Program Overview
Ashland University's Master of Arts in American History and Government (MAHG) is designed to address the need of social studies teachers for rigorous, graduate-level study in the content of history and government. The program is offered on a unique schedule of weeklong summer seminars in a traditional classroom setting and live, interactive, web-based video conference courses. Each course focuses on the study and interpretation of the original historical documents from which we build our understanding of the past.
Designed for Secondary School Social Studies Teachers
If you are like most social studies teachers, you received training in the methods of effective teacher and classroom management as an undergraduate in a college of education. But how much time were you able to spend studying the substance of what you teach? How many courses did you take on the actual topics you cover each day, such as the American founding, the causes and effects of the Civil War or the role of the progressive movement in shaping the modern United States?
As an educator considering graduate studies, you probably have many master's programs in educational methods available to you. But if you want to study the people, events and ideas that shaped the United States or the origins and structure of the American political system, choose the AU Master of Arts in American History and Government.
Key Facts
- Hybrid online and summer program
- Focused solely on the study of history and government
- Appropriate for social studies teachers, community college faculty and others with a personal or professional interest in history or government
- Completion in as few as 15 months of full-time study or 27 months of part-time study
- Distinguished graduate faculty of scholars, including full-time AU history and political science faculty, as well as visiting professors from other universities across the nation
Curriculum
Requires a total of 32 semester credit hours, including:
- 12 semester hours of required core covering the breadth of the American experience from the revolution to the twentieth century
Course # Title HIST/POLSC 501 The American Revolution HIST/POLSC 502 The American Founding HIST/POLSC 503 Sectionalism and Civil War HIST/POLSC 505 The Progressive Era HIST/POLSC 506 The Rise of Modern America HIST/POLSC 507 Lincoln - 20 semester hours of elective coursework, providing the flexibility to customize your course of study around your personal interests or professional needs
- Traditional thesis, applied capstone project or qualifying exam options
View the Academic Catalog for complete degree requirements.
Tuition
| Charges | Per Credit Hour | Per Course |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees - On-Campus | $680 | $1,360 |
| Room and Board - On-Campus | $475 - $675 | |
| Tuition and Fees - Online | $510 | $1,020 |
The total cost of the M.A. degree program depends upon a variety of factors, including the length of time you need to complete the program, whether you require room and board during the summer semester and the delivery method of courses. The total cost of the degree program may range from $18,000 to $26,000.
Payment plans are available that allow you to spread out the cost of tuition in equal payments across an entire semester and AU participates in the federal direct student loan program.
An Inside Look
Ashland's MAHG is distinct from other graduate programs because of its summer residential courses. Unlike the experience you will receive in an online or commuter program, MAHG's convenient, weeklong summer courses make it possible to immerse yourself in your studies, free from the distractions of home. Listen as MAHG students and faculty reflect on their experiences and explain why this program is the best option for social studies teachers who strive for academic excellence.
MAHG's unique weeklong summer courses add an important dimension to the graduate school experience. While fully-online asynchronous programs may offer convenience, they do not provide the same collegiality that develops when students meet face to face.
The study groups and friendships that develop during the summer on-campus experience carry over to online courses, making web conference discussions much more personal and meaningful. Our convenient weeklong format provides the perfect compromise, enriching the student learning experience without disrupting personal or professional responsibilities.
Admissions
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and new students may begin their studies at any of 10 starting dates throughout the year: August, October, January, March and every few weeks during the summer. To apply, please submit:
- An application for admission.
- Original, official transcripts from each institution where you’ve earned a degree at the bachelor's level or higher.
- A $30 application fee.
In most cases, you can expect a decision from us within two weeks of receiving all of your application materials.
Take Your First Course Tuition-Free
All new degree-seeking students receive a waiver of tuition for their first weeklong on-campus summer course. Not sure if MAHG is for you? Come try it out! Once you experience the difference that on-campus study makes, we think you'll stick around. Don't worry–there is no obligation on your part and you won't have to pay us back if you don't continue in the program.
Apply for a Fellowship
We know that higher education poses a financial challenge to many prospective students. We can help with one of our graduate fellowships and you can apply today.