The Master of Arts in History at McMaster University is a graduate program in the Department of History. Students can complete the degree through a major research paper or a thesis stream, both structured to be completed in about one year of full-time study. Coursework combines historiography and research methods training with electives chosen according to the student's area of specialization, drawing on the department's research strengths across multiple historical fields and periods. The project stream culminates in a major research paper, while the thesis stream involves a longer piece of original historical research supervised by a faculty advisor and defended before a committee. The program prepares graduates for further doctoral study or for research, archival, heritage, and other professional roles requiring advanced historical analysis and writing skills. Admission is offered for the September term, with applications reviewed against a typical deadline in early February. The program is administered by McMaster's Department of History, part of the Faculty of Humanities, within the School of Graduate Studies.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission requires an Honours BA in history, or in history combined with another subject, with at least a B+ overall standing; applicants with a closely related Honours degree should consult the Graduate Studies Chair. Candidates must maintain at least a B- standing in all graduate seminars to remain in good standing. The one-year program may be completed either through coursework and a major research project or through coursework and a thesis. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit a TOEFL score of at least 92 (iBT), 580 (paper-based), or 237 (computer-based), or an IELTS Academic score of at least 7.0.
