History graduates in the Department of History at Western Michigan University teach history at research universities, small liberal arts colleges, community colleges, private schools and K-12. They curate archives, craft museum exhibits, create documentary films and serve in government posts like the National Park Service. They are employed by private industry in a host of positions that call upon their advanced history training. Above all, WMU history graduate students go on to produce new scholarly research about the past that they share with others.

We urge you to explore and learn about graduate programs and the financial support that exists for graduate study. For more specific questions, please contact us at hist-outreach@wmich.edu.

Accelerated Graduate Degree Program

The Accelerated Graduate Degree Program (AGDP) offers currently enrolled WMU undergraduates the opportunity to get a head start on their graduate history studies. Up to twelve credit hours of undergraduate coursework in history may also be counted for graduate studies. There are two AGDPs in History: one for the M.A. and a second for the M.A. in Public History. Most of what follows applies to both programs.

A student must have senior status and must have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours at Western Michigan University and declared a History major. Undergraduate students enrolled in the AGDP will be expected to meet graduate expectations in their graduate courses. Students who have already received their baccalaureate degrees are ineligible to apply for this program and retroactively claim credits toward the M.A. degree.

Graduate Certificate in History

The Graduate Certificate Program in History is designed to provide students with the opportunity to take graduate-level courses in History for professional development or for personal enrichment. Students can choose either to focus on a specific area of study or to take courses from a variety of historical subfields. The Certificate in History is ideal for those who desire a graduate credential in History, but are unsure about the feasibility of seeking a master’s or doctoral degree. Credits earned in the Graduate Certificate program can be applied to a Master of Arts degree if you decide to continue your studies.

This certificate program should be of interest to a wide range of community members:

• Those with an undergraduate degree in History or a related discipline who would like the satisfaction of earning a graduate-level credential
• Secondary school educators for whom a graduate credential would advance their professional careers
• Those working in history-related fields (e.g., museums, historical societies, libraries, government, law) who want to deepen their historical understanding and enhance their professional competence
• Community members with a strong interest in History who would enjoy the challenge of taking graduate-level classes for personal fulfillment

Certificate in Cultural and Environmental Heritage Management

The certificate program in cultural and environmental heritage management in the Department of History at Western Michigan University will prepare students to identify and manage cultural and environmental heritage through an interdisciplinary approach that includes class and field work. Students who complete this program will be well versed in the interdisciplinary content and methods necessary to effectively advise communities regarding heritage resources and to conduct resource studies such as those mandated under state and federal law.

This graduate certificate is designed to provide students with the following:

• The skills necessary to expertly identify and assess cultural and heritage resources within an interdisciplinary context.
• A comprehensive understanding of the demands inherent in working as heritage management professionals under contract to individuals, organizations, corporations, and various levels of government.
• The ability and commitment to work as socially and ethically responsible managers of cultural and environmental heritage.

Note: The application for Graduate Certificate Programs is open year-round

Master of Arts

For a Master of Arts in history, there are three tracks which a student may progress to receive a degree. On the thesis track, where a student completes a master’s thesis, the student who enters with a B.A. must complete 30 credit hours of graduate coursework (typically four full-time semesters). For the public history track, where a student participates in internships and practical placements, the student who enters with a bachelor's must complete 30 credit hours of graduate coursework (typically four full-time semesters). On the general option track, a student who is not completing a thesis and does not satisfy the requirements of the public history option may still receive a master’s degree after completing 33 credit hours of graduate coursework (typically four full-time semesters). Further specifics may be found in the graduate handbook.

Doctor of Philosophy

Applicants for the doctorate in history typically already hold a master's degree in history or its equivalent in cognate areas, although they may be in the process of completing their master's degree when applying. The WMU Department of History does not accept applicants for the doctoral program who hold only a bachelor's degree.

To receive a doctorate degree, a student must complete 75 credit hours of graduate coursework, prepare and defend a dissertation proposal, prepare a doctoral portfolio, complete a dissertation, and defend that dissertation prior to graduation. Further specifics on these requirements may be found in the graduate handbook, along with deadlines that must be met.