Master of Arts
CSULB’S Masters degree in history is ideal for students planning to pursue Ph.Ds., for secondary teachers, for professionals seeking a graduate degree, and for lifelong learners.
This five-semester program offers students close contact with faculty mentors, rigorous training in historical methods (critical analysis, synthesis and writing), and an opportunity to tailor their programs to pursue specific interests in U.S., European, World History, and Ancient and Medieval History.
Students build expertise in two fields of concentration and choose among three final projects: comprehensive exams, a thesis, or a teaching unit (primarily for secondary teachers).
Our graduates have gone on to doctoral programs at Princeton, Yale, Cornell, UCLA, University of London, University of California at Santa Barbara, and University of California at San Diego among others. Other graduates are successful secondary teachers and community college faculty, and professionals working in government, real estate, business, and the National Park Service.
National recognition, close contact with faculty, evening class schedules, and affordable tuition make our program an excellent choice for full-time students and working professionals alike.
For more information more information on the M.A. program, please refer to the Graduate Handbook.
How to Apply
Minimum Requirements for Admission
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an overall GPA and a history GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Substantial previous coursework in history.
Application Checklist
All elements of the application must be completed by January 15.
- Apply online for admission to the university by January 15. Go to Cal State Apply. If you have any questions about the Cal State Apply process, visit their Help Center.
- The University requires transcripts from the college or university where you earned your bachelor’s degree. If you already hold a post-bacc or graduate degree, the History Department would like to see those transcripts as well. Please have official transcripts sent directly from the college or university that issued them. They can be sent electronically to ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu, to:
Enrollment Services/Admissions
CSU Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
If you are a current CSULB student or a recent CSULB graduate, you do not have to send your CSULB transcripts.
- Send a Statement of Purpose, C.V., and a writing sample directly to the History Department at the following email address: CLA-HistoryGraduateProgram@csulb.edu
- Arrange to have three letters of recommendation emailed directly to the History Department (see above address) by your recommenders. Ideally, these letters should be from faculty who know your work as a history student. Recommendations from faculty should be sent from university email addresses. Choose those recommenders who can best evaluate your analytical, research and writing skills as well as your intellectual ability and preparedness for the rigors of graduate work.
- If you elect to send any hard copies of documents, all application materials sent to the department must be postmarked no later than January 15.
N.B. — GRE scores are not required from applicants to our program.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Caitlin Murdock (Email for questions about the program or the substance of the application)
Administrative Assistant
Office of Enrollment Services, Registration Unit
Contact for current application fee information: (562) 985-5484
Office of Financial Aid
Contact for current financial aid information: (562) 985-4641
