Master of Arts in History
Whether your goals are related to research, teaching, or public service, our program will prepare you well for a successful and rewarding career.
Pursue What Interests You Most
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's master of arts in history graduate program is intended for those who wish to increase their backgrounds in history and for those who intend to do further advanced work in history. The program is designed so graduate students can prepare themselves in an area of expertise that best meets their interests and needs. Areas of expertise may be defined by broad themes, topics, chronology, or geography. Courses are chosen by you, giving you the ability to personalize your degree and align it with your career goals.
Students are able to further customize their experience at UW-Eau Claire by choosing between two program options: 1) a 30-credit thesis option; or 2) a 33-credit non-thesis option. Those who choose the 30-credit thesis option will complete a traditional six-credit research paper and thesis. Those who pursue the 33-credit non-thesis option will take additional graduate coursework to complete degree requirements.
No matter your path, coursework throughout the program will broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding of history and techniques of historical research. Through the study of current trends in history, you'll examine the emergence of history as a profession, major subfields in the discipline, methodologies, and models currently influencing the work of historians, and dominant issues historians are looking at today. The program is rooted in small reading and discussion seminars, allowing you to learn from experts in the field as well as students who, like you, are interested and passionate about the world of history.
Whether your professional goals are related to research, teaching, or public service, our supportive, expert faculty — combined with a rigorous, experiential curriculum — will prepare you well for the field you wish to enter.
Program Details
Both master of arts in history programs are intentionally structured so you can study the topics that most interest you. Choose from a variety of history courses, including those related to American history, American Indian history, public history, modern military history, comparative world cultures, and women’s history.
While pursuing your degree, you can expect close supervision and guidance from a faculty mentor. A counseling and advising system has also been devised with the intention of providing each student with a personalized program encompassing both breadth and depth. Your advisor will work with you directly to design a plan that will allow for the completion of program requirements in the most efficient way possible while still accomplishing your educational goals.
UW-Eau Claire is known for its top-notch faculty. In fact, two of our history professors have been recipients of Wisconsin Professor of the Year awards. The history department also was a recent recipient of the University of Wisconsin Regents Teaching Excellence Award for Academic Departments and Programs.
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Where can the master of arts in history program lead me after graduation?
Graduates of the history master's degree leave UW-Eau Claire able to appreciate the historical method of searching for truth, make judgments about concrete issues and exercise careful analysis along the way. They are proficient at gathering, analyzing, and presenting material, and understand the complexity of human history and historical developments. These skills allow them to succeed in a variety of roles and organizations, including work in archives and historical museums across the nation.
Our grads have also enjoyed success in securing teaching positions in secondary schools and many have found opportunities in government and business. Students have also found the program to be exceptional preparation for further graduate work at leading doctoral universities.
Those pursuing their master of arts in history at UWEC will choose between two program options: a 30-credit program including a thesis and a 33-credit, non-thesis program. Working closely with an advisor, you'll design a degree plan that will allow for the completion of program requirements in the most efficient way possible all while studying the topics that most interest you.
Curriculum throughout the degree will help you to analyze and interpret historical developments through historical research, writing, and presentation. Coursework is intentionally designed so you can develop your professional identity as a historian and graduate with a strong knowledge of pertinent historical literature in the field you wish to enter.
Here are a few courses in Master of Arts in History at UW-Eau Claire.
HIST 793
Current Trends in History
Examines the emergence of history as a profession, major subfields today within the discipline of history, methodologies and models currently influencing the work of historians, and dominant issues presently engaging the attention of historians.
HIST 799
Thesis
A description of acceptable topics and the precise nature of the thesis requirement is provided in the departmental program descriptions.
HIST 719
Readings in Area of Thesis
Independent study format. Reading in depth in area of concentration for thesis or research paper. Thesis/research paper adviser is instructor. Culminates in presentation of prospectus to thesis committee.
What's Next?
