MA in History

Tyson Reeder, 2010

Why did you decide to pursue an M.A. in History?

History has been my passion since Mr. Anderson’s 5th grade class. I explored other graduate and career options from time to time but always returned to history, convinced that if I practiced my passion I would find success. History not only fires the imagination about worlds lost in the past but gives us unique perspective on worlds present.

What was your most rewarding class? Why? 

So many to choose from! Ultimately, I must settle on Suzanne Smith’s writing seminar on race and criminal justice. It helped unlock a love of writing interesting stories about the past. I also learned to think intensely about complicated history with deep relevance to the present. I eventually published the final product in the Georgia Historical Quarterly.

How has the M.A. program helped you with your career or your personal interests?

I started the M.A. program as an inexperienced but eager student of history and started to mold me into a scholar. I learned to think in more complex ways about more complex topics. I carried that into my doctorate studies and ultimately my career as a professor.

Any career advice you would give to students in the program?

Study what you love, what grabs your attention. In my experience, too many students try to shape their research to fit what they believe to be the interests of the field. If you study what you love, you will succeed because you will find joy in putting in the long hours and painstaking thought that scholarship demands.

Tell us something that people would be surprised to know about you. 

I research in five languages.