The Citadel is located in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina (named Top City in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler), and for 10 consecutive years has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report (2012-2021) as the #1 Public College in the South offering up to a master’s degree.
A civilian program, administered separately from the Corps of Cadets, the M.A. in History provides the opportunity to study a wide variety of fields from a public history concentration to one in social and cultural history or military and political history.
Faculty specializations are diverse and include interests in race, religion, gender and sexuality, labor, leisure, oral history, popular culture, politics, and the military.
The Citadel and the College of Charleston offer a joint Master of Arts Degree in History providing each student with advanced specialized work in one of the following areas:
- United States
- European
- Global (Asian/African/Latin American et al.)
The program has a special emphasis on the history of the American South, the South Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World.
Students earning their MA in History have the option of a Public History Concentration.
Charleston is especially well-suited to the study of history, with numerous archives and historical museums and sites, including the South Carolina Historical Society and the Avery Center for African American history. Graduate students will also find Charleston a welcoming city, and the Citadel and the College of Charleston history departments a warm environment in which to continue historical study. The M.A. Program serves the needs of those interested in pursuing graduate studies in history. Graduate Student Research.
Teachers who complete the program have a greater command of the literature of a particular field. Others are prepared to do doctoral work or pursue other advanced degrees, enter the field of public history, or seek employment opportunities which require advanced training in the humanities.Brochure
Admission Requirements
1. Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee.
2. Submission of an official transcript reflecting the highest degree earned from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Submission of official copy of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score. Applicants are expected to have a GRE verbal score exceeding 152. Admission test must have been taken within the last five years.
4. Applicants are expected to have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 and a 3.0 in the major. They are also expected to have 15 hours of history course work beyond the initial survey.*
5. Submission of three signed letters of recommendation, normally from former professors. Each reference should be as specific as possible in analyzing the applicant’s potential for success in the program. References should address the student’s ability to design, conduct, and present research without direct supervision, the ability to analyze complex data and issues, and the ability to write effectively.
6. Submission of evidence of ability to conduct research and present findings. A term paper, honors thesis, or critical essay from a graduate or upper-level course taken in college will suffice. The evidence of writing should reflect the ability to conceptualize a research theme, conduct research to support an argument, and reach a justified conclusion. The paper should demonstrate an ability to handle documentation of evidence.
*An applicant who fails to meet the GPA and course history requirements may be allowed to pursue course work as a provisional student only upon application to the Joint Program Committee. Upon completion of nine semester hours, with no more than three hours in independent study (HIST-770) and a minimum GPA of 3.25, the student may be admitted unconditionally. The student must make this request in writing to the Joint Program Committee. There is no guarantee that courses taken in a non-degree status will be credited towards a degree once a student gains provisional or regular admission. Coursework taken to meet admission prerequisites will not count towards degree requirements.
Program Requirements for Master’s Degree in History
2021-22 Citadel Course Offerings MA History Course Descriptions
For information, please contact the History Department main office.