COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in History at The University of Southern Mississippi is a research-focused graduate program that combines advanced historical scholarship, historiography, and professional skill development to prepare students for academic, educational, governmental, archival, and public history careers. Admission requires applicants to maintain at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and submit official transcripts, a résumé, a statement of academic objectives, three recommendation letters from individuals qualified to assess readiness for graduate study, and a writing sample of up to 25 pages. Applicants are generally expected to have completed a major or minor in history at the undergraduate level. Students with academic deficiencies may receive conditional admission but must later satisfy all Graduate School and departmental requirements to achieve regular standing. International students whose first language is not English must obtain a minimum score of 90 on the TOEFL iBT examination, and additional remedial English coursework may be required if language proficiency is considered insufficient after enrollment. The School of Humanities also maintains a stricter retention policy than the general Graduate School policy, with detailed standards outlined in the program handbook. Academically, the degree requires completion of 30 semester hours in history, including at least 21 hours in courses numbered 600 or above, along with proficiency in a world language or an approved research tool relevant to historical scholarship. Students may choose either a thesis or non-thesis pathway. Thesis-track students complete and defend a master’s thesis in their major field, while non-thesis students develop a substantial professional project such as a digital humanities exhibit or publishable scholarly article. Both tracks require six hours of HIS 698 credit, a project or thesis defense, and successful completion of a comprehensive written examination demonstrating proficiency in both major and minor fields of study. Core coursework includes Philosophy and Methods of History, Research Seminar in American History, specialized historiography seminars, and elective courses supporting individualized academic interests. Overall, the program develops strong research, writing, analytical, and interpretive skills while preparing graduates for doctoral study and diverse professional careers related to historical scholarship and public engagement.