History, M.A. Program
Program Description
The MA in History is a flexible advanced degree program supporting students with varied interests and academic backgrounds. Our program brings together current and future educators; individuals considering a Ph.D. in history or related fields; aspiring public historians, preservationists, and cultural resource managers; those seeking advanced research and publication opportunities; and life-long learners with a scholarly passion for the study of the past.
The MA program equips graduates with exceptional skills in research, writing, and analysis, and provides advanced training in teaching, public history, and cultural resource management. Students design and complete capstone experiences aligning with their individual goals.
The program offers graduate courses in research and historiography, advanced reading seminars, scholarly practicums, and a culminating capstone experience, all directly guided by faculty experts. In consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, alternative courses, particularly in the areas of Anthropology, ethnography and oral history, and museum studies, may be taken. The capstone experience can be fulfilled through a teaching or public history project, examination, or University thesis. A Public History Certificate is also available to MA students.
Faculty
We encourage MA students to explore a wide range of subjects through the guidance of our faculty experts. Current history faculty hold expertise in diverse geographical and thematic areas, including the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, with emphases in social justice and sustainability themes. Allied Anthropology faculty hold expertise in cultural resource management, ethnography, and oral history.
Our faculty are accomplished scholars with extensive publications and active professional involvement in their fields. The department has a wealth of experience in advising and preparing MA students for a diverse array of pursuits.
Distinctive Features
The MA in History at Cal State East Bay encourages fresh thinking about pedagogy and representation in educational and public settings. The program offers varied opportunities for internships, applied history projects, and community engagement suited to the student’s interests. Faculty enjoy deep networks in the Bay Area to facilitate enriching capstone projects. The Bay Area is also extraordinarily rich in archival research and historical preservation and collection opportunities. Further, the Department provides unique professional development opportunities such as organizing and participating in annual conferences and editing and publishing the award-winning scholarly journal, East Bay Historia. Paid editorial opportunities are available with California History, a publication by University of California Press. Anthropology faculty are closely associated with our program, offering additional support for projects in cultural resource management especially.
A noteworthy scholarship, the David Campbell Scholarship in History, offers support to enrolled MA students focusing on public history.
Career Opportunities
The MA program is especially designed for individuals interested in enhancing their careers as educators or training for professional fields such as public history, cultural resource management, archives and library sciences, and museum studies or historic preservation. The program prepares students for doctoral programs in history and allied fields. Graduates also pursue opportunities in journalism, public service, and data analysis. We encourage students to connect with a wide range of professional organizations and networks before their graduation. Prospective students can review professional opportunities through the American Historical Association and the National Council on Public History, just two of many notable organizations with exceptional mentoring support for early career-building.
Admission Requirements
Graduates of History and Anthropology programs are especially strong candidates for our MA degree program. The Graduate Committee also considers applicants sharing a wide range of degrees in related disciplines, work experiences, and scholarly backgrounds and interests. Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better.
Blended BA and MA History degrees are available to History, Anthropology, and Global Studies majors at Cal State East Bay. Blended degrees allow undergraduates to complete graduate level History courses in their senior year, thereby speeding completion of the MA degree within two semesters following award of the BA degree. Application to the blended degree pathway is in the undergraduate’s junior year, and is reviewed by the Department Graduate Committee.
Detailed guidance for the application process is provided at the department website. In addition to undergraduate transcripts, a statement of purpose, writing sample, and two letters of reference must be submitted through a departmental form. An application in Cal State Apply is also required. Prospective applicants may reach out to the History Graduate Coordinator with inquiries at history@csueastbay.edu.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an MA in History from California State University, East Bay, will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in thematically- or geographically-diverse areas of history.
- Identify and analyze major theories, methods, ethics, and debates driving historical research.
- Demonstrate advanced research abilities in secondary literature and primary sources.
- Apply historical research in the completion and presentation of a capstone project.
History Degree Requirements (30 units)
Prerequisites or Foundation Requirements
A strong undergraduate background in history or related fields is expected. Reading proficiency in a foreign language is strongly encouraged, especially for those planning to pursue doctoral degrees or research careers.
Core Courses
All Students must take 24 units of core courses (Depending on capstone experience, one (1) HIST 600 may be substituted with HIST 402 , HIST 404 , or HIST 471 ):
Capstone
Complete either HIST 691, HIST 692, or HIST 699 for 6 units:
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