Introduction

The mission of the Master of Arts in History is to build student's expertise in the field of history with an additional focus on the critical study of the history of media and/or the applied use of media/technology in presenting history to the public. Historians have always used various forms of media to communicate information about the past and they have taken advantage of advances in media and technology to teach the public about its history. Currently, new media technology is revolutioning how history is taught and how the stories of the past are conveyed in the public. The Master of Arts in History program will offer students opportunities to explore media as they have changed over time, beginning with the earliest oral and visual forms of historical communication through the rise of modern electronic media and computer technology. Students pursuing the Master of Arts in History will be required to take courses that develop their skills in critically analzying media as they relate to history and acquire skills in new media and/or technology to convey historical information to the public.

This program is designed to provide students with a practical degree that prepares them for a variety of postgraduate careers including: community college and post-credential teaching (enhanced by training in history and the new media classroom); public history (including museumship, historical societies, and electronic archives); media and journalism; doctoral education; urban planning; local, state, and city governmental jobs; public service; and a number of other possibilities both in the public and private sectors. The degree is designed to offer students the opportunity to practice their skills in the workplace.Some students may elect to pursue the option of an internship in a public or private agency where their training in historical content and media/technology can be practically applied. Additionally, the program, in an effort to serve students who are interested in educational careers in history at the college level, offers a curriculum that will allow them to explore pedagogical issues associated with history teaching and to gain actual experience teaching history in college classrooms.