Graduate Programs

As a comprehensive state university, West Chester offers one of the most affordable masters' level graduate programs in the region, with both the Master of Arts (M.A.) in History and the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Social Studies: History Concentration. A full range of late afternoon and evening graduate courses and seminars enables both full-time and part-time students to complete either program at their own pace, within a six-year limit.

With 20 full-time faculty members, the Department has specialists in many areas of European and United States history as well as African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern studies. The Department believes that close interaction between faculty and students is an integral part of graduate education. As part of that philosophy, the faculty values both excellent teaching and active scholarship.

What our students say:

The variety of classes in the masters program allowed me to expand my content knowledge and skills in the classroom. I helped design a website for the Great Migration with Drs. Hardy and Smucker, which I use in my AP U.S. History class, and I wrote an essay which compares and contrasts propaganda in World War I and World War II, which I use in my Honors U.S. History class. – John Hashagen

The internships available through WCU, including my internship at the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, have provided students with invaluable experience working in the public arena. I feel very fortunate to have an opportunity to work closely with experts in the field of Public History while helping to develop an archive rich in content and with ease of accessibility to the public. – Suzanne Irvin

The MA History program at West Chester University enabled me to read widely in my area of interest and allowed me to gain valuable experience tutoring undergraduates as a graduate assistant. My professors supported my decision to pursue an unorthodox master's thesis project and provided guidance at every phase of the PhD application process. All of these things have proven crucial to my intellectual and professional development and have prepared me well for my first year as a doctoral student [at Boston College]. – Nick Quadrini

To learn more about our program, consult our Graduate Student Handbook. For course descriptions, see the Graduate Catalog. Please plan to attend our Graduate Student Open House, February 17, 2016.

Admission Requirements

The Department of History requires a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in history and a 2.75 overall GPA for admission to its graduate program. While it is not an absolute requirement, in general candidates should have at least taken the survey-level sequences in U.S. and World/Western Civilization (candidates may be admitted provisionally without these courses and may be asked to complete the sequences prior to full-degree candidacy). The application package should contain a statement of professional goals, a writing sample of no less than two pages on a historical topic, and three letters of recommendation, preferably academic. In both programs, admission to full-degree candidacy requires a GPA of 3.0. Students interested in graduate studies in history may also take two graduate courses before formal admittance to either graduate program.

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis. Students so admitted may then apply for full-degree candidacy upon completion of 12-18 semester hours of applicable course work with at least a 3.0 GPA. In both programs students must pass written comprehensive examinations at or near completion of their course work.

For application materials, contact the Office of Graduate Studies (e-mail gradstudy@wcupa.edu or telephone 610-436-2943). For further information about the history graduate programs contact Professor Éric Fournier, Coordinator of Graduate Studies, Department of History, (e-mail EFournier@wcupa.edu or telephone 610-436-2168).