This master’s program will deepen your knowledge of the past and hone valuable, transferable skills such as information gathering, analysis, effective communication and evaluation of evidence. You’ll be readied to pursue jobs in museums, national parks, historic preservation, public service, academia and much more. If you teach in, or aspire to teach in, K–12 environments, this master’s program can strengthen your skill set and subject knowledge and could increase your earning potential.
Throughout this program, you’ll engage with comparative analyses, historiographies and research papers, enhancing your ability to write about complex topics. The culminating project is a digital portfolio that allows you to showcase work you've produced during the program. You’ll revise and edit a research paper and historiography from your previous courses. The digital portfolio also allows you to share your work once you’ve graduated and use it for future applications to jobs or other graduate programs.
To further expand your career opportunities, you can also pursue ASU’s online graduate certificate in public history in conjunction with this degree without adding additional credit hours.
Tailor your studies to your interests and career goals
This master’s program offers a thematic approach, encompassing various time periods and geographic regions. Rather than focusing narrowly on one subject, you'll gain a broad historical understanding and explore diverse perspectives. This flexibility allows you to tailor your studies to align with your interests and career goals. Upon completion, you'll possess the skills and expertise expected of a master's-level historian.
The program offers two tracks to focus your studies on:
- North American history: Delve into the histories of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, as well as the societies predating their formation through an in-depth examination.
- Global history: Explore global topics through a methodological lens, gaining insights from perspectives outside of North America.
You'll also receive personalized support from faculty advisors, fostering direct relationships with professors and fellow students.
Advance your career or prepare for roles in nonprofit, academia and other sectors with Arizona State University’s online Master of Arts in history. Throughout this program, you’ll explore the history of societies across the world while collaborating with your peers in a community setting. Featuring two focus areas to tailor your studies to, this program not only enriches your understanding of the past, but also helps you comprehend the present and influence the future.
Courses are designed and taught by faculty members with PhDs and industry professionals working in museums or other public history settings. In addition to taking core courses related to your focus area, you’ll complete several electives, two research seminars and a capstone project.
From Royal Society and American Academy Fellows to Marshall and Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is home to prestigious students and faculty members who include:
- Fulbright American Scholars
- Guggenheim Fellows
- MacArthur Fellows
- Nobel laureates
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences takes a transdisciplinary approach to education with a vast spectrum of degrees in the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. We inspire students to become socially aware critical thinkers and global citizens.
students enrolled as of fall 2024
in research expenditures in FY23
interdisciplinary schools and departments
undergraduate degrees
graduate degrees
for humanities research, according to the National Science Foundation
Applicants to the Master of Arts in history degree must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The strongest applicants will have a minimum of a 3.30 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's program or in an applicable master’s program. Applicants with a lower GPA might still be accepted.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee
- Official transcripts
- Personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume
- Writing sample
The personal statement should be about 500 words and should include the applicant’s scholarly background, career goals and why the applicant wants to pursue graduate study at ASU. It is not necessary to specify a historical interest, but the applicant should include it if they have one in mind.
Applicants to this program are required to provide a minimum of two professional letters of recommendation, but a maximum of three letters of recommendation may be included. It’s recommended that these letters of recommendation come from professional or academic sources.
Applicants are required to submit a writing sample, ideally one with a focus on history. If that’s not possible, applicants may submit a paper from the humanities or social sciences.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency. The history program requires an iBT TOEFL score of at least 90 or a PBT TOEFL score of 600.
Applications are reviewed by multiple ASU faculty members and assessed holistically to determine if they demonstrate the capacity to succeed in a rigorous and writing-intensive graduate program. This decision is made based on prior coursework in history and other social sciences, the quality of the writing sample, the statement of purpose and the letters of recommendation.
Note: Prior coursework in history isn’t a requirement, but in such cases, applicants should have a strong writing sample that demonstrates their ability to engage in historical analysis. Applicants who don’t have a suitable writing sample or the ability to demonstrate past success in historical coursework are encouraged to take one or two classes as nondegree-seeking students prior to applying.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”