History

History

Master of Arts (MA)

Course-based program

Program overview

This program caters to a wide range of student profiles including those aiming for an academic track, a professional career, or to continue their training in history on a part-time basis. Students participate in graduate seminars that give them wide exposure to thematic and geographic areas of study. After their course work is complete, students write a research-based essay under the direction of a supervisor.

Completing this program

  • Core Course: Historiography and the Theories of History, and two research and writing courses to guide students through the development of their major research essay.
  • Additional Courses: Topics may include Canada, Europe, Latin America, United States, science, intellectual history, political history and more.
  • Research: A Major Research Essay, normally around 9,000 words in length (including notes, charts, tables and appendices, but excluding bibliography), is written, modelled on a scholarly research article.
  • Language: Students demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second language related to the major field of study, by examination, before the marking of the major research essay
  • Required Course Load: Part-time students must enroll in a minimum of one course per semester.

Outcomes

Historical research consulting, teaching, public history, government research analysis, civil service and diplomacy, professional writing and editing.

A master’s degree in history will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

12 months; four year maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

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Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.


  1. Lyndsay Campbell

    Lyndsay Campbell

    Accepting Inquiries
  2. image of profile holder

    Beau Cleland

    Seeking Students
    Empire and Non-State Violence in North America
  3. George Colpitts

    George Colpitts

    Accepting Inquiries
    Environmental History, Canadian History, Western Canada, Indigenous People, Cultural Exchange and the Fur Trade, Fur, Modernity and Industrialized relations, Treaty Trade, the State, and Business History
  4. Petra Dolata

    Petra Dolata

    Accepting Inquiries
    Energy History, International History, Diplomatic History
  5. Alexander Hill

    Alexander Hill

    Accepting Inquiries
    Soviet military history, The Second World War, Soviet military and naval policy, The Soviet Union and southern Africa
  6. Nancy Janovicek

    Nancy Janovicek

    Accepting Inquiries
    Twentieth Century Canada, Canadian Women's and Gender History, Oral History
  7. Amelia Kiddle

    Amelia Kiddle

    Accepting Inquiries
    Latin America
  8. profile

    Courtnay Konshuh

    Accepting Inquiries
    Early Medieval Europe ca 600-1000, Early Medieval England, Early Medieval North Sea
  9. Hendrik Kraay

    Hendrik Kraay

    Accepting Inquiries
    History of Brazil, Civic Rituals, Popular Festivals, Military Institutions, Slavery, Race, Popular Politics, Latin American History, History of Newspapers and Periodicals in Nineteenth-Century Brazil
  10. Placeholder Profile Image

    Ken MacMillan

    Accepting Inquiries
    Early Modern England, circa 1500-1700, English Empire and Atlantic World, circa 1575-1750, Crime and Criminal Justice in Early Modern England, Early Modern International Law and Diplomacy

Admission requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.4 on a four-point scale or equivalent, over the final 60 units of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

Normally, a four-year undergraduate program with honours or a major in history. 

Work samples

A sample of written work (unpublished essays submitted as coursework in previous undergraduate and Master’s degree programs or individual chapters of Honours, BA or Master’s theses).

Documents

A statement of research interest of up to 500 words, outlining your main areas of interest, background in historical research, and preferred MRE (Major Research Essay) topics.

A curriculum vitae.

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

Deadlines

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: January 15 application deadline
  • International students: January 15 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Department of History

Social Sciences Building, Room 656
618 Campus Place NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Faculty of Arts

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Arts website