Master of Arts in History

Salisbury University’s Master of Arts in history program enables students to undertake advanced coursework in many areas of U.S. and world history, and is especially strong in the study of the Chesapeake Bay region, with rare archival materials housed on campus. The scope and rigor of the program furnishes an excellent foundation for those interested in continuing their studies at the Ph.D. level. Rich offerings in U.S and world history also make the program ideal for K-12 teachers wanting to acquire more depth of content.

Completing my MA in history before I started teaching enabled me to enter the classroom confident in my content knowledge, skilled in designing instruction that promoted student learning, and better equipped to generate student interest in the study of the past.

Bruce A. Lesh '92 Director of Curriculum, Maryland State Department of Education

Application Deadlines
The following deadlines are for admission into the Master of Arts in History program.
- Spring Priority Deadline: October 15th
- Spring Final Deadline: December 15th
- Fall Priority Deadline: April 15th
- Fall Final Deadline: June 1st

What Can I Do With A Master's in History?

A master’s degree in history affords special expertise for a wide range of occupations, including law, business, public service, communications and research. Our alumni have advanced their careers in the following professions:

Archaeology
Policy analysis
Naval intelligence
Clergy

State and local archives
Historic preservation
Museums
Foundation administration

Why Choose a Master of Arts in History?

With its emphasis on research, reading and writing, the M.A. in history program at SU not only prepares its students to succeed in challenging academic and professional environments, but also promises to foster in them a lifelong love of learning and appreciation for the complexity of the human condition.

There are many advantages to continuing your studies at SU, where you will find:

Diverse and world-class faculty. Graduate seminars are taught by engaging faculty who are devoted teachers and leading scholars in their fields. Our faculty helps students acquire the skills and theoretical foundations for conducting professional historical research. Small classes also afford individualized attention and faculty support.
A flexible curriculum. Our program welcomes both part- and full-time students. Independent study and the thesis option enable students to tailor their curricula to accommodate more specialized interests. Evening offerings give teachers and other nontraditional students an invaluable opportunity for ongoing education and career development.
Research opportunities. We offer a practical, hands-on approach to historical research in conjunction with SU’s Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. An important resource for the study of the Chesapeake Bay region, the Nabb Center provides training for those aspiring to work in professional archives. Our students can pursue research in rare manuscripts, printed and microfilm materials as well as archaeological artifacts, dating from the 17th century onward.
A great value. As a public institution of the University System of Maryland, Salisbury University can offer a master’s-level education to in-state residents at a fraction of the cost they would pay at any comparable private institution.
Community outreach opportunities. The Public Humanities Program offers opportunities for students to gain experience in event planning, outreach and public history, especially as it relates to minority groups.
Professionalization opportunities. Our program offers a new assistantship in oral history to help students gain the experience they need to carve out a successful career.

What can you do with a master's in history? Our graduates have been accepted with support to Ph.D. programs at the SUNY Binghamton, UNC Greensboro, Temple University and Auburn University. Recent graduates have successfully landed jobs with the Smithsonian Institution and the State of Maryland Cultural Affairs Department.

Still have questions? Check out our FAQ for more information.

Meet Emily – M.A. in History Student

Find out about the incredible resources available for history students on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Program Overview

For details on admission, program policies as well as the program requirements, visit the University's catalog:

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Concentrations

After being formally admitted to the M.A. in History Program, and before beginning classes, graduate students are required to meet with the graduate history program director to select one major concentration area and at least one minor concentration area and to discuss thesis option.

We recently launched a series of professional development workshops that prepare students to write a strong curriculum vitae, apply to Ph.D. programs, pursue careers outside of academia, present at conferences and enhance their experience and preparedness for the job market.

Celine Carayon, Ph.D. Department of History Faculty

Learn More About Our History Master's Program

Salisbury University Fall 2023 History Graduate Courses
HIST 553 The Cold War: A Global History
- Dr. Maarten Pereboom
After 1945, the fierce rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union threatened the world with nuclear destruction and dominated global politics for almost 50 years. This course examines the political and cultural impact of the Cold War on the United States, Europe and the developing world.

