Graduate Student Life

M.A. students in the History Program engage in many different learning and professionalization activities, all designed to help them develop scholarly skills.

UW History Grad student giving their thesis defense presentation

The 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.

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

UW History Grad student presenting at a conference

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.

History teacher and students in a seminar class at UW

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.

"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

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.

University of Wyoming History students doing research at the American Heritage Center archives

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.

"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

Click here to explore the History Graduate Resources page for links to some of the research sources available to History students.

Department Events

The History Department hosts events designed to give students opportunities to present their work, to learn about ongoing faculty research, to network with scholars from other universities, and to learn essential skills. All of which allows for a more cohesive relationship among faculty and students within the department, providing for a rewarding network of colleagues for the rest of your academic and professional career.

University of Wyoming History professor meeting with a student

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.