M.A. in History

Introduction

The Master of Arts in History program provides advanced training in American, African, Middle Eastern, Asian, European, Latin American history, digital humanities, and many other areas of specialization. It aims to equip students with a substantial understanding of historical content and practical skills to identify and analyze themes and patterns across the historical landscape. 

The program encourages students to explore various areas and topics while allowing them to focus on subjects that captivate their interests. Through tailored course selections, students in the Master of Arts in History focus on specialized history courses in particular areas of the world, as well as public history, museum studies, and archival studies. They can acquire practical skills applicable to careers in teaching at the K-12 level and in community colleges, historical associations, museums, and public history. Students registered for the program may also pursue internship opportunities and courses that may culminate in the award of certificates in various areas of study.

The program therefore helps prepare students for employment in academic and professional institutions, historical organizations, archives, museums, local, state, and federal offices, as well as in advanced graduate programs such as Ph.D. programs, and for secondary school teachers seeking additional enrichment or certification to teach CCP courses. 

Close contact between students and faculty is achieved through a combination of lecture-discussion courses, internships, and research seminars. These initiatives aim to enrich and deepen students' historical knowledge while providing training in history as both a scholarly and applied discipline.

Admission Information

In addition to College of Graduate Studies requirements for admission, applicants to the History program must have: 

1. An undergraduate major in history with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, or an undergraduate history minor with sufficient undergraduate history courses with grades of B or better to serve as an indicator of probable success in the graduate history program.
2. Two letters of recommendation, ideally from professors from whom the applicant has taken advanced undergraduate history courses, or who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential.
3. A writing sample that showcases the applicant's research, analytical, and writing abilities. The department prefers that applicants submit a substantial research paper from a history course, no longer than 20 pages.

4. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are desired from all applicants. GRE test results are required for applicants who do not yet meet the College of Graduate Studies requirement of at least a 2.75 undergraduate GPA for admission.

   Under special circumstances, an applicant may remediate undergraduate deficiencies by enrolling as a non-degree student. Non-degree students must achieve a graduate GPA of 3.0 or better for twelve credit hours in approved courses to qualify for admission. 

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Financial Assistance

The Department of History offers a limited number of scholarships and tuition grants to qualified students. The Department of History also offers several graduate assistantships to complement full-time study. These assistantships require approximately ten to twenty hours of service per week to the department, depending on the award received, and, in exchange, the graduate assistants receive tuition benefits in addition to a stipend to support their studies. 

Responsibilities of graduate assistants include tutoring students, assisting professors in preparing lectures and discussions, and working on departmental programs. Additional financial assistance may also be available through various internship programs. Applicants interested in scholarships, tuition grants, and assistantships for the Fall Semester must complete their application packet by April 1 of the prior Spring Semester, or, if they are interested in the Spring semester, they must complete their application packet by August 1 of the prior Fall Semester. 

Interested students should contact the Department of History Graduate Program Director and/or the Department of History Chair.

Career Information

The History MA program is intended to prepare students for employment in the private and public sectors, entry into doctoral programs in history, and acquisition of skills that are critical for functioning meaningfully in society. The students in the Master of Arts in History are therefore expected to take various history courses specializing in different areas of the world [for example, America, Europe, Africa, Asia] as well as public history,

Graduates of the program are also provided with knowledge and skills for teaching history and social studies at the K-12 level and in community colleges, as well as careers in public history and digital humanities in non-academic settings such as historical societies, libraries and archives, national parks, government agencies, and historical preservation organizations. In addition, the master’s program in history provides students with a variety of skills that are basic to success in many careers in the private sector, and other professions. Recent graduates who have demonstrated skills in conceptualization, research, analysis, and oral and written communication have gone on to careers in banking, the media, insurance, journalism, law, marketing and advertising, publishing, and government service.

Faculty Research and Publications

All graduate faculty members participate in the activities of local and national historical associations and are actively engaged in research and publication within their fields of specialization. In recent years, faculty members have made significant scholarly contributions in the form of books and articles on a wide range of topics, including ancient, medieval, and modern European history, with a focus on Ancient Greece and Rome, Spain, and modern Germany; medieval and early modern Europe; American history, especially in the areas of tenantry and land ownership during the American Revolution; urban and public history, tourism, 20^th century black popular culture, colonialism, and racial discourse and labor activism in the 19^th century South; sexuality and gender in China; Moroccan political and social history; African history during the pre-colonial, and modern periods; Latin American history; and modern Caribbean history. The MA program is designed to encourage students to interact closely with faculty in their areas of interest. Through research and reading seminars, independent study, and/or writing a master's thesis, students are encouraged to develop independent research and writing skills.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Degree Requirements

The program offers two pathways for the Master of Arts degree in History: The Standard Program for graduate Students, and the Accelerated Program for Undergraduate Students

1. The Standard MA Program:

Graduate students, under the Standard MA Program, may pursue Plan A or Plan B for the Master of Arts degree in History: 

Plan A requires writing a thesis, while Plan B requires additional courses in lieu of a thesis. Prospective students will select one of the programs in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. 

