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    May 16, 2024  
American University Catalog 2023-2024 
    
American University Catalog 2023-2024

History (MA)


Offered by the Department of History , College of Arts and Sciences .

Admission to the Program


Admission is based on academic record, letters of recommendation from two professors with whom work was taken recently, personal statement, writing sample, and favorable judgment by the department graduate committee and chair.

Degree Requirements


  • 30-33 credit hours of approved graduate work:
    • History concentration: 30 credit hours
    • Public History concentration: 33 credit hours
  • Tool of research: Relevant foreign language, quantitative methods, oral history, history and new media, material culture or a methodology approved by the graduate committee of the Department of History 
  • Capstone Experience:

Course Requirements


Complete one of the following concentrations: 

History (30 credit hours)


Required (3 credit hours)


Complete 3 credit hours from the following with grade of B or better:

Note: HIST-744 The Historian’s Craft (3)  is usually taken in the student’s first fall semester in the program.

Research Seminar or Thesis (6 credit hours)


Complete 6 credit hours from one of the following options:

Electives (15 credit hours)


Complete 15 credit hours from the following, or other courses approved by advisor:

Public History (33 credit hours)


Required (3 credit hours)


Complete 3 credit hours from the following with grade of B or better:

Note: HIST-744 The Historian’s Craft (3)  is usually taken in the student’s first fall semester in the program.

Colloquia (6 credit hours)


Complete 6 credit hours from the following with grades of B or better:

Note: Another approved course may be substituted for one colloquium.

Research Seminar (3 credit hours)


Complete 3 credit hours from the following with grade of B or better:

Public History (8 credit hours)


Complete 8 credit hours from the following with grades of B or better:

Electives (13 credit hours)


Complete 13 credit hours from the following, or other courses approved by advisor: