Traditional Master's Degree Plan

The master's degree in history is a 30-hour program that can be completed in 1.5 years if you maintain full-time student status.

Other features of the program include:

  • Fall, spring or summer start.
  • Online, seated or hybrid class formats.
  • Twelve (12) credit hours of core courses, and another 12 credit hours in your track area.
    • Track areas are: United States History, World History, and U.S. and World History.
  • Six (6) credit hours of research requirements.

Review the admission and program requirements for full details on completing your degree.

Degree options

Use either of the following plans as a guide for your overall schedule.


Track options

You'll select one of three possible tracks in order to complete the program. Each track allows you to focus your studies on a field of specialization.

Depending on your course of study, you may be able to take non-history courses as well.

Graduation research requirement

Regardless of which track you select, you must choose one of two options to fulfill the graduate research requirement:

  • Thesis: This option requires that you complete a written thesis and oral presentation of your research to graduate. A thesis typically includes extensive research and analysis on a historical topic of interest.
  • Seminar: The seminar option requires the completion of a seminar paper and oral presentation of your research to graduate.

In addition to completing a thesis or seminar paper, all history graduate students must pass a comprehensive exam. Written exams will be taken after course work is completed. An oral exam will be taken after the approval of the research requirement.

Review admission and program requirements