Whether as a historian or political analyst, while earning your master's degree in history from USD, you can expect to conduct sophisticated research projects and expand your writing skills to help advance your career. You can also earn more money with a master's degree. Students who graduate from our program are prepared to go on for the Ph.D. or to venture further into the field of history as an independent historian, beginning museum professional or an advanced secondary educator. As a terminal degree program, all graduate students have the full attention of the department’s historians.
The master's degree in history requires 30-33 credit hours and is offered in a thesis or non-thesis program of study. Students can focus on a variety of areas in American and European history. The applications of a master’s degree in history are far-reaching.
Combine your M.A. in history with a law degree. Graduates may go on to work in primary and secondary education or consider the field of law as a litigation specialist or paralegal. Admission to the Knudson School of Law is required prior to entering the M.A./J.D. program.
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As a student at USD, the opportunities available to you extend beyond the classroom. Explore your interests, find your community and experience your education to the fullest extent through the following opportunities.
USD is home to more than 170 student organizations, including those housed in the Department of History. You may be interested in joining Phi Alpha Theta or the Student History Club to make friends, develop new skills and explore your interests.
Join your fellow graduate and professional students at USD. We aim to build a sense of community between graduate and professional students. Build your resume, network with others and gain experience and the unique opportunity to represent the interests of graduate students to the greater campus and community.
The Zeta Mu Chapter of PAT was formed at USD in 1957, and since that time has inducted over 550 members. Associate Professor and department chair David Burrow is the faculty advisor for the local chapter of Phi Alpha Theta. Majors are inducted into Phi Alpha Theta at the awards banquet each spring.
The Society publishes The Historian, a distinguished quarterly journal with articles written by members with interests in all fields of history. It also contains numerous reviews of scholarly books and other items of interest. The Historian is one of the most widely circulated scholarly historical journals published in the United States.
You'll find the mentorship and opportunities you need to study topics that spark your curiosity.
At USD, our graduate students are actively pursuing unique research and presenting at local and national conferences exploring innovative areas of interest to them. Additional research and grant opportunities include:
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition provides the opportunity to communicate the significance and impact of your research project in just three minutes.
Each semester students may apply for grants through the USD Graduate School, faculty and students pursue research in virtually all academic departments on campus, and in many cases, it is a required portion of a graduate degree program.
IdeaFest is an annual event celebrating student research, creative scholarship and academic engagement. Undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines present their work in oral and poster presentations, live performances, readings, exhibits and displays.
At the University of South Dakota, our Department of History houses numerous disciplines that exist at the intersection of curiosity, research, writing, storytelling and the human experience. Find the answers to your questions about people, events, institutions and values with the guidance and support of our exceptional faculty.
The University of South Dakota is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its Master of Arts (M.A.) in History Program. We invite you to join us on campus for a celebration on September 16, 2022. The event will feature a combination of academic and practical history with panels also devoted to past student experiences at USD and in Vermillion.
If you have any questions, please contact the History Department at [email protected].
Learn more about tuition and fees for undergraduate students and see how your out-of-pocket costs at USD compare to those at other colleges and universities. Visit the Graduate Tuition & Costs Detailed page for program specific costs and fees.
Navigating options for how to pay for college can be challenging, but you are not alone. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and your family to explore how you can make your college education even more affordable.
USD offers opportunities for grad students to earn a reduced tuition rate in exchange for their teaching, research and service efforts to the university.
What I like about the history program is the great support of my peers and professors. Because of their support, I was able to present at a conference in Fargo, and win one of the first graduate research grants ever at the South Dakota State archives. I am specializing in Native American boarding schools in South Dakota and hope to educate others on this important history.
Katherine Kemp
M.A. History '23
Spearfish, South Dakota
