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 Department bases admission decisions on academic performance as well as on the quality of a personal statement (1-2 pages) about the field of interest and career objectives; an academic writing sample (5-10 pages), preferably on a historical topic; and 2 letters of recommendation, with one by a history faculty member. Students must have completed 75 undergraduate credit hours upon entering the program.

Application Procedures

Applications are due by May 1 for a fall semester start, and by December 1 for 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 (note: this change in classification will affect eligibility for financial aid). Upon receiving the bachelor's degree, students will automatically be classified as graduate students.

A minimum of 154 semester hours is required for the combined program in History: 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, with permission of the appropriate advisor(s) and dean(s) or their designee(s)).

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.