M.Ed. in Special Education
The University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville offers a Master of Education (M.E...
M.A. in History
Jacksonville, Florida
INTAKE: Jan & Aug
Program Overview
The University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville, Florida, offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in History through its Department of History within the College of Arts and Sciences. This program is designed to provide students with advanced historical knowledge and to develop sophisticated research and writing skills essential for interpreting the past. It serves a diverse student body, including those planning to pursue doctoral studies, K-12 history teachers seeking to deepen their expertise, public history professionals, and individuals simply wishing to enrich their intellectual lives. The program is flexible, offering both a thesis and a non-thesis option, and requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. Additionally, students have the option to earn a Public History Certificate, which provides specialized training for careers in museums, archives, and historical preservation.
Curriculum: The 36-credit hour curriculum for the M.A. in History at UNF is structured to provide a broad yet deep understanding of historical fields and methodologies. All students engage with foundational courses that emphasize historiography (the study of historical writing) and advanced research methods. Students then select courses from a wide range of historical periods and regions, including African, Asian, European, Latin American, and U.S. history, allowing for significant specialization based on individual interests. The program offers two pathways: a thesis option, which culminates in a substantial original research project and its defense, and a non-thesis option, which typically involves additional coursework, a comprehensive examination, or a major research paper. The curriculum is designed to hone critical thinking, evidence evaluation, and effective historical writing.
Research Focus: The M.A. in History at UNF is explicitly a research-intensive program, even for the non-thesis option. Students are expected to engage deeply with primary and secondary sources, develop strong analytical arguments, and refine their historical inquiry skills. The thesis option provides an opportunity for students to design, conduct, and present original historical research, potentially for professional conferences or digital humanities platforms. Even the non-thesis track requires substantial engagement with research, often culminating in significant research papers and comprehensive examinations that demonstrate advanced historical understanding and analytical capability. Faculty members, with their diverse research specializations, guide students in developing rigorous research practices and contributing to historical scholarship.
Industry Engagement: The M.A. in History program at UNF prepares graduates for various career paths beyond traditional academia, with a particular emphasis on public history. The optional Public History Certificate directly connects students with career opportunities in museums, archives, historic preservation, and cultural resource management. The program aims to foster skills in applied historical research, interpretation for broad audiences, and engagement with community and local history. While formal "industry partnerships" might differ from business schools, the program's strong focus on public history and its location near numerous historical sites, museums, and governmental agencies in Northeast Florida create ample opportunities for internships, practical experience, and networking within the public history field. Graduates are often sought after by organizations that require individuals skilled in historical analysis, preservation, and communication.
Global Perspective: The M.A. in History at UNF inherently offers a strong global perspective through its diverse course offerings. The program includes dedicated courses in African, Asian, European, and Latin American history, alongside U.S. history. This broad geographical scope ensures that students develop an understanding of major historical developments across continents and cultures. The curriculum encourages students to engage with comparative history, transnational themes, and global interconnections, fostering an appreciation for the complexities of a multifaceted past. Faculty specializations further enhance this global approach, exposing students to a wide array of historical scholarship that transcends national boundaries and promotes a comprehensive understanding of human history.
Location
Jacksonville, Florida
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 18803
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Application Fee: $31
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 79 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 110.
The University of North Florida (UNF) offers a variety of scholarships specifically designed to support international students in achieving their academic goals while easing the financial burden of studying in the United States. These scholarships recognize outstanding academic achievements, leadership potential, and community involvement.
Merit-Based Scholarships: UNF provides merit scholarships to international students based on their academic performance, standardized test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments. These scholarships can significantly reduce tuition costs and are awarded automatically to eligible applicants during the admissions process.
International Student Scholarships: Special scholarships are reserved exclusively for international students. Examples include the International Freshman Scholarship and the International Transfer Scholarship, which reward high-achieving students with financial aid packages that may cover partial to full tuition fees.
Need-Based Financial Aid: While limited for international students, some need-based financial aid options may be available through private organizations or partnerships coordinated by UNF’s financial aid office. International students are encouraged to explore external scholarship databases for additional funding opportunities.
Departmental Scholarships: Certain academic departments and colleges at UNF offer scholarships targeted to students enrolled in specific fields of study. International students can apply for these scholarships based on their major, research interests, or academic achievements within their discipline.
A Master of Arts (M.A.) in History from the University of North Florida (UNF) is a highly valuable degree that cultivates sophisticated research, analytical, and communication skills. While it serves as an excellent foundation for those considering doctoral studies, the program's flexible structure, including a Public History Certificate option, also prepares graduates for a diverse array of professional careers beyond traditional academia. The rigorous training in evaluating evidence, constructing arguments, and interpreting complex narratives makes UNF's history graduates highly adaptable and sought after in various sectors.
Archivist: Professionals who appraise, collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to historical documents, records, and artifacts. They work in universities, government agencies, corporations, and historical societies, ensuring valuable historical materials are accessible for future generations.
Museum Curator/Collections Manager: Curators manage and research collections of art and artifacts, design and oversee exhibitions, and contribute to public education. Collections managers focus on the physical care, documentation, and accessibility of museum holdings. The Public History Certificate is particularly beneficial for these roles.
Historic Preservationist/Cultural Resource Manager: These professionals work to protect and conserve historic buildings, sites, and cultural landscapes. They may conduct historical research for preservation projects, advise on restoration, or ensure compliance with heritage regulations for government agencies, non-profits, or private firms.
Public History Consultant: Independent or firm-based consultants who provide historical expertise to a variety of clients, including corporations, law firms, documentary filmmakers, and government agencies. They conduct research, write reports, and advise on historical accuracy for various projects.
Community College Instructor: An M.A. in History typically qualifies graduates to teach history at community colleges, where they can educate diverse student populations on historical periods, themes, and methodologies.
Genealogist: Specialists who trace family histories and lineages using historical records, archives, and oral traditions. They often work for private clients, law firms (e.g., for probate or inheritance cases), or research institutions.
Researcher (Non-Academic/Corporate/Government): Graduates can apply their research skills in various settings, from government agencies (e.g., National Archives, Congressional Research Service) to think tanks, law firms, or corporations requiring historical context for their operations or public messaging.
Editor/Writer (Publishing, Content, Journalism): The rigorous training in research, critical thinking, and clear writing makes M.A. History graduates excellent candidates for roles in publishing (academic presses, trade publishers), content creation for websites and media, or journalism, where they can cover historical topics or provide analytical perspectives.
Librarian (Special Collections/Reference): With their expertise in research and organizing information, history graduates can work in libraries, particularly in special collections departments, archives, or as reference librarians assisting patrons with historical research.
Policy Analyst (Government/Non-Profit): The ability to analyze complex information, understand historical precedents, and discern cause-and-effect relationships makes history graduates well-suited for policy analysis roles, where they contribute to developing and evaluating public policies by providing historical context and informed perspectives.