HIST 601 Methods of Historical Research
- Dr. Aston Gonzalez
Offers an in-depth introduction to the core research, analysis and writing skills in history, including archival research and critical interpretation of manuscript and printed sources, using the Edward H. Nabb Center collections and other resources. Covers the most important developments in American historiography, key theoretical perspectives and emerging fields of study, and methodologies pertinent to the practice of history in diverse settings. Apply larger concepts and methods to a particular field of study, culminating in a final paper based on original research.

HIST 614 Seminar in Asian History: War, Identity, and Memory
- Dr. Michael McCarty
How does war affect culture, politics, beliefs and national identity? This graduate seminar turns these questions toward the disastrous Imjin War (1592-98), which embroiled all of East Asia after a Japanese warlord, flush with success in reunifying war-torn Japan, invaded Korea as part of a mission to topple the Ming Dynasty in China. Investigating all three societies before, during, and after this conflict, explore primary sources as well as recent secondary scholarship to see how identity, ideology, proto-nationalism, diplomacy, religion and culture were brought to bear in the formative Imjin War experience, and how this conflict created modern East Asia – both culturally and politically with the rise of new post-war regimes. Because the course provides a full background on all three societies, no prior coursework on East Asia is required.
Salisbury University Spring 2023 History Graduate Courses
HIST 577 Military History of the Modern World
- Dr. Bart Talbert
Examines the military history of the modern world from 1500 AD to the present. The focus is on the strategy and tactics used by modern armies, how these affected the lives of populations and how new developments in these fields have influenced the history of the modern world.

HIST 590 Gender and Sexuality Studies Capstone Seminar
- Dr. Kara French
This course examines gender and sexuality from an interdisciplinary perspective, including history. Students read foundational feminist writings as well as newer scholarship in the field in multiple disciplines. History students have the opportunity to pursue an independent student-directed research project on a topic relevant to gender and sexuality. A further goal of the course is to help students explore careers and graduate programs relevant to gender and sexuality studies.

HIST 613 Seminar in Ancient History: The Ancient Mediterranean
- Dr. Kevin Birch
This course introduces students to graduate-level study, methods and themes in ancient Mediterranean history from approximately the first millennium BCE through the mid-sixth century CE. The ancient Mediterranean has long been a fascinating region to study because of the diversity of the civilizations that emerged and developed in a relatively small geographical area. Each had its distinctive character, but vigorous cultural exchange in the region and beyond led to the assimilation, adaptation or rejection by one culture of the ideas and practices of others. In this course, discuss topics such as connectivity, globalization, migration and networks that have come to dominate current scholarship on the region, as well as other themes such as systems of government and political authority, identity formation, social structures, religion, violence, and the ancient economy. Students become familiar with the large body of archaeological and literary evidence from the ancient Mediterranean, and they gain an understanding of the connections between the ancient world and the world we live in today.
Our Department and Faculty

Faculty with Real-World Experience

Our faculty is dedicated to helping students discover the complexity of the human story as it has developed across a diverse cultural and physical landscape over time.

Learn more about the Department of History, including our faculty, in-depth program information and student resources.
Assistantships

M.A. in history students are eligible for a number of assistantships designed to enhance their preparation for careers related to the field of historical studies. All our assistantships come with tuition remission and a stipend and are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Nabb Research Center
Graduates of the M.A. in history program will:
- recognize the relevance of history to contemporary questions and issues and reflect critically on the practice of history
- demonstrate an understanding of the origins, main issues, events, and key players in specific eras/topics in history
- understand how individuals and groups use versions of history to reconstruct a usable past
- know the value of studying the complex encounter of multiple cultures and societies to understand the contemporary world
- critique complex scholarly works; identify and situate an author’s intervention in historiographical debates/dialogues; and trace the argument made by the author throughout a text/monograph and identifying its strengths and weaknesses
- know various genres of historical academic writing and produce well-organized and
- rigorously researched papers
- produce an original interpretation of a specific topic through a thoughtful and carefully edited research paper
- master the conventions of the Chicago Manual of Style citations
For a full list of outcomes, search for your program in SU's Academic Program Student Learning Outcomes database.