Catalog Year: 2023-2024
Banner Code: LA-MA-HIST-AH1
The faculty in the Master of Arts in History program are at the forefront of traditional historical study, digital approaches to the past, and applied history. Students select from a variety of course topics while also selecting an area of historical specialization that accommodates their interests and furthers their career objectives. Students come to the program with diverse career objectives, and the program is designed with that diversity in mind. Students take classes in which they discuss history alongside future academics, public historians, teachers, military officers, non-profit professionals, government officials, entrepreneurs, and future academics.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Total credits: 30 or 36
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing this degree must complete the requirements for one of the concentrations below. The concentrations in higher education and teaching require 36 credits, all others require 30 credits.
This concentration is for students planning to pursue doctoral studies. Students choose one of three geographic specializations and a chronological or thematic minor field within that specialization. Students complete coursework and a research seminar in their geographic specialization and an additional independent project or thesis in their minor field.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Must be taken within the first 9 credits
Students complete one of the following geographic specializations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Origins to 1861 | ||
| Colonial North America | ||
| The Age of Jackson, 1815-1854 | ||
| Development of the Early Republic, 1783-1815 | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Era of the American Revolution | ||
| Religion in North America to 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1861-1914 | ||
| Topics in the American Civil War Era | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| The Gilded Age and Progressive Era | ||
| Reconstruction Era | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 World War I to the Present | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| US Political History 1940-1990 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Interwar America: 1918-1939 | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern to 1789 | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1789-1914 | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 to the Present | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Stalinism | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Approaches to Modern World History | ||
| Problems in Latin American History | ||
| Problems in Global History | ||
| Problems in Asian History | ||
| Problems in African History | ||
| Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in Middle Eastern History | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| World War II Era | ||
Other appropriate courses with department approval |
||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 797 | Research Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| In consultation with the graduate director and other faculty, students identify a chronological or topical subspecialty and select two courses that relate directly to that subspecialty. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Language proficiency sufficient to conduct primary source research in the student's intended area of concentration, as demonstrated by thesis or independent research project.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credits of Project or Thesis | 6 | |
| Project and additional Elective | ||
| Directed Research and Writing in History 1 | ||
Additional 3 credits from Specialization |
||
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Requires the completion of a major paper that is a substantial and original contribution to historical knowledge on the model of an article in a scholarly journal. If students choose to take , they complete an additional 3 credits in their specialization.
This concentration is for students seeking expertise in applied history fields, such as archival management, museum studies, historic preservation, and historical editing. It is also suitable for professionally employed historians who desire to further their careers.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Must be taken within the first 9 credits
Students complete one of the following geographic specializations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Origins to 1861 | ||
| Colonial North America | ||
| The Age of Jackson, 1815-1854 | ||
| Development of the Early Republic, 1783-1815 | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Era of the American Revolution | ||
| Religion in North America to 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1861-1914 | ||
| Topics in the American Civil War Era | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| The Gilded Age and Progressive Era | ||
| Reconstruction Era | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 World War I to the Present | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| US Political History 1940-1990 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Interwar America: 1918-1939 | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern to 1789 | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1789-1914 | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 to the Present | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Stalinism | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Approaches to Modern World History | ||
| Problems in Latin American History | ||
| Problems in Global History | ||
| Problems in Asian History | ||
| Problems in African History | ||
| Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in Middle Eastern History | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| World War II Era | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 797 | Research Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Students take 12 credits of coursework in historic preservation, museum studies, archives, historical editing, or new media and information technology. At least 6 credits must be taken as coursework other than internship.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Experience | ||
Students may meet this requirement through a minimum of 3 credits of internship or with professional experience in applied history, with documentation and approval of department. Students with professional experience will take 12 credits of coursework from the list below to meet the applied history requirement. |
||
| Internship in Applied History | ||
| Select 6-12 credits from the following: | 6-12 | |
| Topics in Applied History | ||
| War and Remembrance | ||
| Introduction to Digital Humanities | ||
| Topics in History and New Media | ||
| Teaching and Learning History in the Digital Age | ||
| The Administration of Archives and Manuscripts | ||
| Museum Studies | ||
| Historical Editing | ||
| Historic Preservation | ||
| Digital Public History | ||
| Clio Wired: An Introduction to History and New Media | ||
| Data Analysis for History | ||
| Creating Software for History | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students fulfill the requirement by completing one of the following: | ||
Coursework, work or internship experience, or exam in computers, statistics, or a modern foreign language. |
||
| Introduction to Digital Humanities | ||
| Clio Wired: An Introduction to History and New Media | ||
Other course by approval of department |
||
Students pursuing this concentration take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Must be taken within the first 9 credits
Students complete one of the following geographic specializations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Origins to 1861 | ||
| Colonial North America | ||
| The Age of Jackson, 1815-1854 | ||
| Development of the Early Republic, 1783-1815 | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Era of the American Revolution | ||
| Religion in North America to 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1861-1914 | ||
| Topics in the American Civil War Era | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| The Gilded Age and Progressive Era | ||
| Reconstruction Era | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 World War I to the Present | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| US Political History 1940-1990 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Interwar America: 1918-1939 | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern to 1789 | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1789-1914 | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 to the Present | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Stalinism | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Approaches to Modern World History | ||
| Problems in Latin American History | ||
| Problems in Global History | ||
| Problems in Asian History | ||
| Problems in African History | ||
| Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in Middle Eastern History | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| World War II Era | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 797 | Research Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses in new media and information technology 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Students should consult the department for relevant courses.
