History Graduate Degrees
History Graduate Degrees
In our nationally ranked history graduate program, you will explore the past in classes taught by renowned faculty as you pursue your own research and skill development.
Our particular strength in 20th-century history stems from our unique cooperative relationship with Ohio University’s Contemporary History Institute (CHI), but our M.A. and Ph.D. students study a full range of chronological periods and geographic areas in a wide variety of fields.
Regardless of your scholarly focus, we invite you to see history as relevant to the modern world and applicable to an ever-evolving job market.
History Graduate Programs
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Ph.D. in HistoryOur Ph.D. program, long renowned for its specialization in contemporary history and award-winning faculty, has expanded in recent years to bring the same level of expert knowledge to fields spanning all chronological periods and geographic areas.
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M.A. in HistoryOur M.A. in History program has two options: 1) a thesis-track master's degree in history for those seeking to conduct original research and who may be interested in pursuing a doctorate, and 2) a non-thesis master's degree for those without a larger research agenda.
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M.A. in Applied HistoryThe M.A. in History with an Applied History Field provides courses, training and practical experience for employment in nonacademic settings, such as think tanks and policy advocacy groups; government offices; historical societies and museums; corporate history offices; and the news media.
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Online Master of Social SciencesOur flexible online social sciences master's degree program is designed to cater to the needs of public administrators, teachers, and other professionals who aspire to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
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Contemporary History Graduate CertificateThe Certificate in Contemporary History serves as an adjunct to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in history, the M.A. degrees in economics and political science, the M.S. degree in journalism, and the Ph.D. degree in mass communications.
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Online U.S. History Graduate CertificateOur 100% online U.S. History Graduate Certificate provides 18 graduate credit hours in historical analysis, interpretation, and communication. Ideal for secondary teachers pursuing dual-enrollment or College Credit Plus qualifications, as well as professionals seeking advanced training in U.S. history.
Careers from Think Tanks to Academia to Government
Our graduates find employment both in and beyond academia, pursuing rewarding careers at think tanks, government agencies, museums, libraries, and educational institutions, as well as in the fields of business and law.
While our master’s and doctoral programs both emphasize original research and writing for publication, our M.A. track in Applied History is a compact course of study designed for those who seek training and practical experience in history specifically for employment in nonacademic settings.
Collegiality, Community and Intellectual Rigor
Our students are a diverse and talented group who actively maintain the program’s reputation for collegiality, community and intellectual rigor.
There are usually about 30 in residency at any one time who hail from many parts of the United States and across the globe, from Canada, Australia, Chile, and South Korea to Germany, Georgia, Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia.
They work closely with each other and with faculty who have achieved national and international recognition for their scholarship but are also award-winning teachers dedicated to graduate training and career development.
Graduate Students Who Publish, Present and Win Awards
Graduate student research has garnered significant recognition and multiple grants and awards, both internally within the University and from prestigious external sources such as the Fulbright Program, the Foreign Language and Area Studies Program, the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, the Society for Military History, and presidential libraries from Truman to Clinton.
Their work is routinely presented at meetings and professional conferences. The History Graduate Student Association also sponsors its own annual conference that draws participants and distinguished guest speakers from across the Midwest region.
Generous M.A. and Ph.D. Funding
The history department, in cooperation with the Contemporary History Institute, offers generous M.A. and Ph.D. funding, including tuition waivers, teaching assistantships, stipends, grants for conference travel, research, and professional development, as well as competitive dissertation writing fellowships.
Meg Corner and Felix Stossmeister have been named the 2026-2027 Klinder Fellows. The Klinder Endowment, established in the 1990s, funds a dissertation writing year for Ohio University doctoral students enrolled in the Contemporary History Institute's certificate program.
Robert Green and Zachary Tayler are the 2026–27 recipients of the Baker Peace Fellowship. The John and Elizabeth Baker Peace Endowment supports the Baker Peace Fellowship through the Baker Peace Studies Program, which was established in the 1980s to promote teaching, scholarship, and conferences at Ohio University focused on conflict and conflict resolution. The program provides at least one fellowship annually to a student enrolled in the Contemporary History Institute’s certificate program.
Contact Us
Dr. Paul Milazzo is the History Department Graduate Director. Ask him about admissions, degree requirements, and research areas in history graduate programs.