By studying the past, we are better able to understand and communicate the importance of issues in our contemporary world. The IU Online Master of Arts in History explores geographic regions of the world in both modern and pre-modern time periods to identify historical actors, events of significance, and social movements. 

As a student in the program, you gain graduate-level historical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and techniques for clear and persuasive writing. You learn to recognize historiographic trends and their meanings, perform research, and construct original historical arguments. Your studies will culminate in at least one semester-long research project of original scholarship. 

Specific areas of focus include: 

• Early America (1400–1800) 
• The long 19th century in the US (1800–1917) 
• Modern United States (1917–present) 
• The US and the world 
• European history 
• Latin American history 
• Asian history 
• African history 

When you graduate from the program, you will have: 

• Effective oral and written historical communication skills. 
• The ability to perform research. 
• The ability to construct original historical arguments. 
• Competencies in digital and public history. 

Your IU Online MA in History helps prepare you for such careers as:  

• General researcher
• Writer or editor 
• Journalist or broadcaster 
• K-12 teacher 
• Library or museum worker 

Of Special Interest for Teachers/Instructors Needing to Meet HLC Dual-Credit Standards 
The stackable structure of the MA in History is ideal for those who want to teach dual-credit courses and who need to meet Higher Learning Commission dual-credit qualification standards. These standards require teachers wanting to teach dual-credit courses in history to hold either a master's degree in history or a master's degree in another discipline (such as education), plus at least 18 credit hours of discipline-specific graduate coursework.  

• If you need both discipline-specific coursework and a master's degree, the MA in History meets HLC standards. 
• If you already hold a master's degree in a discipline other than history, you can meet HLC standards by completing the Graduate Certificate in History. 

This 100-percent online program is taught by IU East, IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. This consortial model allows you to take coursework from several campuses and learn from a wide range of faculty. 

Degree Requirements 

To earn the MA in History, you must complete a total of 30 credit hours. Requirements are broken down as follows:  

• Core courses (9 credit hours) 
• Major courses (12 credit hours) 
• Minor courses (6 credit hours) 
• Research seminar or thesis (3 credit hours) 

Admissions 

To be accepted to this program, you must have: 

1. A bachelor’s degree
2. 3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA 

To apply to this program, complete an online application that includes: 

1. Official transcripts
2. 250-word personal statement explaining background and reasons for entering the program 

Application Dates 

• Fall semester: Aug 1 
• Spring semester: Jan 1 
• Summer session 1: May 1 
• Summer session 2: Jun 15 

Courses

Core Courses (9 cr.)

• HIST-T 510 Historical Methodology (3 cr.) 
• HIST-T 570 Digital and Public History (3 cr.) 
• HIST-T 590 Research Seminar in History (3 cr.) 

Major Courses (12 cr.)

Choose 4 courses in either Option 1 or Option 2

Option 1: US History

• HIST-T 520 Teaching College History (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 530 Early America, 1400-1800 (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 540 The Long 19th Century, 1800-1917 (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 550 Modern United States, 1917-Present (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 560 US and the World –Comparative History (3 cr.)

Option 2: World History

• HIST-T 531 European History (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 541 Latin American History (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 551 Asian History (3 cr.)
• HIST-T 571 World History (3 cr.)

Minor Field (6 cr.)

• Two courses chosen from the list of courses for the other major.

Research or Thesis (3 cr.)

• HIST-T 590 Research Seminar in History (3 cr.)