MA in History

The Department of History offers a Master of Arts degree that prepares competent graduates for modern careers in business, government, teaching, non-profit work, and further graduate study in history, law, library science, or business. The program offers an introduction to the major debates and cutting-edge topics in the field while also providing education in most regions and periods in global history.

Students select from a broad variety of courses with the ability to emphasize a particular geographic region or time period through electives. Completion of the degree requires choosing from one of three options: examinations to ensure mastery in the field, a written thesis to demonstrate the student's research expertise, or a portfolio of projects to prepare for a future career in history. The degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours.

The Department's academic offerings reflect the diversity of the faculty. Students are encouraged to sample the course offerings that investigate the histories of societies and cultures from across the globe. The M.A. program offers many varied options to expand one's horizons beyond the required number of classroom courses, including individualized independent studies on focused topics, original thesis research, and practical hands-on work experience.

The Department offers possibilities for study abroad courses with ODU Faculty over spring and summer breaks. Internships in museums, at historical and archaeological sites, and libraries offer real-world practice and networking possibilities for future employment. Students also have many opportunities to build strong relationships with professors in courses with low student-faculty ratios and through the examination option, where students work closely with faculty members to develop their historical knowledge.

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