5 Concentrations for a Master’s in History

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Staff
Updated October 2, 2020

Master's in History Concentrations

  • United States History
  • World History
  • European History
  • Museum Studies
  • Historic Preservation

Getting a Master's in History can be a wonderful way to improve your education and increase your career opportunities. One thing that you might be unsure about, however, is which of the concentrations you should choose. You have various options depending on the school that you attend, but these are some common choices.

Resource: 20 Best Affordable Online Master's in History Degree Programs

1. United States History

If you are interested in United States history in particular, focusing on it when pursuing your degree can be a smart move. In this program, you will take many courses that are designed to teach you about the history of the United States. You will learn about things like the discovery of the United States, the establishment of the government and states, different time periods, the wars that the United States has participated in and more.

2. World History

If you are interested in United States history but would like to have a broader history knowledge in general, you might find that a world history concentration will be a better choice for you. Then, you will learn some United States history, but your education will not be quite as targeted. Instead, you will take courses that will teach you about global history. You will learn about civilizations from all over the world, wars and more.

3. European History

Similar to a concentration in United States history, going to school for a concentration in European history will mean that your courses will be tailored more specifically to the history of the various European countries. You will get the chance to learn about prehistoric civilizations from the Bronze Age on to the various European royalty and leaders and more.

4. Museum Studies

One popular career path for those who pursue degrees in history is to work in a museum. If this is something that you are interested in, you might find that choosing a concentration in museum studies will be the optimal choice. Then, instead of just learning about history in general, you will learn more specifically about history as it pertains to museums. You may learn about things like popular museums throughout the world, preservation, displaying historical items in museums and more. This can be a great way to prepare yourself for a career in a museum.

5. Historic Preservation

If you are interested in the actual items that have been found and kept from long ago, you may find that a concentration in historic preservation will be an ideal choice. Even though you will take courses about basic history with this type of concentration, a lot of your education will be about the actual preservation of historical items. For example, you may learn about how historical items are cleaned, preserved and displayed.

If you are interested in getting your Master's in History, choosing from the various concentrations can be challenging. By considering what you are interested in and what you want to do with your degree when you graduate, however, you can help ensure that you make the right choice.

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