Why Pursue a History Master's Degree
The MA in History provides students with advanced analytical, writing, and research skills that graduates can employ in an array of careers. Focusing in either U.S. or world history, graduate students work with accomplished faculty to learn the methods of professional historians, to read and critically assess historical scholarship from multiple subfields, and to undertake original research projects. Our program prepares students for successful careers in public history, education, and government, among other fields, and for further study at the doctoral level.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
| History (MA) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.2 or better (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate education or a 3.2 in graduate work; and a grade point average of 3.2 or better in all History courses taken. | |
| Coursework | 12 upper-division semester credit hours in history or in related areas as determined by the Graduate Program Committee; or demonstration of equivalent experience. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 79 TOEFL iBT / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.0. |
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| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 academic or professional reference(s) demonstrating your attributes for successful completion of this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time) | |
| Writing Sample | Required | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| History (MA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2026 | October 1 | October 1 | |
| Summer 2026 | Not Available | Not Available | |
| Fall 2026 | June 1 | June 1 | |
| Spring 2027 | October 1 | October 1 | |
| Summer 2027 | Not Available | Not Available | |
Funding Opportunities
ResourcesCareer Options
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below are based on data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 30-hour degree program offers students an opportunity to learn various theoretical and methodological approaches to history, gives them both breadth and depth of knowledge on different historical topics and cultivates their research and critical thinking skills.
Students select a major field in U.S. history or world history, and take courses with professors who are internationally recognized researchers in their fields–ranging from the United States and Latin America to the Atlantic World, the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region. While some graduate courses correlate to geographical areas, others are based on topics that cut across regions and are transnational in scope. In addition, students take at least one course focused on methods in historical practice such as public history, digital history, oral history, GIS and history course design and teaching. Many students do internships (for credit) in public history and digital history.
Our program prepares students for successful careers in public history, education, government and other fields, and for further study at the doctoral level. Recent alumni are working in museums, archives, national parks, community colleges and secondary schools, philanthropic organizations, immigration law, speech-writing for elected officials, social services, financial services, churches and journalism, among other fields. A number of alumni are currently enrolled in doctoral programs at universities in Texas, the West Coast and the Ivy League.
No. Students have an option to write a thesis based on research into a particular topic, or to take a two-semester capstone seminar in which they develop a research paper related to a broad theme explored in the class. Most students choose the capstone seminar option.
Students in the History M.A. program gain knowledge and skills that will support them as teachers at secondary as well as college levels. Graduate courses in history enable students to increase their historical knowledge, to deepen their critical skills and to undertake original research projects. Among their history elective courses, M.A. students can take courses like “Designing a History Course” and “Teaching Practicum”—both to explore teaching methods and to gain experience working with students in the classroom and online. Additionally, the M.A. program in history provides opportunities for students to learn and practice methods of professional historians and to gain experience in public history. This training gives students an exceptional foundation for pursuit of doctoral study in history as well as for further education or professional work in fields such as public history, public policy, law and management.
