Graduate Programs

At UMKC, faculty who hold professional degrees and are publishing scholars, teach a wide variety of history courses. The hallmark of the program is the small upper-level class sizes which promotes discussion and individual attention from faculty that provides for a greater breadth of knowledge and a deeper understanding of course material.
Master of Arts in History

Students within the graduate programs of the Department of History receive rigorous instruction in historical scholarship, research methods, and practical skills training through their work with varied source materials. The Department of History offers two options leading to the Master of Arts degree.

  • Master of Arts in History
  • Master of Arts in History with a Public History Emphasis

In both options, students will develop a personalized research agenda and will be supported by a community of award-winning scholars.

Sample History Major Map

Admissions At a Glance

Admission into the Master of Arts in History, or Master of Arts in History with a Public History Emphasis is based on the prospective student’s academic record, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, writing sample, and favorable judgment by the Department of History’s Graduate Committee and Master of Arts Program Coordinator.

Prospective students should review the Graduate and Professional Program Application Process through UMKC Admissions and the Graduate Admissions Requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) prior to completing their application. In addition, prospective students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Department of History’s Master of Arts Program Coordinator before applying.

*Consider pursuing a Graduate Certificate to round out your degree and enhance your career opportunities.

Geographic Information Systems

Historic Preservation

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Nonprofit Management & Innovation

Urban Policy and Management

 

All students interested in the Master of Arts in History will need to meet with a representative from the program. Application deadlines for enrollment to the Fall Semester is August 1st and for enrollment to the Spring Semester is January 1st of each year. 

Meet Our Graduate Faculty Coordinators

Massimiliano Vitiello

Professor of History and Classics and Master of Arts Program Coordinator
Email: vitiellom@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-6118 x9
Portrait

Sandra Enriquez

Assistant Professor of History and Director of the Public History Emphasis
Email: enriquezs@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-6118 x3

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in History

Offered in conjunction with the School of Graduate Studies, the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program enables students to work across multiple disciplines and to develop an academic focus that is tailored to their career aspirations. The mission of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program is to span traditional boundaries among disciplines while helping students develop knowledge and skills for independent research on the fundamental questions of the present and the future.

The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in History requires that prospective students be admitted into at least two disciplines where history may be studied as either the primary discipline or as a co-discipline.

*Consider pursuing the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching & Career Preparation

All students interested in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in History will need to meet with a representative from the program. Applications for enrollment must be received by the School of Graduate Studies no later than January 15th. Students accepted into the program will begin coursework during the Fall Semester. 

Meet Our Doctoral Faculty Coordinator

Matthew Osborn

Associate Professor of History
Email: osbornmw@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-6118 x8

Typical Rotation of Required Graduate Courses 

Every Fall Semester  Every Spring Semester 
HISTORY 5581GR - Introduction to Graduate Studies HISTORY 5582A - Research Proposal Development
HISTORY 5587R - Research Seminar  Colloquia
HISTORY 5579 - Public History: Theory and Method
Colloquia