History
Master of Arts in History
Program Overview
The Master of Arts degree program in History at California State University, Fresno offers graduate students seminars on a wide range of historical periods and approaches. The program also provides the conscientious student with the requisite research skills to ensure success in future academic or related pursuits. Many of our students have enriched their middle school and high school teaching, have become successful teachers at the community college level, while others have continued on to competitive doctoral programs around the country.
Former students have pursued wide-ranging and diverse research topics, with subjects as varied as Native frontier violence in Colonial America, education in Vichy France, Cold War culture, Mexican-American relations and the Bracero Program, and award-winning theses concerning WWII memory in comic books, land laws and Japanese Americans in Central California, the influence of the Quebec Act on the American Revolution.
Advanced degree holders in the area of history take many different paths in their career choices upon graduation. Many graduates have used their history expertise to teach, pursue careers in law, in the clergy, or as business executives, legislators, or journalists. Others have used their history preparation for highly specialized positions such as curators, archivists, or historical editors and administrators, all of which require a strong commitment to research and, in many instances, a record of publication.
For more information regarding the MA Program, please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Lori Clune.
Admission for the Master of Arts degree through the Department of History requires admission to the Cal State graduate program through CSU Apply.
Admission to the Master of Arts degree program in History assumes undergraduate preparation equivalent to a CSU Fresno major in History. Majors from other disciplines may qualify for admission depending on grade point average and other factors deemed pertinent for success in historical studies. The department determines in each case whether the applicant needs additional preparation before receiving classified standing. Students may be admitted if they meet these minimum requirements:
- An acceptable Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- A 3.0 GPA or above in the last sixty semester (90 quarter) units of study.
As part of your application to the History program, you are required to submit a Statement
of Purpose.
Please discuss the following in 500-750 words:
- What are your goals in pursuing a master’s degree in history at Fresno State? Do you want to build on your existing Social Science Teaching Credential or work toward teaching at the community college level? Are you more interested in preparing to work in a museum or archival setting, or do you have other reasons for working towards a master’s degree? Do you have a sense of which culminating experience (Thesis, Teaching Project, or Comprehensive Exams) may be the best choice for you?
- What are your areas of interest geographically (U.S., European, Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, World), chronologically (ancient, medieval, modern), and/or topically (women's history, social history, etc.)? How did you become interested in the field? If you want to conduct research in a particular region, do you have the necessary language skills? You may want to mention books that have been especially influential in shaping your interests.
- Alert us of any anomalies in your record. For example, if your GPA is below a 3.0 please explain why we should still consider your application. Alternatively, let us know if you have any academic awards or honors.
For prospective students applying for admission beginning in Fall 2027, the application period is 10/1/2026 through 4/15/2027. Should you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Lori Clune.
In order to apply to the History M.A. program, students must apply directly to the University Graduate Admissions Office at www.calstate.edu/apply.
Students are required to:
- Submit a 2-3 page application essay in which they explain:
- why they want to pursue a graduate degree in History
- what they plan to do with the degree
- what area of study they would like to focus on for their research
- Provide two letters of recommendation. We strongly recommend that these come from current and/or former professors who can speak to their qualities as a student. Candidates may also submit a third, optional, non-academic letter of recommendation.
- Fill out the online application
- Supply transcripts as requested
- Pay a processing fee ($70)
Any delay in the receipt of the required documents will result in the holding back of your application.
For further information on the university application process, please visit the Division of Graduate Studies admissions page.
International applicants should visit the International Students Office website.
Upon receipt of the student's file from the University Graduate Admissions Office, the History Department's Graduate Committee, following the university guidelines outlined above, will then decide whether the student should be admitted with a classified or conditionally classified standing. In some cases, the committee will decide which undegraduate courses, if any, the student needs to take to make up any deficiencies they may have.
The M.A. program at Fresno State offers three culminating experiences for graduate students:
- Thesis
- Comprehensive exam
- Teaching project
THESIS
A Thesis requires one Thesis Chair who is chosen first, according to the student’s
area of proposed
research/study. The Chair is the main professor with whom the student will do most
of the work.
With the Chair’s assistance, two additional Thesis Committee members, or readers,
will be
chosen. As per Division of Graduate Studies regulations, at least two committee members
must be
part of the department of History’s Graduate Faculty. Students will submit a Thesis
Committee Form
(signed by the Thesis Chair, the two Thesis Committee members, and the Graduate Coordinator)
usually during the fall semester of year two.
