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Appalachian State University

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History: Master of Arts (MA)

About

The Department of History’s Master of Arts program offers students advanced work in history and public history, including museum studies and historic preservation. Students prepare for careers in museums, historic sites, high school teaching, archives, community college teaching, historical consulting, state parks, government and publishing, among others, or for Ph.D. programs.

Students in all tracks conduct original research, improve their critical thinking and analytical skills, learn to create arguments based on a variety of sources, and will be able to present their conclusions in writing, in personal presentations, and for scholarly, government and public audiences. They also develop career-specific skills, especially in public history.

The program offers the following concentrations and graduate minor:

  • General History – This is our most traditional and flexible degree. Students take a variety of readings and research seminars, and can focus on their own historical research interests in a thesis. 
  • Historic Preservation – Historic preservation students learn by doing to preserve, protect and promote historic places and spaces. Preservationists work with private groups, local, state and federal governments to help communities understand and celebrate their entire past.
  • History Teaching – This degree is designed for students who wish to teach at the high school or community college level, or current teachers who wish to take coursework for licensure renewal credits. The curriculum consists of research and readings seminars as well as courses on pedagogy.
  • Museum Studies – Museum studies students learn by doing to educate, curate and manage history in a museum setting. Museum professionals engage with and educate the public about many historical times and places.
  • Public History – Public history students can choose from a variety of courses to build up the skill set required for their desired career in the public sphere. In addition to preservation and museum courses, we offer courses in archives, oral history, grant writing and digital history.  

More Information

People

  • Alumna Profile: Carrie Streeter '12
    Alumna Profile: Carrie Streeter '12

    While working on her master’s degree with a concentration in public history, Streeter collaborated with others on research of the Moses Cone Estate and the influential Cone sisters. She co-curated an exhibit at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM).

    Listen to Carrie Streeter and a fellow alumna discuss their time at App State

Courses

  • Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog
    • History - General History Concentration, MA
    • History - Historic Preservation Concentration, MA
    • History - Museum Studies Concentration, MA
    • History - Public History Concentration, MA
    • History - Teaching Concentration, MA

Application Essentials

Required Entrance Exam: GRE (score must be no more than 5 years old)

Required number of references to specify in the online form: 3

Supplemental Information: Resume (Required upload for application submission); cover letter addressing reasons why applicant wishes to enter the program and a writing sample (e.g., a research paper) (upload in one document on the Additional Information page in the online application)

Basic Conditions for Consideration of Admission: Meeting or exceeding the conditions below does NOT guarantee admission. All applications for a given entry term will be weighed based upon the number of seats available and the quality of the complete application packages. With special permission from the Graduate School, a program may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums.

Graduate School: 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the appropriate admission test(s), OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).

Admission to History: Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of applications are reviewed in comparison to the current applicant pool.

Employers

  • Colonial Williamsburg
  • National Archives in Washington, D.C. 
  • Janus Research
  • History Associates
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Smith Bucklin
  • Deadwood History Inc.
  • City of Statesville
  • High Schools
  • Community Colleges
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Application Deadlines

Spring Admission
November 1

Fall Admission
July 1, priority deadline is March 15

Want to learn more?

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Why Appalachian?

  • The program has both thesis and non-thesis options.
  • You are given the flexibility to focus on particular geographical areas and times with a general approach to historical study.
  • Our public history courses are taught as practica – in addition to acquiring a deep understanding of how their field works, students learn by doing.
  • We are the only school in North Carolina to offer historic preservation within a public history program.
  • All graduate programs at Appalachian have small class sizes, providing intimate classroom interaction.
  • The School of Graduate Studies offers scholarships, fellowships and assistantships to support eligible, full-time, degree-seeking students.

Location

On campus

Careers

  • Teacher
  • Instructor
  • Curator
  • Archivist
  • Lobbyist
  • Interpreter
  • Collections Manager
  • Training Specialist
  • City Planner
  • Apprentice Cooper
  • Ph.D. Candidate

Contacts

Dr. Judkin Browning
Program Director
browningjj@appstate.edu
828-262-6022

Department of History

College of Arts and Sciences

  • Department of History

    The Department of History offers a broad curriculum in local, national, regional and world history at both the undergraduate and graduate level, which encourages history majors to develop a comparative approach to human problems. The study of history is an essential part of a liberal arts education and offers valuable preparation for many careers, such as law, journalism, public history, public service and business, as well as in teaching and the advanced discipline of history.

  • College of Arts and Sciences

    Appalachian’s Largest College

    The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college spanning the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The college is dedicated to providing instruction and research essential to the university's mission and seeks to cultivate the habits of inquiry, learning and service among all its constituents.

    By the Numbers

    • 1/3 of the degrees awarded at Appalachian
    • More than 70% of general education courses are taught in the college
    • 93 majors offered
    • 53 minors offered
    • 6,411 undergraduate majors
    • More than 460 full-time faculty members
    • 41,203 living alumni
    • $8,754,800 awarded to the college in external grants during the 2020–21 academic year
    • $236,914 awarded to students through 6 collegewide scholarships and 98 departmental scholarships for the 2020–21 academic year

    Graduate Programs

    Accelerated admissions program opportunities are available in pursuing a master's degree in 12 selected areas: Appalachian Studies, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, English, Geography and Planning, History, Mathematics, Romance Languages (French/Spanish), Political Science, Psychology (Experimental Science) and Public Administration. Other master’s degrees, graduate certificates and specialist degrees are listed on Appalachian’s School of Graduate Studies website.

    Top Employment Sectors

    • Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools
    • Federal, State and Local Government
    • Justice, Public Order and Safety Activities
    • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
    • Legal Services
    • Health Care
    • Biotech/Engineering
    • Elementary and Secondary Schools
    • Nonprofit Organizations

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