Offering Master of Arts degrees in 3 career tracks
Career Track 1
Academic-Write a Master’s thesis and prepare to go on to a Ph.D. program if desired, or simply enhance your expertise in deep research of a topic.
Career Track 2
Public History – Complete a public history Project and prepare for a career in archives, museums, historical societies, cultural centers, and public policy research.
Career Track 3 ONLINE For Secondary Education Teachers
Educator-For social studies and history secondary educators – Complete a program of professional development in advanced history that includes practicum labs to enhance your teaching. THIS OPTION IS ONLINE and started in Fall 23. This degree track is only ONLINE remote synchronous because we believe many full time teachers who could benefit from this cannot physically attend our university.
A Welcome Letter from the Graduate Coordinator for History:
Dear potential graduate students in history
Welcome to our history graduate program page. So you would like to pursue a Master of Arts degree in History. Great! Here is what we can offer for Fall 2025! — Application deadlines vary: the first is January 15 (for funding priority) and the final deadline is August 1.
We have a Master of Arts degree with three career tracks. The first option is called the “Academic Track” and offers training to be a research historian where you will complete a master’s thesis. This option also prepares students for pursuing a future Ph.D. in history. The second option is the “Public History Track.” Public historians emphasize engagement with the wider community in sharing their expertise of history. Students who choose this option complete a public history project. The NEW third option is the ONLINE “Educator Track,” and this option alone is available only ONLINE and started in FALL 23. This new online MA is specifically designed for Teachers throughout Idaho and the region who cannot attend a graduate program because they have full time jobs far away from Boise. This option offers professional continuing education for secondary education history and social studies teachers and also prepares teachers to offer concurrent enrollment (high school classes that earn college history credits) in Idaho schools.
One thing I would like to emphasize however, is that we are a small department that offers more mentoring and camaraderie than larger institutions. We treat each incoming group of graduate history students as a new “cohort” that has a shared experience in common classes. Each cohort often studies together with opportunities to socialize together and form a support network for the hard work ahead. Graduate school is hard work and we have the unique structure to see you through the hard times if you are willing to work. We emphasize advising and keep track of our graduate students and will not let you fade away as happens at larger schools. In other words, we care. Please take this into consideration as you look around for graduate schools.
Sincerely,
David Walker
Graduate Coordinator
General Questions
history.gradbsu@boisestate.edu
Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. David Walker – please feel free to ask me a question. I also receive the email inquires from the previously listed email.
davidwalker2@boisestate.edu
208-426-2992
Office Location
Albertson’s Library
Room L187
Directions
Mailing Address
Department of History
Boise State University
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1925