For both plans, students are required to complete a total of thirty credit hours in approved courses with at least a 3.0 grade-point average. Only one grade of B- may count towards the degree and grades below B- will not count towards the degree. 

Depending on their undergraduate preparation in history, students, with consultation and approval from the Graduate Program Director, may take up to six credit hours in courses outside of the History Department. For the policy on transferring credit from another institution, see the section on Transfer Credit in the Enrollment Regulations part of the Catalog. 

Upon admission, each student must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies in History in order to establish a general plan of study. 

HIS 697—Independent Study in History may be taken only with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. 

Special Requirements for Plan A 

1. A minimum of twenty-one core-credit hours [7 courses], which must include: 

• HIS 601 Introduction to Graduate Study in History (3 credits)
• HIS 695 Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History (3 credits)
• HIS 599 Internship (3 credits)
• A minimum of four 600-level reading seminars (12 credits). 

2. The remaining nine credit hours may be taken at the 500 and 600 levels. 

Students who wish to write a thesis must discuss it with the Director of the Graduate Program for approval.

Once the topic is approved, the student can enroll in HIS 699—Thesis (six credit hours).

 The student doing a thesis must still take:

• HIS 601 Introduction to Graduate Study in History (3 credits)
• HIS 695 Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History (3 credits)
• HIS 599 Internship (3 credits)
• A minimum of four 600-level reading seminars (12 credits). 

Their remaining 3 credit hours may be taken at the 500 and 600 levels.

Special Requirements for Plan B 

1. A minimum of twenty-one core credit hours [7 courses], which must include: 

• HIS 601 Introduction to Graduate Study in History (3 credits)
• HIS 695 Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History (3 credits)
• HIS 599 Internship (3 credits)
• A minimum of four 600-level reading seminars (12 credits). 

2. The remaining nine credit hours may be taken at the 500 and 600 levels 

2. The Accelerated MA in History: 

Highly qualified undergraduate students can be admitted into the accelerated MA in History Program, enabling these students to earn both a BA and an MA degree in five years.

The undergraduate students must have the following qualifications to join the accelerated Master of Arts program:

1. Must be enrolled into the undergraduate program corresponding to the MA program;

2. A minimum of 60 credit hours, 30 of which must have been completed at CSU;

3. A grade-point average of 3.0 or better [Freshman with 3.5 from high school can also be admitted into the program, but must be reviewed upon completion of 60 credit hours as an undergraduate student to be considered eligible for enrollment into the MA program];

4. Completed the following core majors in history:

• HIS 299: Introduction to Historical Studies
• Two history courses at the 300 or 400levels;

5. Personal statement outlining qualifications for the program;

6. Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities, such as a professor or schoolteacher.

Upon admission, the students in the accelerated MA program must also consult with the Director of Graduate History Studies in order to establish a general plan of study for MA in History.

For a student in the accelerated program, the BA is awarded after completing at least 120 credit hours and all General Education, University, College, and Major Field requirements. 

Up to 9 credits of 500-level courses may count toward both the BA degree and the MA degree.

The MA degree is awarded after the student completes at least 21 additional graduate-level credits and fulfills all  MA program requirements in History.

A student must achieve a grade of B or higher in each graduate-level course for it to count towards the MA.

The following courses will count toward the accelerated MA in History:

1. Core Requirements (9 Credits/3 Courses)

• HIS 601 - Introduction to Graduate Study in History
• HIS 695 - Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History
• HIS 599 - Internship

2. History Content (12 Credits/4 Courses))

Twelve credit hours at the 500 and 600 levels, including at least two graduate-level (600) seminars such as

• HIS 693 - Seminar in Special Topics
• HIS 697 - Independent Study in History (6 credits) - Requires the approval of the Graduate Program Director

3. Three HIS courses at the 500-level (9 credits/3 Courses):

• HIS 500-level Elective
• HIS 500-level Elective
• HIS 500-level Elective

For more on the BA/MA Accelerated Program in the Department of History, see: Program: History, Accelerated Master’s BA/MA - Cleveland State University

See also the following link for more on the Accelerated Program at Cleveland State University: https://graduate-studies.csuohio.edu/current-students/accelerated-masters-pathways

For further information on the MA program, see: https://artsandsciences.csuohio.edu/history/master-arts-in-history