If students chose to do a 3-credit internship, they will take an additional 3 credits in applied history course work from courses numbered HIST 680 - HIST 698.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 794 | Internship in Applied History | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students fulfill the requirement by completing one of the following: | ||
Coursework, work or internship experience, or exam in computers, statistics, or a modern foreign language. |
||
| Introduction to Digital Humanities | ||
| Clio Wired: An Introduction to History and New Media | ||
Other course by approval of department |
||
This concentration is for students who want to study history for intellectual self-fulfillment or vocational reasons. It allows more flexibility in the selection of courses and does not have a foreign language requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Must be taken within the first 9 credits.
Students complete one of the following specializations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Origins to 1861 | ||
| Colonial North America | ||
| The Age of Jackson, 1815-1854 | ||
| Development of the Early Republic, 1783-1815 | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Era of the American Revolution | ||
| Religion in North America to 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1861-1914 | ||
| Topics in the American Civil War Era | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| The Gilded Age and Progressive Era | ||
| Reconstruction Era | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 World War I to the Present | ||
| U.S. South Since 1865 | ||
| US Political History 1940-1990 | ||
| Civil Rights and Citizenship | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| Interwar America: 1918-1939 | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| U.S. Religion since 1870 | ||
| Indigenous North America | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern to 1789 | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1789-1914 | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies and with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| 1914 to the Present | ||
| Modern Metropolis | ||
| Stalinism | ||
| Technology and Power | ||
| History of Disease and Medicine | ||
| Problems in European History (when topic applies with department approval) | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
Select at least 3 credits from each group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Approaches to Modern World History | ||
| Problems in Latin American History | ||
| Problems in Global History | ||
| Problems in Asian History | ||
| Problems in African History | ||
| Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Problems in Middle Eastern History | ||
| Disasters in History | ||
| World War II Era | ||
Other appropriate course with department approval |
||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 797 | Research Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from U.S., European, or world history (listed above) that is not in their chosen specialization. | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students can choose to pursue a Thesis in lieu of two electives | 9 | |
| Select three elective courses | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
Select one elective course |
||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The concentration in higher education is intended for students who want to teach history at community college. It includes coursework in both history and education, including a course on college teaching. Students are required to take at least one history course in each of three areas (U.S., European, and world history), and they are encouraged to take two courses in each area to prepare them to teach the U.S., western civilization, and world history survey courses most commonly offered at the community college level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Must be taken with the first 9 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select six courses in history 1 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Must include at least one course each from U.S. European, and world history.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 797 | Research Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| College Teaching | ||
| Practicum | ||
Six credits of HE electives |
||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
This concentration offers students interested in a career in secondary education the option to devote part of their History MA to graduate coursework that can be applied toward the requirements for licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students who have an interest in obtaining licensure to teach should meet with a pre-Education advisor in the College Of Education and Human Development at the beginning of their program to create a plan for completion of the required content-coursework prerequisites (Endorsements). You can view information here: https://cehd.gmu.edu/endorse/ or contact the Pre-Education Advising Coordinator at endorse@gmu.edu. Students seeking licensure must also enroll in the Secondary Education Licensure Graduate Certificate (E1-CERG-SELC), a state-approved educator preparation program. Upon completion of the discipline-specific content competencies coursework; the MA in History, concentration in teaching; and the Secondary Education Licensure Graduate Certificate, students will be eligible for recommendation for an initial teaching license in Secondary Education History and Social Science.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Must be taken within the first 9 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select five courses in history, at least one course each from U.S., European, and world history | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 797 | Research Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SEED 567 | Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary School | 3 |
| SEED 522 | Foundations of Secondary Education | 3 |
| EDRD 619 | Disciplinary Literacy | 3 |
| SEED 540 | Human Development and Learning: Secondary Education | 3 |
| SEED 667 | Advanced Methods of Teaching Social Sciences in the Secondary School | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |