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.
- 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.
- Graduate Minor in History – This minor consists of 8-12 semester hours selected from HIS graduate course offerings, except HIS 5989.
Courses
Course titles and information can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.
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
Application Deadlines
- Spring: 11/1
- Summer Session 1: x
- Summer Session 2: x
- Fall: 7/1 (3/15)
*See full deadline information below under Application Essentials.
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.
Method of Delivery
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