Online Option for History Educators
UNCW's History Department offers a 30-hour, two-year, purpose-designed master's degree in history for professional educators. Most coursework is completed online. Students come to campus for an intensive week of in-person class during both summers.
Program Excellence
UNCW’s online Master of Arts in History is highly ranked - ninth nationally according to BestColleges.com.
Program Goals
The program is designed to strengthen and sustain a love of history in a learning environment created for dedicated teachers. It MAY qualify its graduates for salary increases and strengthens participants' existing ability to bring history to life in the classroom with new and deeper knowledge. The specific goals of the program are:
- Advanced opportunities for history study.
- Preparation for historical educators by providing them with knowledge of the most current research practices and questions in relation to historical problems.
- Development of the professional practices of history educators so they have a deeper understanding of content.
Online M.A. Features
Two-Year Program: Students will take two sequential on-line courses each semester and participate in two on-campus summer institutes. The course of study is complete after four semesters and two summer institutes.
Online Courses: The central focus of the fall and spring semester coursework is on examining major issues and recent historiography related to the common core history curriculum. The fall and spring semester courses are entirely online and asynchronous. Faculty-moderated, professional discussions integrate course materials and assignments, and can be completed alongside students' personal and professional obligations.
Two, One-Week Summer Institutes: These in-person classes will convene in June during UNCW's second summer session. One week of instruction will be held on campus each summer; the remainder of the coursework can be completed on campus or via distance learning.
Capstone Experience: The capstone experience for the program focuses on hands-on application of content to teaching situations and lesson planning rather than a traditional thesis. The capstone experience also includes the production of a historiographic essay and comprehensive exams derived directly from course content and will be held during the second summer institute.
Access to Experts: All courses are taught by regular, full-time UNCW faculty who have decades of experience in education and have published extensively in their fields.
Application & Costs
Streamlined Admissions Process: Preferred applicants are North Carolina professional educators in both public and private educational institutions. GRE scores may be waived in certain circumstances.
Admissions Essay: The online M.A. for professional history educators requires an additional application essay that is not required of the in-person MA program. Please follow the following guidelines when writing it:
- In 500 words, explain your interests in history.
- Avoid empty generalizations like “I’ve always loved history.” Instead, tell with greater specificity what historical themes or questions interest you most.
- Also, explain why you believe UNCW’s online M.A. program would benefit you intellectually and professionally.
Costs: Online tuition prices for distance education apply to fall and spring semester courses. Summer pricing reflects on-campus rates for tuition and fees and does not include housing for the on-campus period.