Graduate Programs

What Programs Are Available?

The History Department's graduate program offers students advanced work in preparation for employment in community, junior and technical colleges, secondary schools, museums, archives, and other public venues, business, government or further education.

What Is Required?

Each degree requires between 30 and 36 hours of coursework, depending upon which track a student pursues. The department's graduate program emphasizes flexibility and a general approach to historical study while still permitting students to concentrate in particular geographical areas and times.

Who Do We Want?

The department looks for students with an undergraduate degree in the liberal arts, not necessarily in history, but who have strengths in reading, writing and oral exposition. We look for a strong undergraduate career, eloquent writing sample, and strong letters of recommendation. 

Why Study With Us?

Our graduates have had considerable experience in obtaining employment and admission to Ph.D. programs. Recent general history graduates have found employment in numerous North Carolina public school districts, as well as working as full-time or adjunct professors at places like Appalachian State, Blue Ridge Community College, Surry Community College, and Volunteer State Community College. Others have been accepted to Ph.D. programs at Arizona State University, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Chicago, the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, the University of Kentucky, Ohio State University, and the University of Tennessee.

Meanwhile, recent graduates from the Public History concentration programs have found employment at sites like Colonial Williamsburg, the Davidson College Archives and Special CollectionsHistoric Deadwood (South Dakota), the National Archives, the National Park Service, and Old Salem.

For more updates on recent graduates, visit the Graduate History Student Association page.   For more information on concentration on course requirements, click the links in the sidebar or see the Graduate Bulletin.

For more information, contact Dr. Bruce E. Stewart, our graduate program director at stewartbe1@appstate.edu or follow the links below.