

Comprehensive Examination

In lieu of a capstone paper or thesis, a student may complete a written comprehensive examination while taking an additional elective as their sixth seminar and enroll in the comprehensive examination. The degree is not conferred until the student successfully the exam.

M.A. Thesis

The M.A. thesis is an original research project demonstrating the student’s ability to conduct primary source research and mastery of the historiography germane to the research question. The thesis must demonstrate graduate-level analysis, synthesis, and argument and make a compelling case for the argument’s historical and historiographic significance. A petition to the Program Director, Associate Program Director for Academics and Capstone Director is required during the fourth seminar. The petition must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation from two Military History program faculty and a thesis proposal.

Online programs admission criteria.