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History, M.A. Online

Program Details

Next Start Date: August 17

Credit Hours: 30

Course Length: 16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 20 months

Apply Now

Program Details

Next Start Date: August 17

Credit Hours: 30

Course Length: 16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 20 months

Apply Now

The online Master of Arts in History program is designed to teach students how to apply a structured and analytical framework to interdisciplinary research and work environments.

Why Study History at UWF?

This program emphasizes student interest, encouraging you to explore personally meaningful topics while developing skills in critical thinking, communication and leadership. Expert faculty are equipped to introduce students to a wide range of interdisciplinary and interconnecting research topics while providing focused support.

Synchronous courses allow for students not present in the classroom environment to maintain connections with their cohorts and colleagues throughout the program. Whether online or in-person, the program emphasizes hands-on learning where student gain the practical skills of the historian including analysis, inquiry and research methodology.

The online History M.A. program consists of three educational tracks: Traditional History, Public History, and Maritime and Coastal History.

Traditional History: This track offers a broad survey of American and European history, where students hone their research and writing skills through archival inquiry as they develop a unique piece of scholarship.
Public History: This track is designed for students with an interest in applying historical research and knowledge to address a variety of contemporary needs, issues and audiences. Through coursework and applied experiences, students in this track develop theoretical frameworks and foundational competencies and complete internships in one of the region's many cultural institutions.
Maritime and Coastal History: This track draws on UWF's strength in maritime, coastal and Atlantic history and heritage studies. Students complete coursework in history and anthropology and have the opportunity to undertake academic and applied internships that enhance prospects for professional employment or Ph. D. studies.

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What You Will Learn

The online History master's program at UWF prepares students for a wide variety of career goals by highlighting students' unique perspectives and emphasizing the importance of individuality.

By completing this degree, you will:

Hold a deeper understanding of a variety of people, places and times, and how they contribute to a larger global understanding of the present day
Gain skills in analysis, inqury and research methodology through a historical context
Identify the significance of historical sources and learn how to utilize such material in argumentative research presentations
Craft and discuss professional historical interpretations for multiple audiences

Courses

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.

Traditional History Track (30 credit hours)

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

Public History Track (30 credit hours)

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
Three 5/6000 AMH/EUH/HIS/LAH courses (at least one must be a non-AMH seminar)
One approved 5/6000 elective

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

Maritime and Coastal History Track (30 credit hours)

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
Three approved 5/6000 AMH/EUH/HIS/LAH seminars (at least one must be a non-AMG seminar)
One approved 5/6000 elective

Choose one of the following:

ANG 5137 - Nautical Archaeology Seminar
ANG 5172 - Historical Archaeology Seminar

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:

Submission of a 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 cultivates strong research, communication and analytical skills while deepening students’ understanding of the forces that shape societies over time. Graduates leave prepared to apply historical insight and critical thinking across a wide range of professional paths in archives, museums and other cultural institutions, cultural resource management, historic preservation, non-profit administration, policy and business analysis, writing and editing, politics and government administration, government civil service and contracting, consulting, law and legal research, media careers and careers in K-16 education.

Job Titles

Educator
Museum Curator
Historic Consultant
Research Analyst
Public Historian

Career Outlook

The median annual wage for historians was $74,050 in May 2024.
Overall employment of archivists and curators is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

Source: BLS, 2026

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

History, M.A. Online Graduate Tuition
Component	Cost	Total
In-state Tuition	$384.60 per credit hour	$11,538.00
Full Out-of-state Tuition	$1,044.24 per credit hour	$31,327.20
90% Out-of-state Tuition	$478.83 per credit hour	$14,364.90

Tuition waivers cover up to 90% of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online campus programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees. The renewal of Online Campus Out-of-State Tuition Waivers is not automatic. Waiver requests must be submitted every semester and are not retroactive for previous semesters. Review Tuition Waiver Information to learn more.

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 more about Tuition Waivers.

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 online 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 more about Financial Aid and Education Funding Opportunities.