History - MA, MS

College of Arts & Sciences

About This Degree

The Department of History has been recognized by the American Historical Association as one of 12 outstanding history departments in the United States and Canada, selected for its “brilliant teaching and leadership.”

The department's graduate program attracts students from across the United States and overseas. Because the department limits its entering class to approximately 12, every graduate student is important. Moreover, master’s-level students are not competing with doctoral students for the faculty’s time or for history-related work experiences.

The faculty members of the History Department have a broad array of specialties, so students can study a variety of time periods and geographic areas in history. In particular, the department has particular depth in the areas of environmental history, religious studies, and Western United States studies.

The MA degree requires students to gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages. The MS degree requires students to incorporate social or natural sciences (construed broadly) into their studies. A course plan will be developed for each student with their committee in their first year.

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ADVISING

At a Glance

College: College of Arts & Sciences

Department: History, Cultures, and Ideas Department

USU Locations:

  • Logan campus

Program Requirements

Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a master’s degree in history can find careers in many venues, such as:

  • Historical societies
  • Museums
  • Publishing companies
  • Archives
  • Government agencies
  • High schools
  • Libraries

Many master's students go on to prestigious doctoral programs or have careers as writers.

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Seth Archer

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Email: seth.archer@usu.edu
Office: MAIN 321K

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I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

I have been admitted and plan to attend, or continue attending USU

USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

The History Department recommends that applicants have an undergraduate major in History or another Humanities discipline.

Application Requirements:

  • USU application
  • $55 fee
  • Statement of Purpose: Describe why you want to earn a graduate degree (including your professional goals), your historical fields of interests, and the experiences and qualifications that make you a strong candidate for advanced study. If applying to study part-time, please indicate this here as well. (1,000 word limit).
  • Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a paper or essay that displays your historical analytical and research skills, especially use of primary sources and interpretation of secondary sources. It is usually a paper written for an undergraduate class, between 10 and 30 pages (but no more than 40 pages). Ideally, the writing sample will relate to whichever field applicants are pursuing in graduate study.
  • Transcripts of all college/university credits
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • 3.0 or higher GPA on your final 60 credits (semester system)

International students have additional admissions requirements.

It is important that students be aware of the areas of expertise of Department faculty. If students wish to study a field not covered by faculty at USU, they may not be admitted to the program.

Deadlines

The Department accepts new students each fall and has the following application deadline (for both admission and funding):

  • Fall semester – January 15

Program Requirements

Students may complete up to four credits of internship (professional, editorial, teaching, museum). Internships are not required for the degree.

Plan Options

Students can earn the Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) degree by pursuing one of two options:

  • In the Plan A option, students complete graduate-level coursework and write a thesis.
  • The Plan B option takes many forms (for example, lesson plans or a digital exhibit) and requires an accompanying paper. Plan B projects are expected to reflect equivalent academic standards as Plan A.

Financial Aid

The Department offers various types of graduate financial assistance:

Graduate Assistantships. Offered annually on a competitive basis, graduate assistantships entail approximately 20 hours of work a week assisting the faculty in large courses taught by the department. The award carries a stipend and tuition award. A GA must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled as a full-time student to keep an assistantship, which can be held for a maximum of two years while enrolled in the master's program. Your application for admission to the program also serves as your application for a Graduate Assistantship.

Professional Fellowships. In lieu of a Graduate Assistantship,admitted students may apply for multiple professional fellowship positions, each of which carries a stipend and tuition award. Current fellowships are based at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Riverdale, Utah, and Merrill-Cazier Library on the USU campus in Logan.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.

Take The Next Step

How to Apply

View our step-by-step guide on how to become an Aggie.

Request Information

Contact the School of Graduate Studies to ask questions or receive more information.

Cost and Funding

Calculate the cost of graduate school and learn about funding opportunities.