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The Master of Arts with a major in History is a professional degree program that allows students to pursue their interest in history in any area of concentration within the department’s course offerings. The core of the degree is designed to help degree candidates become proficient at advanced historical research methods and writing. The general degree program, as opposed to a concentration, allows degree candidates to choose broadly from the department’s course offerings in U.S., global, and military history while benefitting from the department’s strengths in race, social, and cultural history. Up to six credits of elective coursework are available to students outside of the history department.
The Master of Arts with a major in History program is delivered through content courses (5000 level HIST U/G courses) and graduate seminars (7000 level courses). In addition to general coursework, degree candidates will have the option to complete an advanced research project by producing a thesis in their final year. Language proficiency, whether through traditional languages or GIS, is required. Degree candidates will need to take a reading proficiency exam in the foreign language and show English competency in TOEFL exam if they are non-native
English speakers.
The Master of Arts with a major in History provides students with broad training in research methods, analysis, and writing in addition to core knowledge in global and U.S. history that serves several fields of employment. These include business, information technology, archival and library science, publishing, military and government service, law enforcement, journalism, and teaching at the K-12 and community college levels. The degree also prepares students for advanced doctoral work in a Ph.D. program. The expertise and intellectual skills developed in the program will allow graduates to fit into a variety of employment opportunities given the importance of historical research, professional writing, and analytical skills in the modern world.
Columbus State University offers degree candidates in History the unique opportunity to apply
Geographic Information System technology to historical research. GIS takes advantage of the ability to store, analyze, integrate, and manipulate data using spatial analysis by incorporating traditional historical information with geography and mapping technology. As a tool and method for conducting historical research, GIS allows students to see hidden patterns of historical change through the visualization of complex data over time and space. GIS links historical data such as legal documents, battlefield records, census data, historical maps, land tenure records, journals, and oral history, to its spatial component on the earth’s surface providing data to analyze historical change.

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Regular Admission to the Program:
Applicants interested in applying to the graduate program in the Department of History and
Geography must file a graduate application with the Columbus State University Graduate School office. A student must meet both university and departmental requirements to be admitted into the degree program.
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B.A. in History or equivalent in the proposed field of study from an accredited college or university; people with a major in a related field may be admitted on a provisional basis if
 they have completed 15 semester hours in upper division history credit with no grade below a C.
GRE Scores: Minimum of 550 on Verbal, 450 on Quantitative, 4.5 on Analytical; degree candidates must have completed the revised GRE within the last five years, or have been
 enrolled and have graduated from an accredited graduate program within two years.
GRE Scores for 2012 are undergoing a new system of scoring and the new numbers will be made available in November 2011.
G.P.A. of 3.0 overall and 3.0 in History with no grade in History below a C.
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In addition to this application, prospective applicants must complete a separate application form and submit it along with other documentation to the graduate coordinator of the Department of
History and Geography (on behalf of the Department of History and Geography Admissions
Committee). These materials include:
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College transcripts;
Program application form;
A statement of purpose outlining research interest, career objectives, rationale for
 pursuing a M.A. in History, and undergraduate preparation for pursuing the degree.
Writing sample, such as a senior seminar paper, showing proficiency in primary source research, as well as excellent citation of sources and writing skills;
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Two letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors or other referees able to comment on the applicant’s potential for successful graduate study.
Curriculum vitae.
GRE Scores.
TOEFL Scores ( If applicable ).
Provisional Admission:
Applicants who fail to meet one of the requirements for regular admission may be accepted on a provisional status. Provisional degree candidates who take nine semester hours of graduate history courses at Columbus State University with no grade less than a B will be reclassified with regular admission.

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The Master of Arts degree in History requires 36 hours of graduate course work in history, 6 of which can be applied to thesis research and writing.
Area 1 Core (3 hours)
HIST 5195 Historiography
HIST 5195 must be taken within the first two semesters.
Area 2 Concentration (18 hours)
Students are required to take six courses in HIST 5000G courses or above in either U.S. or global history
, and one of which must be a 6000 level seminar.
Area 3 Electives and Thesis Option (15 hours)
Degree candidates may take up to 6 credit hours of elective courses outside of the department if approved by the graduate coordinator and departmental chair.
Degree candidates may compose an original research thesis on a topic of their choosing if approved by the thesis director, department chair, and graduate coordinator. The student may take up to 6 credit hours in coursework for writing a M.A. thesis and preparing for the oral defense (HIST 6*** Thesis Research and Writing). All theses are published and catalogued at the Library of Congress and UMI database for theses and dissertations and must conform to the rules of the Chicago Manual of Style for publication.
HIST 6*** Thesis Research and Writing (3-0-3). Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Course designed for the preparation and composition of the M.A. thesis. May be taken twice for credit.
The department requires reading proficiency in one foreign language as determined by examination or by the completion of 6 semester hours in intermediate and advanced GIS courses
(HIST 3215 and 5215) with a C or better for students focusing on modern history. Classes taken for GIS language proficiency can be counted towards the Masters of Arts language proficiency requirement, but do count for degree credit in the degree program. The student must receive a B or better in these courses and obtain certification from the instructor attesting to their proficiency in GIS for graduate work. Students working on ancient, medieval, or global history will be required to show reading proficiency in the languages of their primary sources if pursuing the thesis option.

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To remain in good standing, degree candidates must enroll in at least three hours of coursework per semester, not including summers. Those who do not maintain continuous admission must reapply for acceptance into the program Degree candidates may not receive credit for a C in any course in the major. Upon receipt of a grade of C or lower in any course the student will be placed on academic probation and will receive advisement. Earning a second C or a lower grade will be cause for removal from the program.
Students who do not complete their language or technological skills proficiency by the end of the first year may have their academic funding reduced or ended until the requirement is fulfilled.
All requirements for the M.A. must be completed within six years of matriculation.