Make a career in history your future
History includes politics, economics, and aesthetics, as well as social, spiritual and cultural relations—our past, our present and our potential as human beings. The history graduate program, mindful of the discipline’s manifold importance and application, offers master of arts and doctoral degree programs in breadth and depth.
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Accelerated Degree Program
Graduate study in history allows students to increase their knowledge of the past and the processes that have shaped the human experience. Such study may prepare students for careers in scholarship, teaching or certain public service fields.
Choose from three areas of study
The three major areas in the master of arts program and corresponding fields are:
- European History - Medieval, Early Modern or Modern
- United States History - Early U.S. or Modern U.S.
- Global Studies
Humanity graduate education is affordable
The Graduate School is providing a new tuition model for all incoming students in humanities graduate programs for Fall 2020. Take advantage of our three-year pilot program, which includes a 57-percent reduction in the student credit hour rate, resulting in a $500 per credit hour rate for students in the following master of arts programs: Christian Doctrine, English, History, Theology and Philosophy.
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1. Construct syntheses of factual and historiographical information in two distinct fields of history.
2. Use historical research tools and methods to write article-length papers on original, historical topics.
History Graduate Students
Around 40% of our MA students enter doctoral programs (both at Marquette and other schools). Another 20% are applying their studies to work in Public History or Library and Information Science. Of the remaining 40%, there is a healthy mix of teachers, those working in academic administration and student affairs in colleges and high schools, as well as those working in business.
See where our other graduate students have been placed since Graduate School.
Current members of the department have been awarded grants in the following areas:
- Fulbright-Hays
- Mellon Foundation
- Fulbright
- Rockefeller Foundation
- ACLS
- NEH
- American Philosophical Society grants
- Marquette University Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence,
- College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Award for Advising
Our faculty have also published books by top university presses like Cambridge, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina, California, NYU, Oklahoma, Syracuse, and Kansas, and by academic presses like Routledge, Berg, Brill, Bedford-St. Martin’s.
While maintaining a focus on academic excellence and continuing to anchor our program in the intellectual rigors of historical inquiry, we also actively support those planning for careers outside of the academy.
Career planning begins in our orientation program and continues in discussions through our coursework and workshops, often in conjunction with Marquette’s Center for Teaching and Learning, the Preparing Future Faculty and Professionals program, and Career Services.
Take the next step towards your future
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Application Deadline
Students typically begin their studies in the fall of each academic year.
Master's program
Rolling admission, which means you may apply any time before the following dates:
Application Requirements
Read all application instructions prior to beginning an application.
- Copies of all current and previous college/university transcripts except Marquette1
- A one-page statement of purpose specifying proposed areas of study and academic interests.
- Three letters of recommendation from former teachers.
- GRE scores (general test only). Although normally required, the GRE is optional for students applying for the 2021-22 Academic Year.
- For doctoral applicants only: a writing sample. Ideally, the sample should be the master’s thesis, but, for graduates of non-thesis programs, it may consist of a formal seminar paper.
- For international applicants only: TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
1Upon admission, final official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities, with certified English translations if original language is not English, must be submitted to the Graduate School within the first five weeks of the term of admission or a hold preventing registration for future terms will be placed on the student’s record.
Financial Aid
The department offers fourteen teaching assistantships and five research assistantships to incoming and continuing students. Senior Ph.D. students are eligible for full-year research fellowships awarded by the graduate school (history students typically receive 3-4 each year). Most Ph.D. students receive five years of financial aid, ranging from teaching or research assistantships to teaching fellowships to research fellowships. Ph.D. students' classroom training is topped off by teaching an undergraduate seminar in their research field. Many students also receive crucial teaching experience as instructors at area colleges, including Alverno, Carroll, Cardinal Stritch, UW-Parkside, and UW-Milwaukee.
Private scholarships may also be available. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply for student loans to help fund their educational expenses as well.
Trinity Fellows Program
Students interested in the History master's program may want to consider applying for the Trinity Fellows Program as well. Trinity Fellows is a graduate fellowship program dedicated to developing urban leaders with a commitment to social and economic justice. Trinity Fellows participate in a 21-month study/ work program while earning a master's degree. Those who have completed a full-time service program (minimum 10 months), and/or have worked for 2+ years in the nonprofit sector are eligible to apply. Details and instructions to apply are found on the Trinity Fellows website.