TEACHING PROJECT
A Teaching Project requires one Pedagogical Advisor and one Content Advisor, according
to the
student’s area of study. Students will submit a Teaching Project Advisor Form (signed
by the
Content Advisor, the Pedagogical Advisor, and the Graduate Coordinator) usually during
the fall
semester of year two.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS
Comprehensive Examination committees are composed of three professors, each of whom
works
independently to guide students as they prepare to take graduate examinations in three
different
and agreed upon areas of study. Students will submit a Comprehensive Exam Intentions
Form
(signed by the three Exam professors and the Graduate Coordinator) usually during
fall semester
of year two.
- Please note three important points regarding Culminating Experience Committees:
Ours is a medium-sized History Department, consisting of approximately a dozen graduate
faculty members. Professors are likely already serving on several other Culminating
Experience Committees and may be unable to accommodate additional students. - As our faculty cannot be experts in all fields, students should be prepared to be
flexible
about their Culminating Experience topic. Acceptance into the program does not guarantee
that the student’s proposed Culminating Experience topic can be accommodated. - Students should remain in close contact with the Graduate Coordinator and their
Culminating Experience Committee to ensure timely completion of their degree.
The requirements for the thesis for the Masters of Arts degree are as follows:
Core Classes (15 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 200A | Graduate Writing & Historiography |
| 3 | HIST 200B | Graduate Research & Historiography |
| 3 | HIST 210T | Topics in American History |
| 3 | HIST 220T | Topics in European History |
| 3 | HIST 230T | Topics in World History |
Elective Classes (6 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
History Practicum (3 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 297 | History Practicum |
Thesis Writing (6 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 299A | Thesis |
| 3 | HIST 299B | Thesis |
The requirements for the comprehensive exams for the Masters of Arts degree are as follows:
Core Classes (15 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 200A | Graduate Writing & Historiography |
| 3 | HIST 200B | Graduate Research & Historiography |
| 3 | HIST 210T | Topics in American History |
| 3 | HIST 220T | Topics in European History |
| 3 | HIST 230T | Topics in World History |
Elective Classes (12 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
History Practicum (3 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 297 | History Practicum |
Comprehensive Exam
Refer to Comprehensive Examination Guidelines
The requirements for the teaching project for the Masters of Arts degree are as follows:
Core Requirements (15 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 200A | Graduate Writing & Historiography |
| 3 | HIST 200B | Graduate Research & Historiography |
| 3 | HIST 210T | Topics in American History |
| 3 | HIST 220T | Topics in European History |
| 3 | HIST 230T | Topics in World History |
Elective Classes (6 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
| 3 | HIST 210/220/230T | May repeat course numbers but not topics |
History Practicum (6 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 296 | Topics in History for Teachers |
| 3 | HIST 297 | History Practicum |
History M.A. Project (3 Units)
| Units | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | HIST 298 | History M.A. Project (Prerequisites: HIST 296, HIST297, Advancement to Candidacy) |
Refer to History M.A. Project Guidelines
May Graduation
| Thesis |
|---|
| February 1: last day to have Thesis Chair approve entire thesis |
| February 15: last day to have entire thesis to Thesis Readers 2 and 3 |
| April 4: must upload thesis in template before 5pm |
| Comprehensive Exams / Teaching Project |
|---|
| May 1: last day to complete and score all three Comprehensive Exams |
| May 1: last day to submit final Teaching Project |
December Graduation
| Thesis |
|---|
| September 1: last day to have Thesis Chair approve entire thesis |
| September 15: last day to have entire thesis to Thesis Readers 2 and 3 |
| November 1: must upload thesis in template before 5pm |
| Comprehensive Exams / Teaching Project |
|---|
| December 1: last day to complete and score all three Comprehensive Exams |
| May 1: last day to submit final Teaching Project |
In order to command scholarly and professional credibility, graduate students in History must demonstrate writing skills commensurate with society's expectations of persons who hold advanced degrees and develop the ability to write in formats and styles appropriate to our discipline. In accordance with the requirements of the State of California, students must demonstrate competence in written English before they apply for advancement to candidacy. For pedagogical reasons, they should demonstrate such competence as early in their programs as possible.
The Graduate Writing Requirement is met by the submission of a correctly formatted fifteen- to twenty-page paper meeting the requirements set in the Graduate Studies Handbook. The paper to be submitted may be produced in any course, graduate or undergraduate, provided it meets the requirements above. For further information, please contact the Graduate Coordinator.
