About

The Department of History offers a Master of Arts degree with concentrations in the following areas: United States, Europe, Modern Asia, Latin America (minor), and Public History (minor), or a comparative topical field (minor). The program is designed to broaden and deepen the student’s understanding of the heritage of human experience. It also sharpens scholarly skills and provides for some specialization in specific fields or periods of history.

Available Options

  • United States History Track
  • European History Track
  • Asian History Track
  • Teaching History Track
  • Non-Thesis Track
  • Thesis Track

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the M.A. program in History, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the content and historiography of an extensive body of scholarly material in a major field defined by historical period, geographic region or regions, or theme, e.g. History and Memory.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the content and historiography of an extensive body of scholarly material in a minor field defined by historical period, geographic region or regions, or theme, e.g. History and Memory.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the role of historians in the construction of the past and the role of contemporary context in shaping the perspectives of historians.
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate an original research project, identify pertinent sources, examine those sources thoroughly, efficiently, and even- handedly within the context of the existing scholarly literature in the field and construct a well ordered, well-argued and well written paper of substantial length. 

Career Possibilities

A degree in history provides students with the skills necessary for success in a wide range of careers and professions ranging from business to law, social services, and education. The department seeks to train majors in the specific skills and knowledge necessary for public school teaching and for graduate student in history or in professional schools. For more information about specific careers and job openings, the UNLV History Department encourages its students to refer to the American Historical Association’s Guide to Careers in History.

Requirements

Master of Arts - History

Plan Description

The Department of History offers a Master of Arts degree with specializations in the following areas: United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Public History (minor). The program is designed to broaden and deepen the student's understanding of the heritage of human experience. It also sharpens scholarly skills and provides for some specialization in specific fields or periods of history.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Students must meet the following requirements for admission to graduate standing.

  1. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements. 
  2. An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.00.
  3. A grade point average of at least 3.30 in history courses.
  4. Recommendations from two former instructors addressing the applicant's preparedness for graduate work in history.
  5. A minimum of 18 credits in history.
  6. Submission of a writing sample, preferably a research paper, representative of undergraduate work.
  7. Submission of a statement of purpose in which the applicant describes historical areas and approaches of particular interest, background and training for advanced work in history, and academic and professional goals.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Subplan 1 Requirements: United States History

Total Credits Required: 35

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 1

Historiography Courses – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

HIST 740A - Historiography (United States - Domestic) 

HIST 740E - Historiography (United States - Diplomatic) 

HIST 740F - Historiography (American West) 

HIST 740G - Historiography (United States - Cultural/Intellectual)

Colloquium Course – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

Seminar Course – Credits: 4

Complete one of the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 6-12

Students completing a thesis must complete 6 credits of History elective coursework, or other advisor-approved courses. Students who choose not to complete a thesis must complete 12 credits of History elective coursework, or other advisor-approved courses.

Minor Field Courses – Credits: 12

In consultation with your advisor select a minor field of study and complete 3 credits of colloquium and 9 credits of electives to total 12 credits.

Asian History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

European History
Minor Colloquium Course

Complete one of the following courses:

Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Latin American History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Public History
Minor Colloquium Course
Required Elective Course
Minor Elective Course

Complete one of the following courses:

World History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Thesis – Credits: 6 (Optional)

Degree Requirements

Plan Degree Requirements – Thesis subplan

Students must complete a minimum of 35 credits of approved course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

A minimum of 16 credits of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Thesis).

In addition to the major area of study, the student must complete 12 credits in a minor area.

The student's advisor and committee must approve all course work plans. A field outside of history may be presented as part of a student's program. The student is required to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language if that language is necessary to do research in their major field.

In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental faculty members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student's and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

At the end of the student's first academic year, the Graduate Coordinator and the student's committee chair will consult with the faculty members who have taught that student to determine which subplan, thesis or non-thesis, might best match the student's aspirations and abilities. A final decision will be made in a conversation between the student and their committee chair, during which every attempt will be made to reach a mutually acceptable decision.

The student must submit a thesis prospectus to their committee at the completion of 22 credits of course work, and no later than the completion of 29 credits. Students must submit a research prospectus for the thesis that includes a discussion of the significance of the topic and positions it in the relevant historiography, a summary of the archives or other primary sources that will be used, and an outline of the chapters with a brief discussion of each chapter. A short prospectus (2-3 pages) and bibliography are sufficient.

