Student Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes for the history graduate program (MA)
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Historical knowledge: Students should gain a solid understanding of their fields of study and be able to integrate them into a compelling narrative of historical change and continuity over time.
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Historiographical knowledge: Students should become familiar with major historical works, interpretations, methods, and theories central to the discipline and to their fields of study.
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Analytical Thinking: Students should be able to recognize patterns and connections in primary sources and critically evaluate secondary sources.
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Original Research: Students should be able to develop a research topic of appropriate scope, identify the appropriate primary and secondary sources to carry out their project, present an analytical argument in clear prose appropriate to a specialist reader, and make oral presentations on their findings.
Mission Statement
The Master of Arts in History is a 30-credit-hour program that enables students to develop and hone the skills and techniques professional historians use to analyze the past. While history is often thought of as simply a series of events, historians are more than mere chroniclers of the past; they seek to understand and interpret it. As such, our program seeks to develop in students an understanding of not only past events but also how different historians have interpreted them, as well as the various theoretical and methodological approaches that have shaped these diverse and often contradictory historical narratives.
Rigor, Flexibility and Value
Missouri State University Department of History is committed to providing its diverse student body with an educational experience that is rigorous, flexible, and value for money. To this end, our program offers courses in three modalities – asynchronous, blended, and seated. Moreover, the Master of Arts in History can be completed online through the asynchronous modality and on campus through a mix of asynchronous, blended, and seated courses. So, whether you plan to study full-time or complete your graduate studies at a slower pace, our program offers you the flexibility you need to meet your educational goals.
Program Aims
The Master of Arts in History at Missouri State University provides a firm grounding in the professional study of history. We are dedicated to fostering a comprehensive and rigorous academic environment that equips students with advanced knowledge and critical skills in historical scholarship, as well as preparing students for a range of professional paths, including post-secondary, college, and university teaching and research, archival work, and other fields that value advanced research and analytical skills.