Master of Arts in History
The Master of Arts program in History provides advanced training in the professional practice of historical scholarship and pedagogy. The program serves three primary constituencies, preparing students for further graduate work at the doctoral level, for service in a range of public history fields, and for careers as secondary school educators. By preparing broadly-trained practitioners with specialized research expertise, the MA in history also offers an excellent foundation for careers in public relations, journalism, law, and public service. Quite apart from its vocational promise, the serious study of history – a foundational discipline in the humanities – is a source of intellectual enrichment and a lifelong endeavor.
Our relatively small program is distinguished by its innovative learning environment, where students work closely with faculty in their particular area of specialization. The opportunity to pursue original research is complemented by coursework that provides a grounding in historical methodology combined with broad chronological and geographical content knowledge. We are able to fund a few highly-qualified students with Graduate Assistantships, which provide pre-professional training in advanced historical pedagogy or historical research. Students interested in careers in library or archival administration should ask to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship in Special Collections at Virginia Tech’s Newman Library. Students seeking careers in public history venues are encouraged to participate in internship programs or collaborative research projects through various outside institutions, including the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke. They might also assist in the History Department’s ongoing collaboration with the Christiansburg Institute. Because research and writing are fundamental tenets of the discipline of History, most students complete a thesis as part of their plan of study. In certain cases, a non-thesis option is available as well. The MA requires 30 hours of graduate-level coursework in History and related fields.
The History MA also serves as pivot or foundation for a number of interdisciplinary and co-curricular graduate programs at Virginia Tech:
Students with advanced proficiency in French, Spanish, or German who have interest and expertise in history are encouraged to apply to the Area Studies Program, which offers an interdisciplinary curriculum in collaboration with the department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Department of Geography.
Students interested in a career in teaching at the secondary school level should consider dual enrollment in History and the graduate licensure program in Social Studies Education, which includes a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
History is also an anchor department for the Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought (ASPECT), an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program at Virginia Tech. Students with research interests informed by social or critical theory may apply for admission to the ASPECT program as they complete their MA.
Virginia Tech offers a PhD in Science and Technology Studies (STS) through the Department of Science and Technology in Society. Students in the History MA program may complete a graduate certificate in the History of Science and Technology as part of their master’s coursework. Graduates of the History MA program can also apply for further graduate work in STS.
For information about the applying to the History MA program click here.