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College of Social Sciences & Humanities

History

Master's

The Master of Arts in History is a leading master's program focusing on world history, public history, and the digital humanities.

Program curriculum Explore College of Social Sciences & Humanities
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Program Format
On ground
Time Commitment
Full Time
Duration
2 Year(s)
Entry Term(s)
Fall
Meets F1 visa requirements
Yes
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Program overview

Leading MA program in history

The Master of Arts in History program provides students with rigorous training in the theory and practice of history and digital humanities. By the time they graduate, all students will have the tools to analyze the past and its present legacies. We feature a dynamic faculty and a commitment to socially engaged scholarship and practice.

Our 16 full-time faculty members introduce students to a range of historical questions and methodologies through coursework, fieldwork, and research projects. Students learn to put the past in context and to discern its relevance to current conditions and future possibilities at the local, national, and global levels. Graduates have continued on to employment in an array of fields, as well as to PhD programs in history and related disciplines.

  • Master’s students may choose to complete their studies with a master’s thesis or a comprehensive exam.
  • All students have opportunities to participate in co-ops or fieldwork in New England’s wealth of historical, cultural, and nonprofit organizations.
  • Specialize your degree by choosing from two concentrations.
  • Students may apply to the master’s concentration in public history, one of the oldest programs of its kind in North America.
  • Candidates for the world history concentration must demonstrate reading competence in one foreign language.

The program offers two concentrations to align your degree with your interests.

World history

Learn to think comparatively and transnationally. You’ll focus on historical themes that span the globe, exploring histories of trade, migration, the environment, state formation, colonialism, and other themes that intersect and connect disparate parts of the globe.

Public history

Prepare to apply your intellectual training to apply history outside of the classroom, considering issues, methods, and questions faced in historical societies, museums, archives, documentary film production, and other cultural and historical organizations.

Graduates of Northeastern’s master’s programs in both world history and public history have gone on to work in a range of academic programs and fields around the country.

Graduates who have earned a master’s degree in public history are employed as editors at Harvard University Press, Bedford/St Martin’s Publishing and Houghton-Mifflin; as museum curators at the JFK Library, the Indiana Historical Society, and the Texas State Library; and as researchers at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society and the Adams National Historic Site. The diversity of these positions, as well as their prestige, speaks to the quality of graduate education at Northeastern University.

Admissions

Apply to the program

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world professional experience in your area of interest. Apply to take your career to the next level.


Fall Term Entry

Domestic and International In-country DeadlineAugust 15
International Out-of-country DeadlineJune 15

  • Application

  • Application fee

  • Personal statement

  • Resume

  • Three letters of recommendation

  • Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended

    • The Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) is a required assessment of all transcripts and documents from non-U.S. accredited post-secondary education institutions. (Review the

      FCE requirements

      by country.)

  • English proficiency for international applicants

  • GRE optional

  • Writing sample

Program objectives

Prepare for success

Students prepare to apply their intellectual training to apply history outside of the classroom, considering issues, methods, and questions faced in historical societies, museums, and other cultural and historical organizations.

Co-op opportunities

All students have opportunities to participate in co-ops or fieldwork in New England’s wealth of historical, cultural, and nonprofit organizations.

Expanded career opportunities

Graduates have continued on to employment in an array of fields, as well as to PhD programs in history and related disciplines.

Connect with us

Want more information?

We’re here to answer your questions about this program, the application process, and more. Complete the form below to receive additional program details and speak with a member of our enrollment team. 

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Cost of attendance

Tuition and financial aid

  • $44,576 - $47,362
    Tuition in USD

Estimated Total Tuition

This is an estimate based on the tuition rates for Academic Year 2025-2026 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time. Select programs at select campuses offer additional scholarships of up to 25% off the listed price for domestic students studying on campus. For more detailed information, please visit Student Financial Services.

For students interested in pursuing financial assistance or educational loans, additional educational costs, known as Cost of Attendance (COA) components, can be included in the calculation of aid and loan eligibility. Components may include food, housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, and the cost of obtaining a first professional licensure. You can find comprehensive details on the Student Financial Services website. Please keep in mind that COA can vary significantly depending on academic program, enrollment intensity, and individual circumstances.

There are many ways to pay for your education, including scholarships, financial aid, and more. Connect with a financial counselor to learn about your options and make your dream a reality.

Visit tuition & financial aid

Total Cost of Attendance: This figure reflects the cost-per-credit pricing for the current academic year. The total cost of attendance is dependent on the pace at which students complete the program. Please visit the Student Financial Services site for a more detailed breakdown of pricing per credit and other program fees.

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