GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Our graduate student alumni work at colleges and universities, the American Historical Association and local governments and schools.
Graduate Study
Our M.A. program offers both thesis and non-thesis options and takes two years for full-time students. The Ph.D. is typically a five to six-year commitment and usually requires a master's degree prior to entering the program. However, our new "fast track" Ph.D. permits strong students to enter straight into the doctoral program with just a bachelor's degree.
Our graduate faculty work closely with students with various career interests and educational backgrounds. Once students have selected a program, they can also focus on particular concentrations such as the World History concentration within the M.A. program. Faculty and administrators are happy to answer questions about the program options and the application process.
Check out our faculty directory for more information about our faculty members' particular areas of expertise.
M.A. in History
We offer M.A. tracks in public history and historic preservation. We welcome secondary school teachers to upgrade their credentials. We also take professional scholarship seriously and are proud to place talented M.A. students in top-ranked Ph.D. programs.
Graduate studies at Georgia State open opportunities for students of history to expand their knowledge of the rich and varied cultures, ideas and experiences of the past. Our program affords a unique opportunity to pursue those interests in small seminars and one-on-one study with faculty.
Our program provides students with a broad, flexible course of study that includes World, European and American History courses. Our professors work with students on a wide range of research projects, from local research on Atlanta to global perspectives on world history.
Ph.D. in History
With faculty conducting pathbreaking research in various fields, our department offers outstanding opportunities to students pursuing their doctoral degrees. We are committed to broad-based and innovative approaches to graduate study, with faculty including historians of the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Graduate students in our program gain expertise in research methods and practical training as teachers. Our departmental graduate culture focuses on guiding students towards meaningful opportunities, helping graduates to launch successful careers in a variety of fields.
Our doctoral program opens opportunities for students to expand their knowledge of the rich and varied cultures, ideas, and experiences of the past through small seminars and one-on-one study with exceptional faculty.
Master of Heritage Preservation
Students in the Master of Heritage Preservation (M.H.P.) program may choose to concentrate in either historic preservation or public history. The program produces highly sought-after graduates with solid grounding in cultural studies, urban and architectural history who possess the research and writing skills essential to any career in these areas.
The program and its faculty emphasize the theory and practice of protecting and communicating the significance of our tangible and intangible heritage. The M.H.P. program uses Atlanta and the surrounding area as a living laboratory. Much of the coursework involves collaboration with community partners and cultural organizations to produce practical learning experiences that take place outside the traditional classroom setting.
Heritage Preservation Graduate Certificate
Graduate students can also pursue a certificate in either Historic Preservation or Public History. The certificate program is open to students enrolled in graduate degree programs at Georgia State or other graduate institutions in such programs as history, architecture, planning, anthropology, geography, urban studies, public administration, and real estate.
Students in the program acquire the skills necessary to manage and preserve cultural resources. This includes learning best practices for documenting and managing historic sites, conducting oral histories, surveying and assessing historic resources, creating museum exhibits, managing archives and developing community-based projects.
Contact Us
Department of History
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Department Chair
Associate Chair
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Director of Graduate Studies
Director of Master of Heritage Preservation Program
Department Specialist
Office / Delivery Address
History Department
Georgia State University
25 Park Place, Suite 2000
Atlanta, GA 30303
USPS Mailing Address
History Department
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4117
Atlanta, GA 30302-4117