Master's Degree in History | University of West Florida

Program Details

Credit Hours: 30

Course Length: 15 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Next Application Deadline: See Application Deadlines quicklink

Program duration may depend on course load and availability. Consult with your advisor.

Prepare to succeed in a rapidly changing and increasingly connected world. With a Master in Arts in History from the University of West Florida, you’ll conduct independent research, evaluate popular claims of “historical fact,” identify social patterns and reveal the voices of people from all backgrounds.

Why History at UWF?

Our faculty are passionate about teaching and working with students, something you don't often find at larger institutions. We also have access to a living-learning lab with the UWF Historic Trust and the Digital Humanities Lab on campus. The trust is a non-profit direct support organization managing thirty properties in the Pensacola National Register Historic District, giving you hands-on, real-world experience.

We offer three interdisciplinary tracks: Traditional History, Public History, and Interdisciplinary Maritime and Coastal History. Within each track, you will have the opportunity to learn a variety of interdisciplinary skills.

The Department of History and Philosophy awards several scholarships and teaching assistantships to graduate students. All students have numerous opportunities work with faculty in a variety of research areas.

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What You Will Learn

The M.A. in History offers three tracks: Traditional History, Public History, and Interdisciplinary Maritime and Coastal History. Whichever track you choose, you will gain the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and ask incisive questions about the world around you.

You will be required to take two methods courses sequenced to provide a layered approach to research. Each track also has unique requirements throughout the curriculum and culminates with a capstone project and e-portfolio completed in the M.A. Capstone seminar in the final semester of the program.

The Department of History and Philosophy also offers a historic preservation graduate certificate in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology.

UWF offers classes through various delivery methods, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Though UWF makes every effort to provide on-campus classes in face-to-face programs, there is a possibility that some classes will have limited availability and may be offered online only. For more information, please review the modes of delivery and instructional methods.

Courses & Requirements

Students must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in 15 semester hours of upper-division coursework. Students accepted without the 15 semester-hour prerequisite will be required to correct the deficiency before taking graduate-level courses.

Required Core Courses (9 credit hours)

HIS 5059 - Graduate Methods 1: The Historian’s Craft
HIS 5063 - Graduate Methods II: The Professional Historian
HIS 6938 - Graduate Capstone

Course Requirements (Total Hours 30)

HIS 5059 - Graduate Methods I: The Historian's Craft
HIS 5063 - Graduate Methods II: The Professional Historian
HIS 6938 - Graduate Capstone
Three 5/6000 AMH courses
Three 5/6000 LAH/EUH/HIS courses
One approved 5/6000 elective

Course Requirements (Total Hours 30)

HIS 5059 - Graduate Methods I: The Historian's Craft
HIS 5063 - Graduate Methods II: The Professional Historian
HIS 6055 - Public History Seminar
HIS 6938 - Graduate Capstone
Choose two of the following applied history courses
- HIS 5066 - Local History
- HIS 5077 - Oral and Community History
- HIS 5087 - Museology and Museography
- HIS 5165 - Doing Digital History
- HIS 5515 - History of Architecture
- HIS 6946 - Public History Internship
- ANG 6196 - Policies, Practices and Archaeology in Historic Preservation
- ARH 5836 - Museum and Gallery Studies
Three 5/6000 AMH/EUH/HIS/LAH courses (at least one must be a non-AMH seminar)
One approved 5/6000 elective

Course Requirements (Total Hours 30)

HIS 5059 - Graduate Methods I: The Historian's Craft
HIS 5063 - Graduate Methods II: The Professional Historian
HIS 6285 - Maritime and Coastal History
HIS 6083 - Historic and Heritage Preservation Seminar
HIS 6938 - Graduate Capstone
Choose one of the following
- ANG 5137 - Nautical Archaeology Seminar
- ANG 5172 - Historical Archaeology Seminar
Three approved 5/6000 AMH/EUH/HIS/LAH seminars (at least one must be a non-AMH seminar)
One approved 5/6000 elective

To be considered for admission into the University of West Florida’s M.A. in History, the applicant must meet the following minimum Department of History and Philosophy admission requirements for regular admission:

Submission of letter of intent
Submission of a writing sample (undergraduate research paper preferred)
Minimum of 15 semester hours of upper-division history courses
Minimum of two letters of recommendation

The department reserves the right to admit conditionally an applicant who meets most but not all of the above requirements. This is done upon the recommendation of the Graduate Committee and under the conditions set by that Committee and the Chair of the Department. A student admitted conditionally must complete all requirements of that admission, including the required “Foundational Proficiencies,” before starting the graduate program. Students accepted without the 15 semester hours of prerequisite work will be required to correct the deficiency before taking graduate-level courses.

Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu.

Full Course Descriptions Registration Requirements

Careers & Outcomes

A master’s degree in history equips graduates with advanced research, analytical, and critical thinking skills, preparing them for diverse careers in historical research, public history, education, and cultural preservation. With a deep understanding of the past, graduates are ready to contribute to fields such as museums, archives, policy analysis, and historical consulting.

Job Titles

Archivist
Historical Consultant
Museum Curator
Research Analyst
Public Historian

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

History M.A. Tuition
Component	Cost*	Total*
In-state Tuition	$377.60 per credit hour	$11,328
Out-of-state Tuition	$1,037.24 per credit hour	$31,117.20

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. To verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar. See Graduate School Tuition & Fees for more information.

Military & Veterans

The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

UWF Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students. We provide eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. See Graduate School Funding Opportunities for more information.

Historic Preservation Certificate

The Historic Preservation Certificate Program allows you to acquire the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to work as a professional in a wide variety of fields related to historic preservation and cultural resource management in the U.S. The certificate is primarily for students who are currently enrolled in or have completed a master's degree in history or historical archaeology, or who meet the program admission standards for master's programs in history or anthropology.