Program Availability
The Master of Arts in History at Indiana State University is offered on campus and as a fully online program. It is available both to full- and part-time students. The program is open to U.S. and international applicants who satisfy admission requirements.
Why Earn a Master of Arts in History at Indiana State?
Indiana State University's master's degree in history prepares you for a variety of academic and professional objectives, including entry into doctoral programs, the teaching of history at the secondary and college level, and entry into a range of relevant professional careers.
Learn from Our Talented Faculty
Professors in the Department of History are world-class experts in the history of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. They study and teach topics ranging from the war on drugs, the Cold War, the 1970s, and Vietnam to the rise and fall of empires, religious and cultural history, African women’s history, the history of the Middle East, the experience of Russian and Soviet rule, protest and social movement history, environmental history, the history of democracy and dictatorship in Latin America, gaming history, and many other topics. ISU’s historians are active, published, internationally known scholars who are eager to share their knowledge with Master’s students as they pursue their own projects.
Students in the History MA program appreciate our faculty’s flexibility and willingness to work with them one-on-one as they conduct research and prepare papers and build their skills in the craft and practice of history. And our graduates, such as Brandon Turnau, ’23, have consistently praised the History faculty for the quality instruction and personal attention that they provide.
“What I enjoy about Indiana State University’s history graduate program is that every professor I have had works within my schedule to make sure deadlines are being met without overwhelming me,” Turnau said. “In particular, the final project I am working on has been a great example of this, as the program has both prepared me for the project and encouraged me as I developed it. I have worked one-on-one with my chairperson for nearly a year on the project and have always felt I was moving in a positive direction that was allowing me to accomplish my goals of graduating the program, publishing it, and eventually becoming a college history professor.”
Brandon Turnau, '22
History MA
Graduate
Earn Your History MA 100% Online
Online students in the Master of Arts in History at Indiana State University complete the same program coursework and enjoy the same advantages: small class sizes, personal engagement with faculty; lively class discussions via synchronous online courses; and access to collections, databases, and librarian assistance in the University’s Cunningham Memorial Library (which is also a United States government depository library) and to other major university resources in Indiana through broader cooperative agreements.
Online History MA students are also eligible for graduate assistantships and tuition waivers through the History department. A majority of students in the History MA program complete their coursework online, and some take a combination of on-campus and online courses.
“The online History Master's program at Indiana State University provides an engaging, challenging, and rewarding experience for its students. The ability to discuss the reading with the professor and peers synchronously is not only valuable but essential in gaining a strong understanding of the topics under study. This engagement in real time also allows for students to form relationships with others; I have made several good friendships in the program without ever having met any of my peers in person. Additionally, the program offers many opportunities for scholarships and grants to help support its students.”
Cortney Robbins, '22
History MA
Graduate
What You’ll Learn in the History MA Program
The Master of Arts in History expands on the undergraduate academic experience with deeper investigation into historical themes. Courses focus on the differing approaches and building blocks to writing history, critical analysis of sources, and producing sound, source-based arguments. Required courses include reading seminars on the United States and other regions of the world, historical research and method, and a research seminar.
You will also choose from a variety of elective courses. Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Environmental history
- History of the Middle East
- Foreign relations history
- Russian and East European history
- The history of race, nationality, and labor
- Women’s history
- Mapping history
Additionally, you will complete a culminating experience working with primary sources and a substantial bibliography to produce an article-length research project with the guidance of a faculty advisor and committee.
The History MA degree requires 33 credit hours. Usually completed in two academic years, the program is enhanced by close interaction with peers and faculty mentors.
Online Graduate Certificate Option
The History Department offers an 18-hour online Graduate Certificate in History that is specifically geared toward high school teachers in need of a credential for promotion and/or to teach college-level dual-credit history courses. It will meet the needs of working professionals who need 18 credits, non-specified, at the graduate level in history.
Students in the Certificate program will choose topics of interest among a variety of courses, but they must complete six credits at the 600-level, including a course in research and methods. All courses are offered online. Students who wish to continue in the Master’s program may do so if they hold a 3.5 grade point average or higher upon completion of the certificate.
