...linking the past with the future

     The Department of History at California State University San Marcos is pleased to offer an innovative graduate degree that combines advanced historical studies with media and technology skills as applied to the research, presentation, and preservation of history.

          The Department of History at California State University, San Marcos, founded in 1989, has an established reputation for excellence in scholarship and instruction.  The goal of our graduate degree is to prepare students for the modern world of historical research, writing, and teaching.  Computers and technology have become essential tools for historians.  Our program allows students to pursue a traditional Master of Arts degree in History while gaining experience in using new technological advances that are revolutionizing the field.

           The CSUSM History Master of Arts degree offers preparation for a variety of post-graduate objectives including:  doctoral education; community college and post-credential teaching; public history employment (museums, historical societies, and archives); careers in media and journalism; urban planning; governmental jobs; and a host of other possibilities both in the public and private sectors.

 Program Overview

Students pursuing CSUSM’s Master of Arts in History will not only master a specific historical field but also acquire skills in new media and technology.  Our degree allows students to tailor their coursework to their individual historical interests and technological needs.  Students will have the option of completing their degree with either a traditional master's thesis or an extensive project involving technology and history.  Additionally, the program will provide opportunities for internships and experience teaching history in the college classroom.

 During their course of study, students will take required courses on:

• historiography and the philosophy of history

• thematic historical topics in specific world areas

• critical historical media studies

• media and technology skills as applied to historical research, writing, presentation, and teaching