Honors students are eligible for membership in Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary society. Some introductory and advanced undergraduate courses and graduate courses are offered in the evening. The department offers two Master of Arts degrees. Students interested in enhancing their understanding of history, obtaining advanced teaching credentials, or pursuing doctoral work elsewhere may take the traditional graduate program. Students interested in applied history may take the public history program.
Some financial assistance is available.
A history major has traditionally served as a foundation for careers in such professions as teaching and law. In recent years undergraduates have frequently augmented studies in history with computer science, foreign language, or business administration, combinations which have proved attractive in business and government service. The prospect of new career ladders in public education has prompted renewed interest in an M.A. in history with advanced teaching certification. Multiplication of records of every kind has created a steady demand for historians with master's degrees in applied or public history. The departmental honors program in History allows selected students to pursue intensive, individually directed work in history.