Overview

History

About the Program

This program emphasizes the study of history as a multi-faceted field that is everchanging, constantly developing new questions about the past, and exploring innovative approaches to answering those questions. Simmons has offered graduate study in history since 1992. Our students are preparing for careers in education, research, archives management, librarianship, curatorship, and various other forms of public history. Some alumni proceed to doctoral study in the discipline. All of these possible directions benefit from our emphasis on research, which trains students in identifying and interpreting sources and in the critical evaluation of history. Through an individualized course of study, each student can gain a broad understanding of the past across different eras and places, or deepen knowledge of a specialized historical topic. The program combines independent work with strong faculty mentorship. Faculty expertise includes American history from the colonial era through the twentieth century, modern Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East; global and comparative history, women and gender, maritime history, the Atlantic world, memory studies, and public history. Courses and internship opportunities take advantage of the vibrant array of historic sites and manuscript collections that surround our Boston campus. A dual MA/MS program in Archives and History, offered in conjunction with the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, offers additional coursework in archival studies as well as hands-on experience in the field.

Sequence of Courses

This program requires 36 semester hours, the equivalent of nine courses. All students should take one course in historical methodology and historiography; aeries of electives; and a culminating research project or internship (fieldwork, thesis, teaching practicum, or public history internship). Students may enroll on either a full-time or part-time basis as long as they complete the program within five years. The program may be completed in three semesters (in some cases, within one academic year, including summer study).

Educational Promise

Simmons College is located in the heart of Boston, a world-class city renowned for unlimited educational, career, and social opportunities. The College of Arts and Sciences graduate programs provide opportunities to women and men pursuing master's and advanced degrees in education, liberal arts, and communications management. All programs provide a challenging educational experience in which every student develops an informed, critical, and committed voice, and learns to be a leader and collaborative member of the professional community.