M.A. in History

The Kent State University Department of History offers a variety of options for students seeking an M.A. in history. 

All M.A. students regardless of their major program area hone their skills in critical reading/thinking, discussion, primary source analysis and analytical writing. The core of the M.A. program, regardless of concentration, consists of reading colloquia and writing seminars. All students also complete a required course in historiography. Please consult our current list of faculty for a list of available fields of study.

Students intending to go on for doctoral work complete an M.A. thesis demonstrating their capacity for original history research.

Traditional History

(thesis and non-thesis option)

The traditional M.A. in history allows students the opportunity to conduct historical inquiry, research and analysis at the highest level. While students will be able to develop a core competence in their chosen field of the study, our program requires that M.A. students also enroll in courses that detail the histories of regions and times far removed from one's central interests. Students may also pursue interdisciplinary work in cognate fields composed of courses in outside disciplines. Those who choose the thesis option, which is required of students on graduate assistantships, will produce an approximately 100 page M.A. thesis based on original primary source research that engages a research question with historiographical significance. Our Kent program aims to product educated scholar-citizens committed to historical empathy and in possession of critical thinking and communication skills honed by rigorous training--talents that help make our graduates successful whether they pursue a career in academia or the private and public sectors.

History for SECONDARY SCHOOL Teachers

History for Secondary School Teachers is for practicing educators interested in advanced study of history. Coursework is focused on current scholarship and approaches to history, and while it is not a degree in history pedagogy, it is designed to encourage the application of current historical scholarship to the work responsibilities of the practicing teacher. The program provides school professionals with a structured but flexible approach to analyzing and teaching history while permitting interdisciplinary work in related fields or areas particularly relevant to students' professional objectives.