Graduate Student Life

History Graduate Students

Love learning about the past and how it shapes the world today? A Graduate History degree at the University of Wyoming helps you explore the people, events, and ideas that have defined societies across time. Our faculty create a supportive, engaging environment where you better understand the world—and your place in it. You’ll gain valuable skills in research, analysis, and communication—skills that every employer is seeking. Many of our graduates go on to some of the top PhD programs in the nation, or obtain careers in business, education, government, law, museums, and more.

The University of Wyoming’s History Department offers graduate students the opportunity to work with internationally recognized faculty in an array of specializations and methodologies, with special concentration in the American West in a global context. In addition to our strengths in United States, U.S. Western and Native American history, we offer coursework covering Modern Europe, Latin America, the Medieval Europe, Russia and South Asia. This wide range of expertise makes the University of Wyoming an ideal place for graduate students to explore comparative themes in political, economic, social, cultural and global history.

History graduate students at the University of Wyoming also have access to funding opportunities through research travel grants, conference travel grants, and for other projects.

Student Testimonials

Cards Carousel Slider

Student Testimonial

"Having access to the resources at the American Heritage Center and the funding available to travel to several other archives, allowed for me to develop critical research skills." - UW History Alum

Student Testimonial

"My time at UW was one of the most important experiences of my life. I had the immense privilege of working with faculty and graduate students of extremely high caliber. I still keep in touch with my cohort and my mentors, and consider my time in the UW History Department to be a valuable component of my growth as a scholar and a person." - UW History Alum

Student Testimonial

"Studying history at UW gave me access to an incredibly dedicated group of scholars who provided an unparalleled level of mentorship." - UW History Alum

mountain icon

Opportunities

Graduate students can enhance their academic experience by attending scholarly conferences and seminars, participating in departmental events, conducting archival research, and serving in graduate assistantships.

Scholarly Conferences

History M.A. students are strongly encouraged to present their research at scholarly conferences. The History Department offers multiple funding opportunities to facilitate graduate students' conference travel. Wyoming M.A. students routinely present at graduate and professional conferences throughout the region and beyond. 

Seminars

Graduate seminars provide M.A. students with a critical scholarly foundation. Seminars create space for intellectual exchange with peers in the program and beyond. Students take seminars from faculty in many areas of specialization, gaining a broad appreciation for historical methodologies and theoretical frameworks.

Departmental Events

The History Department hosts events designed to give students opportunities to present their work, learn about faculty research, network with scholars from other universities, and develop essential skills—all of which foster a cohesive faculty-student relationship and a rewarding network of colleagues for your academic and professional career.

Graduate Assistantships

The History M.A. program offers full-time funding opportunities for graduate students as Graduate Assistants. Graduate Assistants gain valuable teaching experience in core History courses and contribute vitally to undergraduate student learning. 

Areas of Study

History M.A. students have the opportunity to work with multiple faculty members whose expertise spans the globe. Students are encouraged to develop comparative and global knowledge of history and to work closely with faculty. 

Thesis

Writing the thesis is a core experience of the History M.A. Program. Each student crafts their thesis in consultation with their primary advisor, and each thesis is held to the highest standards of historical scholarship. 

 

Archival Research

M.A. students conduct intensive research for their thesis projects, typically in the summer following their first year of coursework. The History Department offers funding opportunities to facilitate travel, accommodations, and other archival costs.

 

Funding for research is limited in M.A. Programs, making the UW History Department stand out from other graduate programs. The program is geared to teach students how to write grant proposals, thereby earning money to allow time for extensive research, an asset less common among similar programs.

Graduate Resources

 

Photo of students doing archival research