Take a closer look at the past through our graduate program. From the Americas to Europe to the Pacific World, our flexible program lets you research what interests you. Our faculty's diverse specialties span across continents and centuries, offering a well-rounded, comprehensive curriculum. No matter your professional goals, we're here to support you along the way. We teach our students how to think critically and write well, two skills employers often look for. Earning your master's degree in history opens doors in academia, nonprofit, education and government.
Where It Is Offered
Commerce
Duration2-3 Years
Foreign LanguageForeign language required for the MA degree
Delivery
40-50% Online, Face-To-Face
Total Credit Hours36 Hours
Thesis Requirements Thesis and non-thesis options available
History (MA/MS) :: 1.3 SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A DEGREE IN…
SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A master’s DEGREE IN HISTORY
Dedicated Faculty
Engage with exceptional faculty who will challenge your understanding of history. Our professors will teach you how to interpret the past and apply your knowledge to the present.
Engage the Community
Bring your historical knowledge to the public setting. The Department of History offers a graduate certificate and minor in Public History to prepare you for a variety of careers in museums, parks, archives and more.
Education-Centered
Teachers matter. That’s why we created a master’s degree that incorporates their educational and professional goals. Whether you’re interested in teaching at the high school or dual credit level, our program is designed with you in mind.
Explore the Past
The Special Collections at Gee Library houses a wide assortment of archival records related to the history of Northeast Texas. As a history student, you’ll have access to these records for historical research.
Career Readiness
Thinking critically and communicating effectively. That’s what employers are looking for. The College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts is dedicated to providing you the knowledge and resources for excelling in the workforce.
The Department of History offers two different tracks towards earning your master’s degree. Discover what option works best for your career interest and research goals.
Thesis (MA/MS History)
Interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in History? Our thesis track prepares you for the road ahead. Work alongside faculty as you conduct historical research and write a thesis. We offer access to a wide collection of historical journals, databases and archival records. Total credit hours: 30
Non-thesis (MA/MS History)
Earn your master’s degree in history with our non-thesis track. Designed for educators and working professionals, this track provides a well-rounded historical education. Completing the non-thesis track opens doors to careers in higher education, nonprofit, education, museums and much more. Total credit hours: 36
This certificate helps you develop specific skills related to public history. The practical, theoretical and analytical training provided in the certificate program will enhance your ability to compete for jobs in museums, historical societies, cultural resource centers, parks and historic preservation.
You can become a certified early college or dual credit instructor with our Teaching History graduate certificate. Local school districts continue to expand their offerings of early college and dual credit history courses. There is a growing need for qualified teachers who can meet this need.
Where It Is Offered
Commerce, Dallas, Mesquite, Online
Receive up to three years of funding by becoming a Graduate Assistant for the Department of History. Both Graduate Assistants for Research (GARs) and Graduate Assistants for Teaching (GATs) serve a vital role in supporting history faculty. Once you complete 18 hours of graduate coursework, GATs are eligible to develop and teach university-level history classes. You’ll work with faculty supervisors as they guide, encourage and evaluate your progress.
Internship experience provides the foundation employers are often looking for. Graduates earning their Public History certificate are required to complete an internship as part of their curriculum. We encourage all students to pursue internship experience when available. These are just a few of the employers and organizations that offer opportunities to graduate students.
Global Seminar in World/Comparative HistoryHIST 520
This course provides a focused and thorough analysis of a topic in World or Comparative History through reading and discussing the relevant historiography, and through guided student research.
Oral History Theory and Methods HIST 566
This course introduces the theory and practice of oral history. Students will engage with the central theoretical issues of the field, including the construction of memory, narrative, subjectivity, and structures of social power.
Readings in Transatlantic HistoryHIST 526
This course covers the period from 1492 to the present. It focuses on scholarship that examines the interconnected histories of Europe, Africa, and the Americas, integrating them into a broader discussion of the world and global issues.
Designed for full-time students and working professionals, our flexible program offers courses online and in-person at the main campus location. All in-person courses meet once a week in the evenings. You can take courses over the summer or during the fall and spring semesters.
A&M-Commerce proudly hosts the Eta-Beta chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National Honors Society for History. Phi Alpha Theta promotes research, teaching and publication to increase awareness and knowledge about history. The Eta-Beta chapter provides history students an academic community and professional development opportunities. The organization strives to bring our university’s students and teachers together for intellectual and social exchanges related to the field and profession of history. Learn more about membership requirements by contacting Dr. Mylynka Cardona, Phi Alpha Theta Faculty Advisor.
Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
Select “History, MA or History, MS” as your “Major.”
Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Provisional Status
After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School PO Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Personal Statement
Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests and goals in no more than 500 words.
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
Select “History, MA or History, MS” as your “Major.”
Pay the $75 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to: Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School 2600 S. Neal St. Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Personal Statement
Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words.
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
English Proficiency
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:
TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Official Sponsor Documents
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
Official sponsor statement
Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
The MA (Master of Arts) and the MS (Master of Science) differ in a foreign language requirement. To pursue an MA, you need to meet one of the following conditions:
Successful completion of 12 undergraduate semester credit hours (approximately four courses) of a foreign language
Completion of 6 graduate semester credit hours (approximately two courses) of a foreign language
Demonstrate through a proficiency test in a foreign language
Completion of 3 semester hours above elementary courses if the student presents 3 or 4 years of high school credit
American Sign Language (ASL) is considered an acceptable foreign language. Students should consult with departmental Director of Graduate School regarding this requirement.
Fall and spring: Our fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks long. Occasionally, we offer flex-term courses in the fall and spring semesters that start four weeks later than the usual 16-week start date. Flex-term courses are 12 weeks long.
Summer: Summer is split into two terms, Summer I and Summer II, each five weeks long. On occasion, we offer ten-week courses that run for the duration of Summer I and Summer II.
Minis: On occasion, we offer mini-terms (August, May, and December) that are three weeks long.
What if I only want to earn 18 credit hours of graduate history courses?
You can earn 18 credit hours as a “nondegree” student without having to pursue a full graduate degree. However, please keep the following in mind:
Nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid
International students may not be eligible for nondegree status
If you decide later to pursue the full master’s degree in History, only four courses (12 credit hours) of your “nondegree” coursework can be transferred into the program.
For these reasons, we recommend the teaching track which includes 18 credit hours each of political science and history or a graduate certificate program (12 credit hours).
The program is primarily available via face-to-face courses. We also offer a number of online courses each year. Up to 49% of your degree may be completed through online coursework.
Prior to enrollment in thesis hours (HIST 518) or Research Literature and Techniques (HIST 595), all history graduate students must successfully complete the department’s graduate qualifying exam.
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