MA History at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Master of Arts program in history combines classes taught by ASU's distinguished faculty in an online or in-person environment with an emphasis on the development of analytical and communication skills. It offers engaging content that deepens your knowledge of history while developing your core competencies, which are applicable in a variety of settings.

What you will study

30 credit hours and a thesis, or 30 credit hours including the required applied project course (HST 593), or 30 credit hours including the required capstone course (HST 597) Required Core (6 credit hours) HST 640 Historical Methods (3) Students pick one of the following: HST 502 Public History Methodology (3) HST 641 North American History (3) HST 643 Global History (3) Electives (12 credit hours) Other Requirements (6 or 9 credit hours) HST 500 Research Methods (3) and HST 598 Special Topics (3) OR HST 500 Research Methods (3) and HST 598 Special Topics (3) and HST 591 Seminar (3) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) HST 593 Applied Project (3) or HST 597 Capstone (3) or HST 599 Thesis (6) Additional Curriculum Information There are two options for the master's degree program in history: the thesis option (for in-person students only) and the nonthesis option.

Career pathways

Graduates acquired advanced historical thinking skills as well as other skills employers consistently identify as highly valuable, including effective oral and written communication, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Competitive applicants typically have a 3.00 GPA (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 semester hours of their undergraduate coursework. Applicants with a lower GPA might still be accepted and should address lower GPAs in their personal statement. All applicants must submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts statement of purpose resume or curriculum vitae writing sample two letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The history program requires a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 4.5, or 90 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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