The Certificate program is open to eligible students in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories). The program also is open to students in Canada (all provinces). The Certificate program is closed to students residing in countries other than the U.S. and Canada except for U.S. military and State Department personnel and their family members with APO/FPO addresses.
Learn More About the Online Graduate Certificate in History.
Financial Assistance and Scholarships
Many students who are accepted in the History MA program receive some form of financial assistance. This may include Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships, tuition waivers, the Kenneth L. Smith and Theresa Kathryn (Klein) Smith Master’s in History Scholarship, and/or the prestigious Gertrude and Theodore Debs Memorial Fellowship (up to $20,000 annually).”
Career Possibilities for History MA Graduates
The History MA program prepares students for doctoral programs, university teaching, and various careers in law, business, government service, and writing. Graduates also work as museum curators, librarians, archivists, editors, historic site specialists, and research historians.
Employment of postsecondary teachers is expected to grow by 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. During this same period, employment of historians is also expected to rise.
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022-32, much faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with public interest in science, art, and history spurring demand for curators, museum technicians, and conservators. Jobs for archivists are expected to increase as public and private organizations require greater organization of, and access to, increasing volumes of electronic records and information.
Admissions Requirements and Application Instructions
The Department of History evaluates applications on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters. Applicants seeking graduate assistantships must apply by September 15 for the Spring semester and by April 1 for the Fall semester.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants to the History MA program are selected for admission on the basis of undergraduate grades, references, and significant accomplishments.
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements; however, meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission to the program.
Admission Requirements
Applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree in history or a minor in history granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).
Applicant must have received a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate work.
Applicant must submit the following documents when applying for admission:
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably from those with experience in history.
- A personal statement addressing the applicant’s experience with history and/or a closely related field, areas of historical interest, and reasons for applying to the master’s program.
- A writing sample, preferably a research paper that demonstrates ability in historical research and analysis.
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters. Applicants seeking graduate assistantships must apply by September 15 for the Spring semester and by April 1 for the Fall semester.
All materials must be received with the application. Applications without the required application materials will not be considered for admission.
Application Instructions
All students seeking admission to the History MA program must apply to be accepted as a graduate student by Indiana State University. In addition to completing the application for admission, applicants must submit additional materials specifically required by the graduate program in History.
All materials must be received with the application. Applications without the required application materials will not be considered for admission.
How to Apply
Complete Indiana State University’s online application for admission at apply.indstate.edu/apply.
Submit a nonrefundable application fee of $45.00 (U.S. citizens and domestic residents) or $65.00 (international applicants) payable by Visa, MasterCard, or check or money order to Indiana State University. Submit payment to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809.
Applicant must submit the following documents when applying for admission:
- Two letters of recommendations, preferably from those with experience in history.
- A personal statement addressing your experience with history and/or a closely related field, areas of historical interest, and reasons for applying to the master’s program.
- A writing sample, preferably a research paper that demonstrates ability in historical research and analysis.
International applicants must take these additional steps to be considered for admission.
- International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by completing an approved Standardized English Language Proficiency examination with minimum required scores sent directly from the testing center. Exemptions are available for students with citizenship in select countries or who have earned a degree/diploma from approved countries.
- If studying in the United States, a copy of your current I-94 card, F-1 or J-1 visa, and I-20 or DS2019 are required. If currently in the United States but not studying, a copy of the applicable visa must also be submitted.
- All international applicants to Indiana State University must complete an affidavit of financial support. You can upload the affidavit of financial support and other required documents to your online application.
- For additional information about applying to Indiana State as an international student, visit indianastate.edu/admissions/international.
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters. Applicants seeking graduate assistantships must apply by September 15 for the Spring semester and by April 1 for the Fall semester.
All materials must be received with the application. Applications without the required application materials will not be considered for admission.
Next Steps
Once admitted, you will receive a notification from the University and will be provided your University ID number, which is needed to activate your University username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important services, including e-mail and University announcements.
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