Students are required to defend their thesis in oral meeting with their committee. Other interested people maybe be invited to attend the defense.

No grade below a B- will be accepted for graduate credit, but will be averaged into the student's grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted toward the degree.
 

Plan Degree Requirements – Non-Thesis subplan

Students must complete a minimum of 35 credits of approved course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

A minimum of 16 credits of course work must be at the 700-level.

In addition to the major area of study, the student must complete 12 credits in a minor area.

The student's advisor and graduate committee must approve all course work plans. A field outside of history may be presented as part of a student's program. The student is required to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language if that language is necessary to do research in the selected field.

In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental faculty members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student's and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Students must successfully complete a written examination in their major and minor areas of study. The exam may be taken at the completion of 22 credits of course work, and must be taken no later than the completion of 29 credits. Students will prepare reading lists of books and articles for each of their two fields in consultation with the members of their advisory committee. The lists can build on scholarship read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams.

No grade below a B- will be accepted for graduate credit, but will be averaged into the student's grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements

If a thesis is completed, the student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

If a thesis is completed, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 2 Requirements: European History

Total Credits Required: 35

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 1

Historiography Courses – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

HIST 740B – Historiography (Europe)HIST 740C – Historiography (Modern Asia) 

HIST 740D – Historiography (Modern Latin America) 

HIST 740G - Historiography (United States - Cultural/Intellectual) 

HIST 740H – Historiography (European - Cultural/Intellectual) 

Colloquium Courses – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

Seminar Course – Credits: 4

Complete one of the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 6-12

Students completing a thesis must complete 6 credits of History elective coursework, or other advisor-approved courses. Students who choose not to complete a thesis must complete 12 credits of History elective coursework, or other advisor-approved courses.

Minor Field Courses – Credits: 12

In consultation with your advisor select a minor field of study and complete 3 credits of colloquium and 9 credits of electives to total 12 credits.

Asian History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Latin American History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Public History
Minor Colloquium Course
Required Elective Course
Minor Elective Course

Complete one of the following courses:

U.S. History
Minor Colloquium Course

Complete one of the following courses:

Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

World History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Thesis – Credits: 6 (Optional)

Degree Requirements

Plan Degree Requirements – Thesis subplan

Students must complete a minimum of 35 credits of approved course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

A minimum of 16 credits of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Thesis).

In addition to the major area of study, the student must complete 12 credits in a minor area.

The student's advisor and committee must approve all course work plans. A field outside of history may be presented as part of a student's program. The student is required to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language if that language is necessary to do research in their major field.

In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental faculty members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student's and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

At the end of the student's first academic year, the Graduate Coordinator and the student's committee chair will consult with the faculty members who have taught that student to determine which subplan, thesis or non-thesis, might best match the student's aspirations and abilities. A final decision will be made in a conversation between the student and their committee chair, during which every attempt will be made to reach a mutually acceptable decision.

The student must submit a thesis prospectus to their committee at the completion of 22 credits of course work, and no later than the completion of 29 credits. Students must submit a research prospectus for the thesis that includes a discussion of the significance of the topic and positions it in the relevant historiography, a summary of the archives or other primary sources that will be used, and an outline of the chapters with a brief discussion of each chapter. A short prospectus (2-3 pages) and bibliography are sufficient.

Students are required to defend their thesis in oral meeting with their committee. Other interested people maybe be invited to attend the defense.

No grade below a B- will be accepted for graduate credit, but will be averaged into the student's grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted toward the degree.


Plan Degree Requirements – Non-Thesis subplan

Students must complete a minimum of 35 credits of approved course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

A minimum of 16 credits of course work must be at the 700-level.

In addition to the major area of study, the student must complete 12 credits in a minor area.

The student's advisor and graduate committee must approve all course work plans. A field outside of history may be presented as part of a student's program. The student is required to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language if that language is necessary to do research in the selected field.

In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental faculty members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student's and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Students must successfully complete a written examination in their major and minor areas of study. The exam may be taken at the completion of 22 credits of course work, and must be taken no later than the completion of 29 credits. Students will prepare reading lists of books and articles for each of their two fields in consultation with the members of their advisory committee. The lists can build on scholarship read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams.

