Online Master’s in History Choosing a Program and Embarking on a Career

Emporia State University offers an online master's degree in history for students interested in becoming historians. There are four concentrations including public history, thesis, non-thesis and social sciences education. Upon completion of this degree program, students should leave with a knowledge of facts and theories within the field and have the ability to demonstrate their commitment to excellence through a variety of oral and written forms. Working in concert, faculty and students develop an environment that can lead to exceptional skills in writing, research and thinking. Students are able to move on to additional studies in archival work, teaching and public history.

Offering three different online degrees in Church History, the M.A.R., M.Div and M.A. in Theological Studies programs at this university are all well suited to students with an interest in biblical and church history, offering slight variations within each.

While the M.A.R. is ideal for students planning to pursue ministry opportunities, the M.Div. will appeal to those continuing towards doctoral level historical research. The M.A. in Theological Studies – Church History, on the other hand, is designed for students seeking to understand Christian historical context and is required in order to work within Christian education or missions. These distance programs vary in length. For example, the M.A.R. is the shortest with 33 hours, while the M.Div requires 93.

Unlike most other online MA programs in history, this is a 12-course, 36-hour degree. Offering thesis and non-thesis tracks, students can choose a route based on their future career goals. While students seeking continuing education will prepare and defend a traditional primary research-based thesis, the terminal non-thesis coursework allows for research in varied subject areas and is completed via comprehensive examinations.  Both options are available within the American and European histories emphases offered. Students with prior graduate credits from other accredited universities are allowed to transfer up to 12 hours, providing they are of “B” grade or higher.

Offering both MA and MS online degree programs in history, ISU caters to a wide range of professional and academic aspirations. Students intending to pursue a doctorate are best suited to the MA, while the MS caters to those seeking professional careers, including high-school teachers, museum curators, librarians, researchers or historic site specialists.

Students can expect to finish in three to five years of part-time online study. Courses tailored to individual goals are encouraged, with concentrations in U.S., European and world history forming the backbone of the program. The online library and research facilities are particularly impressive, including a collection on the American labor movement. This program is not open to international students.

Offering three online MA programs focusing on American, military or public history, the degrees at SNHU are designed for students of all backgrounds who are passionate about history.  In addition to not requiring a GMAT or GRE score for admission, students are able to finish within 15 months if following a schedule of two courses per 10-week term. The program is very focused on building skills designed to meet real world needs while also impressing on students the value of historical reflection and scholarship. Completion of coursework includes the option for either a significant project or long-form research paper.

The online MA program at MSU prepares students for careers in education, law, government and more, or for continuing doctoral studies. Candidates enrolled full-time are able to complete the degree in two years, with six hours of coursework spread over fall, spring and summer semesters. Part-time study is also easily negotiated.

Specialization areas include U.S. and world history, while specific global studies are also encouraged and offered with flexible scheduling. A strong emphasis is placed on developing historians’ skills for both continuing historical enquiry and usefulness in a wider professional development and career context.

The MA in history offered online by PSU is available to undertake via two tracks. For those with aspirations to continue into a doctoral program or advanced professional careers, the thesis route requires the completion of significant in-depth original research. The course work route is more holistic in nature, requiring papers, portfolios, internships, comprehensive exams and individual work. This track is more suited to those seeking licensure as a high school or community college teacher. While students have freedom to choose their topics and pace of study, the university does note that online students could find the course offerings limited.

LTU offers an MA in history that can be fully completed through the Global Campus program, though online students are not currently able to follow the thesis track. For candidates intending to pursue doctoral work, two substantial research papers completed during the degree can be substituted as evidence of thesis-level work.

Rather than a thesis, online students complete three comprehensive exams at the end of their coursework. Individualized study is available, and every student selects a major specialty concentration during the first semester. Interdisciplinary studies outside the discipline of history can also account for up to six of the 33 hours necessary for graduation.

The online MA in history offered by NU is made unique by providing two coursework tracks. For students seeking the advanced research, analytical and writing skills of professional historians, the research track culminates with the presentation of original research via a traditional thesis or a web-based multimedia project.

Candidates with less interest in doctoral or continued research are encouraged to pursue the teaching track, centering on a portfolio presentation of recent and classic scholarship relating to teaching goals. With emphases in American, European and world history, students can build either track to meet specific needs. Those pursuing the degree full-time can finish in two years.

The online MA in history at UM is an excellent option for students seeking a wide range of topics. Capitalizing on its location and faculty expertise, specializations include African-American and Southern; global; modern European; women, gender and family histories and Egyptology. Special topics are also announced occasionally with many different time periods highlighted.  The department is dedicated to adding courses and emphases to allow for a rigorous and engaging learning environment. For students with graduate credits from other institutions, UM allows up to 12 hours to be transferred. A thesis option is available with the expectation of the final project being approximately 16,000-25,000 words.

Students earning a Master of Arts in History degree from the University of Louisiana-Monroe spend 30 hours learning about various aspects of military, Civil War and United States history. The program’s 30 credit-hours are spent in classes like History of Warfare, The Makers of Europe and Civil War Military History. Specific areas of specialization include United States history, European history and the military. Students in this program aren’t required to complete a thesis. A minimum score of 900 on the GRE is required for admission to the program, as is a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Arizona State University offers an online master's degree in history, which aims to deepen their student's historical knowledge and understanding through the development of core skills that are applicable in a large number of settings. Upon graduating from the program, students should leave with the enhanced ability to analyze and research information, plan projects, organize their data, write coherently and speak effectively. Those who are interested in careers as professional historians, as K-12 educators, in law, in archival settings or in public service can benefit from this degree program.

As the only university offering a fully online MA degree in historic preservation, SCAD is an excellent option for students seeking to work in specialized historic settings as museum curators, historic site specialists, preservationists or archaeologists. Students gain an appreciation for the past while understanding how to preserve historical elements in the modern era and how to navigate relationships between communities and existing structures within them. The program has been recognized by many historical entities including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects and the International Downtown Association, among others.

Austin Peay State University has an online master's degree in history with a specific concentration in military studies. Students also have the option of receiving their certificate in security studies. This degree program is available completely online, and upon completion, students should walk away with the ability to think analytically and strategically. In addition to studying subject matter ranging from diplomacy to religious beliefs, courses will also cover tactics, culture, as well as examinations of other areas of military history. This master's program is open to any student who has completed their bachelor's degree.