The MA in History Program at the College of Staten Island trains students in the ideas, methods, knowledge and skills that distinguish today’s professional historian. In small seminar settings, students collaborate as a community of scholars in reading outstanding examples of historical research under the direction of specialists from the Department’s five areas of concentration: History of Africa and the Middle East; History of Asia; History of Europe; History of Latin America and the Caribbean; History of the United States. Classes are scheduled exclusively in the evening to fit the work schedules of our students. Students receive technical training in the specific methods and tools historians use to study the past. Additionally, they demonstrate their mastery of the historian’s craft either by researching and writing a master’s thesis under the supervision of a thesis director or by presenting a portfolio of new research before a faculty committee.
The curriculum for the MA in History consists of eight courses (or 32 credits in total). It can be completed on a full-time basis over four semesters or on a part-time basis over eight semesters.
The History MA Program invites applications from persons who are completing or who have already completed bachelor’s degrees in History or related subjects. It also welcomes applications from persons from other academic backgrounds who possess a passion for history.
Students may enter the History MA Program in either the fall or spring semesters. Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation, a letter or statement of purpose, and a writing sample of approximately 10-pages in length. Applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
View our Ideal Schedule
The Master of Arts in History requires 32 graduate credits, with all graduate courses designated at four credits, for a total of eight courses. Students must take four courses from the five areas of concentration (one course from each area). All students are required to complete Historical Methods (HST 701) and either two thesis seminars (HST 798 and 799) or the portfolio seminar (HST 796). Students who also take the Advanced Certificate in Public History along with the MA can substitute the internship (HST 719) for the thesis or portfolio. For more information, see the graduate catalog for history.
Areas of Concentration:
- History of Africa and Middle East
- History of Asia
- History of Europe
- History of Latin America and the Caribbean
- History of the United States
Courses:
- Topics in the History of Africa
- Topics in the History of the Middle East
- Topics in the History of South Asia
- Topics in the History of East Asia
- Topics in European History to the Renaissance
- Topics in Latin American History
- Topics in Caribbean History
- Topics in U.S. History to 1865
- Topics in Ancient European and Mediterranean History
- Topics in Medieval European and Mediterranean History
- Topics in Early Modern European History
- Topics in Modern European History
- Introduction to Archival Studies
- Archival Studies Practicum
- Introduction to Museum Studies
- Historical Method
- Portfolio Preparation Seminar
- Preparation of Thesis Proposal
- Thesis Tutorial Seminar
- For more information on application requirements, click here.
- To apply, fill out the application
Feel free to reach out to the graduate coordinator with any questions you may have. We’re glad to help.
History MA and Public History Advanced Certificate
Learn more about the History MA by watching this information session video
Students enrolled in the MA program in History at the College of Staten Island may elect to complete an Advanced Certificate in Public History in addition to their History MA degree. The requirements for both the History MA degree and the Public History Certificate can be completed simultaneously through nine courses (or 36 credits), including a public history internship.
Contact Information
Alexander Zevin
History MA Program Coordinator and Associate Professor
Office of Recruitment and Admissions
Graduate Admissions
For More Information Visit
Prospective applicants with a BA in history or a related field should contact
Sasha.Spence@csi.cuny.edu for a code to waive the application fee.
Follow Us
Full Time Faculty
Staff
Denise Galica, History Secretary (Gittleson), 718.982.2870, denise.galica@csi.cuny.edu
Information on Scholarships and Paid Internships
- CSI Scholarship Information
- CUNY Cultural Corps offers paid internships at cultural institutions throughout the city.
- The Pencil Internship Program connects students living in NYC with jobs in city government agencies and non-profits. NYC hires people to work with history in its parks and deal with historical records in every agency.
- NYC Ladders for Leaders hires NYC youth aged between 16 and 24 for paid professional summer internships with non-profit organizations and city government agencies.
- Watch CSI’s public history students talk about their internships on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The MA offers an excellent education at one of the lowest prices among comparable programs. Find out the most updated tuition amounts here.
- It provides a path to a well-paying job that allows you to use your love of history. Please see the interviews with successful alumni from our MA program here and our Advanced Certificate in Public History here.
- There is an exciting campus life, with internships and lectures. Please see our YouTube channel for examples.
Double Counting Policy
You can finish your degree in two years for the MA and in a year and a half for the certificate. See the ideal schedule here. This can be faster if you are an undergraduate and use the double counting policy to take some MA classes during your BA. Since there isn’t a direct link to the policy, just cut and paste it in here. Double Counting Policy
Undergraduate students majoring in History at the College of Staten Island and satisfying the following criteria may be granted permission to take up to three CSI 700-level History graduate courses at undergraduate tuition to be counted toward their bachelor’s degree. These graduate courses may be used to substitute for one 300-level requirement in History designations, with two additional graduate courses counting as general electives, but not counting toward the major. Courses taken under this arrangement may also be applied toward completion of the MA in History degree.
Criteria:
- Current enrollment in bachelor’s degree in History at the College of Staten Island and successful completion of three years of study with 75 or more earned credits.
- Cumulative GPA 3.3 or above.
- Permissions from the course instructor, the coordinator of the History MA program, and the History Department chairperson.