No grade below a B- will be accepted for graduate credit, but will be averaged into the student's grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements

If a thesis is completed, the student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

If a thesis is completed, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 3 Requirements: Asian History

 Total Credits Required: 35

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 1

Historiography Courses – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

HIST 740C – Historiography (Modern Asia) 

HIST 740E - Historiography (United States - Diplomatic) 

Colloquium Courses – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

Seminar Course – Credits: 4

Complete one of the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 6-12

Students completing a thesis must complete 6 credits of History elective coursework, or other advisor-approved courses. Students who choose not to complete a thesis must complete 12 credits of History elective coursework, or other advisor-approved courses.

Minor Field Courses – Credits: 12

In consultation with your advisor select a minor field of study and complete 3 credits of colloquium and 9 credits of electives to total 12 credits.

European History
Minor Colloquium Course

Complete one of the following courses:

European History
Latin American History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Public History
Minor Colloquium Course
Required Elective Courses
Minor Elective Course

Complete one of the following courses:

U.S. History
Minor Colloquium Course

Complete one of the following courses:

Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

World History
Minor Colloquium Course
Minor Elective Courses

Complete 9 credits from the following list of courses:

Thesis – Credits: 6 (Optional)

Degree Requirements

Plan Degree Requirements – Thesis subplan

Students must complete a minimum of 35 credits of approved course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

A minimum of 16 credits of course work must be at the 700-level (excluding Thesis).

In addition to the major area of study, the student must complete 12 credits in a minor area.

The student's advisor and committee must approve all course work plans. A field outside of history may be presented as part of a student's program. The student is required to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language if that language is necessary to do research in their major field.

In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental faculty members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student's and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

At the end of the student's first academic year, the Graduate Coordinator and the student's committee chair will consult with the faculty members who have taught that student to determine which subplan, thesis or non-thesis, might best match the student's aspirations and abilities. A final decision will be made in a conversation between the student and their committee chair, during which every attempt will be made to reach a mutually acceptable decision.

The student must submit a thesis prospectus to their committee at the completion of 22 credits of course work, and no later than the completion of 29 credits. Students must submit a research prospectus for the thesis that includes a discussion of the significance of the topic and positions it in the relevant historiography, a summary of the archives or other primary sources that will be used, and an outline of the chapters with a brief discussion of each chapter. A short prospectus (2-3 pages) and bibliography are sufficient.

Students are required to defend their thesis in oral meeting with their committee. Other interested people maybe be invited to attend the defense.

No grade below a B- will be accepted for graduate credit, but will be averaged into the student's grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted toward the degree.
 

Plan Degree Requirements – Non-Thesis subplan

Students must complete a minimum of 35 credits of approved course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

A minimum of 16 credits of course work must be at the 700-level.

In addition to the major area of study, the student must complete 12 credits in a minor area.

The student's advisor and graduate committee must approve all course work plans. A field outside of history may be presented as part of a student's program. The student is required to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language if that language is necessary to do research in the selected field.

In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental faculty members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student's and department's discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Students must successfully complete a written examination in their major and minor areas of study. The exam may be taken at the completion of 22 credits of course work, and must be taken no later than the completion of 29 credits. Students will prepare reading lists of books and articles for each of their two fields in consultation with the members of their advisory committee. The lists can build on scholarship read in coursework, but substantial additional reading is required. Coursework alone does not constitute preparation for comprehensive exams.

No grade below a B- will be accepted for graduate credit, but will be averaged into the student's grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements

The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements.

 If a thesis is completed, the student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

If a thesis is completed, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Plan Graduation Requirements

Refer to your subplan for Graduation Requirements.

Subplan 1: United States History
Subplan 2: European History
Subplan 3: Asian History
 

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Department of History

The Department of History offers a curriculum that embraces the panorama of the past while also helping students fulfill their constitutions, humanities, multicultural, and international requirements. Our programs and courses also aim to enrich student's abilities to research, critically analyze, and effectively communicate.

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College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts offers students a well-rounded education in the humanities and social sciences. Students develop strong analytical and communication skills for a lifetime of learning and discovery that can be applied to a wide variety of careers.

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