Combined BA+MA in History

Students in this program will develop high level skills in analysis, narrative, and strategy assessment. These are the skills employers repeatedly say they are looking for in employees. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with a master’s degree earn higher salaries than with a bachelor’s alone. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and develop a thesis project best suited to their goals beyond Miami (traditional research thesis, podcast, museum exhibit, website, etc.).

Applicants will apply in the spring of their junior year and are encouraged to apply to the History Honors Program at the same time. Admitted students will begin taking graduate level courses in their final year of undergraduate year and finish their graduate coursework and thesis project the following year. The combined program is a total of 154 semester hours; 124 hours minimum for the bachelor’s degree (9 of which must be HST credits) and 30 hours minimum for the master’s degree (9 of which can be double-counted for the BA and MA).

Admission Requirements

The History Department recommends that students begin the BA+MA sequence having completed at least 115 credits by the beginning of the fall semester of the final undergraduate year. Students applying to the BA+MA program in History are expected to have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher.

The Department bases admission decisions on academic performance as well as on the quality of a two- to three-page personal statement about the field of interest and career objectives; an academic writing sample of 10 pages, preferably on a historical topic; and three letters of recommendation.

Application Procedures

Applications are due by the Monday of the second to last week of classes in the spring semester. To apply to the combined BA/MA program, visit the Graduate School website to complete the online application and pay the application fee. Be sure to check "combined program."

Student Classification and Graduation

Students in a combined program will remain as undergraduates until they apply for graduation or submit a request to the Graduate School to have their classification changed from undergraduate to graduate. Students must have completed a minimum of 128 hours to be classified as a graduate student (note: this change in classification will affect eligibility for financial aid). Students may receive their bachelor's degree prior to completing their master's degree. Upon receiving the bachelor's degree, students will automatically be classified as graduate students.

A minimum of 156 semester hours is required for the combined program in History: 120 hours minimum for the bachelor's degree and 36 hours minimum for the master's degree.

Regular time limits for completing the master's degree apply to students in a combined program.

For more information, see the Miami University Graduate School Handbook.