History degrees

Understanding and analyzing the development of political, cultural, economic and social life in past civilizations gives you the conceptual skills to analyze critical issues in both the present and future.

With faculty specializing in a wide array of periods, places, and approaches to history, we train an equally diverse array of students at all levels of the university. We offer undergraduate BA and BS degrees in history as well as specialized training in history education leading to the BSEd.

At the graduate level we offer a traditional Master of Arts degree in history, with an integrated Bachelor's of Arts/Master of Arts degree program option (Accelerated Master of Arts). Our graduate program also gives you the option to choose 10 hours of courses in art history, filmmaking, museum studies or education to count toward your History M.A. We also offer joint MA, semester-abroad, and summer intensive options.

    Mission statement

    The history program at Central Michigan University fosters the creation and communication of historical knowledge by:

    • Teaching undergraduate students, including preparing K–12 history teachers.
    • Training professional historians at the graduate level.
    • Conducting advanced historical research.
    • Writing and speaking for both specialist and general audiences.

    We encourage collaborative inquiry and exchanges among faculty and students from CMU and partner institutions ​abroad as well as outreach to Michigan, the United States, and the wider world. In all of these activities, we seek to support CMU’s institutional priorities of teaching and learning, diversity and global perspectives, research, public service, and the culture of integrity.