M.A. in History

There are three ways to pursue an M.A. in History at Ohio: 

1. A thesis track for those seeking to conduct original research and who may be interested in pursuing a doctorate.
2. A non-thesis track for those without a larger research agenda. Most students chose option one, but both options one and two are designed to be completed within two years.
3. An Applied History track designed to be completed in less than two years. It has its own set of requirements.

The thesis and non-thesis track are discussed on this page. The Applied History track is discussed in detail on its own information page.

Degree Requirements for Thesis and Non-Thesis Track

The M.A . program in History provides advanced training in historical research and writing. Students specialize in a major and a minor field of historical study. Each field is drawn from within one of three broadly defined geographical areas of concentration, and fields are defined by a national, regional or thematic focus.

View Degree Requirements in the Official University Catalog

• Area of Concentration and Field Requirements
• Historiography Course
• Research Seminar and Languages
• Advisors and Planning
• Thesis
• Graduation Requirements
• Financial Aid and Teaching

Primary Field

After choosing a broad area of concentration (United States, Europe, Global/Transnational), M.A. students must take three courses (four hours each) in a primary field related to their area of concentration.

Fields are narrower topics of specialization within areas of concentration, usually defined in terms of national/regional geography, chronology, and subject/theme of study. Students’ choice of concentration and field will coincide with their primary advisor’s own expertise. (See Advisors & Planning .)

Secondary Field Coursework for Thesis Track

Students must also take two courses (four hours each) in a secondary field, which may be satisfied by either 1) taking two of three courses in Contemporary History offered by the Contemporary History Institute (CH 6010, CH 6020, or CH 6930 – but see “historiography” below for limitations) or 2) taking two additional history courses, usually outside their area of concentration.

Secondary Field Coursework for Non-Thesis Track

In addition to a minimum of three courses in a primary field (major), all non-thesis-track History M.A. students must complete three courses in a second field (minor) usually outside their area of concentration. This coursework forms the basis for a written comprehensive exam, completed in lieu of the thesis under the supervision of the primary advisor and one additional faculty member overseeing the secondary field. Because of this exam requirement, Contemporary History is not usually chosen as the theme for the secondary field.

Fields of Focus

National/Regional Fields

United States

Modern Europe

Early Modern Europe

Ancient and Medieval Europe

Middle East

Latin America

Africa

East Asia

Southeast Asia

Or create a global/transnational combination.

Historiography Courses (Method Courses)

All M.A. students must take a historiography course. Most choose CH 6010 because it is offered every fall, but that course cannot be applied simultaneously to this requirement and the secondary field. Students should complete CH 6020 and CH 6930 for a secondary field in Contemporary History if CH 6010 is used to satisfy to the historiography requirement.

Research Seminar

All M.A. students (including those on the non-thesis track) must complete HIST 6800, the research seminar, which is normally offered every spring semester with a rotating roster of faculty members.

Languages

In general, M.A. students do not have to satisfy a language requirement. At the discretion of a thesis supervisor, however, a student may be required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English if necessary to his or her degree program, particularly in European, Latin American, and other non-U.S. fields of history. Students who take a non-thesis M.A. degree have no language requirement.

Thesis

History Master's Thesis Prospectus & Defense

Students choosing the thesis option must convene a review committee consisting of their primary advisor (thesis supervisor) and two additional faculty members familiar with the topic of investigation. A written prospectus articulating the student’s research plan for the proposed thesis must be presented to the committee members and approved by them before the research portion of the thesis may begin. No formal, in-person defense of the thesis prospectus is required.

History M.A. students must write and subsequently defend a thesis before their review committee that is 1) based on original research in primary (firsthand) historical sources and 2) presents, in the opinion of the committee members, a well-articulated argument in dialogue with relevant historiography on the subject.

Advisors and Planning

Provisional advisors are assigned to all M.A. students upon admission, but they can be changed according to evolving research interests. The advisor is a faculty member whose expertise coincides with a student’s primary field; they should be consulted on a regular basis about the ongoing program of study. Each semester, students will update a departmental planning form (available as an editable Qualtrics survey) to ensure that they are meeting all course requirements in a timely fashion.

Graduation Requirements

Culminating Experience: Thesis Option

• A minimum of 4 thesis hours plus successful completion and oral defense of a thesis.

Students must submit a revised, formatted thesis to the University’s Thesis and Dissertation Services prior to the stated deadline for the semester in which they plan to graduate. In addition, they must complete all required course hours.

History Master's Thesis Prospectus & Defense

Culminating Experience: Non-Thesis Option

• Successful completion of written comprehensive exams.

Students must pass their comprehensive exams and complete all required course hours described above.

History Graduate Non-Thesis Examination

Financial Aid

History Graduate Student Financial Aid

Applicants admitted to the M.A. program in history are eligible for  teaching/grading assistantships from the History Department or  fellowships from the Contemporary History Institute . This financial support package includes tuition remission, a partial waiver of some university fees, and an annual stipend of $14,200, renewable for a maximum of two years (four semesters).

Ready for the Next Step?

How to Apply to the History Graduate Program

Everyone who applies to graduate school has applied to college, and the first mistake many of them make is to assume that the process for both is more or less the same. It isn’t.

Graduate school is more like an apprenticeship. You seek to become a professional historian. To do so, you must demonstrate the drive and talent necessary to complete the work required of you. Above all, you must craft your application to convince potential advisors, in specific terms, that your interests match up well with theirs and you have something interesting to contribute to their field.

Tips on How to Apply to Graduate School in History

History M.A. Admissions Requirements

Apply Now

Contact the Director

Graduate Studies Director: Dr. Paul Milazzo