HIST 200A. Introduction to Graduate Writing and Historiography (3)
Introduction to the methods and skills of graduate writing. Introduction to the varieties
of history writings from the ancient world to early modern times, focusing especially
on major themes, approaches, and categories of history writing and authors. (Formerly
HIST 200)
HIST 200B. Introduction to Graduate Research and Historiography (3)
Introduction to the methods and skills of graduate research. Introduction to the varieties
of modern history writing, focusing especially on major theses, approaches, and categories
of history writing, and major figures in modern historical debates. (Formerly HIST
200)
HIST 210T. Topics in United States History (3)
Intensive reading, analysis, and discussion of significant historical problems in
United States history.
HIST 220T. Topics in European History (3)
Intensive examination of methodological and theoretical issues pertaining to the advanced
study of diverse topics in European history.
HIST 230T. Topics in World History (3)
Intensive reading, analysis, and discussion of selected problems in world history.
HIST 290. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent Study. Approved for RP grading.
HIST 292. Directed Readings (1-3; max total 3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Readings on selected themes and topics in
consultation with a faculty adviser.
HIST 296. Topics in History for Teachers (1-3; max total 3)
Integrates historical theory and "best practices" with practical historical knowledge
and curricular development. Introduces teachers to historical resources and discusses
history pedagogy to integrate current historical scholarship into intermediate and
secondary history curricula.
HIST 297. History Practicum (3)
Supervised work experience in a history-related field. Provides occupational and professional
work experience in one of the following ways: conduct and present original research;
engage in archival or museum-related work; or prepare and present original lectures
in a classroom setting.
HIST 298. Project (3)
Preparation, completion, and submission of an acceptable project for the MA teaching
option.
HIST 299A-B. Thesis (3-3)
Prerequisite: see Criteria for Thesis and Project. Preparation, completion, and submission
of an acceptable thesis for the master's degree. (A) Thesis design. (B) Thesis writing.
A and B may be taken concurrently. Approved for RP grading.
HIST 300. Topics in History
(2; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Selected topics in various fields of history, e.g., European, The Americas, United
States, non-Western.
Fall 2026
| Class | Title | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 200A | Intro to Grad Writing and Historiography | Brian Griffith |
| HIST 210T | Politics and Religion | Dan Cady |
| HIST 220T | Britain's First Empire | Brad Jones |
| HIST 230T | Israel/Palestine from the Margins | Julia Shatz |
| HIST230T | Early Modern World | Maritere Lopez |
| HIST 297 | History Practicum | Maritere Lopez |
Spring 2027 (proposed)
| Class | Title | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 200B | Intro Grad Research | Blain Roberts |
| HIST 210T | U.S. in the World | Lori Clune |
| HIST210T | LA: Biography of a City | Dan Cady |
| HIST 220T | Haitian Revolution | Maritere Lopez |
| HIST 230T | Imperialism and Asia | Danny Kim |
Fall 2027 (proposed)
| Class | Title | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 200A | Intro to Grad Writing and Historiography | TBD |
| HIST 210T | TBD | TBD |
| HIST 220T | TBD | TBD |
| HIST 230T | TBD | TBD |
| HIST 297 | TBD | TBD |
Requesting Letters of Recommendation
Faculty members are willing to write letters of recommendation when the requests are timely, appropriate, and warranted. Before requesting a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, be sure to provide the following:
- Time. Are you informing the professor three to four weeks in advance? A good letter takes time, and many faculty members are balancing a number of tasks. Provide clear instructions on when each letter is due and request any letters at least three weeks in advance.
- Clear instructions. How is the professor going to submit the letter? Is it a hard copy on letterhead snailmailed overseas? Or is it a PDF file through an online system? Should the letters be sent to a specific email address? For each request, the faculty should know exactly how to submit.
- Details. What is the context for the letter? What type of opportunity are you applying for? The more details you provide, the better.
- Confidentiality. For many applications, there may be an option to choose whether letters are confidential or not. With few exceptions, most letters should be confidential.The recommendation is a rare opportunity for faculty to give frank, honest insight into students' abilities. This is not the case with "open" letters. Students should choose the confidential option. Most faculty will not be willing to provide you directly with their letter of recommendation.
- Representative scholarship. A good letter of recommendation should make mention of a student's potential. This is best encapsulated through their scholarship. Providing the faculty with an example of your best work for their class will help them in writing a letter.
- Statement of purpose. Many positions will require a statement of purpose (SoP). This is a crucial piece of information which will shape how faculty write their letters. More information on SoPs is available from graduate programs at UC Berkeley or Northeastern.
- CV or Resume. A list of achievements will provide faculty with an idea of what to highlight in their letters of recommendation.