Admission Process
The Master of Arts in History program offers routes to further education tailored to individual needs, experiences, and professional endeavors. It has proven to be an excellent choice not only for recent college graduates but also for individuals making midlife career changes. Our graduates have gone on to college and university education, journalism, the California State Park system, government, museum management, law and business among a variety of pathways. The M.A. in History opens many doors!
Students who plan to study for the Ph.D. are advised to learn to read one foreign language and to complete a master’s thesis.
Professional Opportunities
- Selected graduate students can serve as paid teaching assistants to increase their professional preparation in the classroom and enhance their appeal for a future teaching position.
- Selected graduate students can serve as paid research assistants (via a competitive university-wide application process), working closely with faculty members on scholarly projects as a means of enhancing the students’ skills in advanced research.
- Various graduate student workshops and one-on-one conversations with history professionals—not only our faculty, but also practitioners of local and public history, archivists, museum curators and other professionals — will aid graduate students in expanding their job horizons and finding their niche in the historical profession.
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Application Procedures
If you are interested in the History M.A. program at Stanislaus State and would like more information, contact the Program Director, Paul Strauss, at pstrauss@csustan.edu. Please also view the “Current Students” page for opportunities and studies for our students.
New students are admitted to the M.A. program for both the fall and spring semesters. Applicants must apply through Cal State Apply.
- Applications for fall semester admission must be received by June 30.
- Applications for spring semester admission must be received by October 31.
Prerequisites for Admission
A. For students who have majored in History, the following are required:
- A Bachelor of Arts degree in History.
- Completion of a senior thesis/seminar.
- An overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in their history major.
- A Personal Statement between 300 and 500 words.
- Two professional letters of recommendation emailed directly to the program director (if necessary).
Students who meet these requirements and are granted admission to the program after review by the History Graduate Committee will be admitted under Classified Status.
B. Students who have not majored in History, but who have completed a minimum of four upper-division history courses, including a senior thesis/seminar course, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 in those courses, may also be considered for admission under Classified status if they meet the following requirements:
- A Bachelor of Arts degree in a field closely related to history.
- An overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in their major.
- A Personal Statement between 300 and 500 words.
- Two professional letters of recommendation emailed directly to the program director (if necessary).
C. Students who have not majored in History, or who have not completed a minimum of four upper-division history courses, including a senior thesis/seminar course, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 in those courses, may be considered for admission under Conditional Classified Status in the program at the discretion of the History Graduate Committee if they meet the following requirements:
- A Bachelor of Arts degree in a field closely related to history.
- An overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in their major.
- A Personal Statement between 300 and 500 words.
- Two professional letters of recommendation emailed directly to the program director.
D. Students who otherwise meet the requirements for admission but have an overall G.P.A. and/or a G.P.A. in their major of less than 3.0 but at least 2.9 may be considered for admission under Conditional Classified Status.
Students who are admitted under Conditional Classified Status must meet one or both of the following requirements, as specified by the Graduate Committee upon admission, within one year before they can be advanced to Classified Status:
- If they have not completed four upper-division History classes, complete two 4000-level history courses at Stanislaus State, including the extra work required of graduate students in these courses, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher or at least a B average. Students will receive graduate credit for these courses if they are advanced to Classified Status.
- If they have not completed a senior thesis/seminar course, complete HIST 4960 Senior Seminar with a grade of B or higher. No extra work for graduate students is required in this course. HIST 4960 may count toward the two 4000-level courses mentioned above but the units will not count toward the M.A. degree.
Application Requirements
A complete application must include a Personal Statement. This Statement must briefly explain your reasons for wanting to undertake the M.A. degree, how it will support your long-term personal and professional goals, and why you want to complete the program at Stanislaus State. You may upload this Personal Statement into Cal State Apply or email it directly to the Program Director.
Applicants who did not complete 12 or more units of upper-division History coursework at Stanislaus State should arrange to have two letters of recommendation emailed directly by their references to the Program Director.
Once applications have been received and reviewed, you will receive a formal decision letter by email from the Program Director. After you receive a formal decision letter, you will receive instructions from the Graduate School for setting up your student portal and enrolling in courses. During this time, newly admitted students should make an appointment to meet with the Program Director to discuss program requirements and course selection.
Review of Graduate Status
The History Graduate Committee will meet periodically to determine student admission to the master's program in history. On a regular basis, the History Graduate Committee will meet to review the status of continuing students in the graduate program, considering their progress based on academic and professional ethical standards. Decisions made by the History Graduate Committee shall be communicated in writing to the student, the Graduate Dean, the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, and any other appropriate persons.
Updated: September 09, 2025