Military History, M.A. - Department of History

This program is offered online.

Military History, M.A | Study the Past, Lead the Future

Pursue your Interests. Advance your Career. Study with Experts.

The Citadel’s Master of Arts Degree in Military History is a fully online, 30-hour program. The program provides an advanced historical study of the theory and practice of warfare, the institutions and operations of military forces, and the impact of militaries and warfare on societies. Students may obtain either a Master of Arts Degree in Military History or both a Master of Arts Degree in Military History and a Graduate Certificate in Military Leadership at the same time. The Dual Program option requires an additional 3 LDRS courses for a leadership certificate that compliments and strengthens the graduate degree in Military History.

The Citadel is ranked as the Best Regional University in the South and has also been consecutively named Best Public University in the South by U.S. News & World Report for 14 years. The Citadel has been named the #1 College for Veterans in the South for 7 consecutive years. The Citadel is home to a large number of historians whose research and teaching focus is military history and war and society. It is a college steeped in military tradition and dedicated to training citizen soldiers and leaders.

“As an adult learner with a passion for military history, I could think of no better place than The Citadel to pursue my educational goals. While a fully online program, the expertise and sheer knowledge of my professors transcends any traditional classroom setting I have ever experienced.“

-Rob P.

Pursue Your Interests.The Master of Arts in Military History at The Citadel enables you to work closely with distinguished historians as you pursue specialized interests. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the history and evolution of warfare and military institutions in our core courses. Then delve into specific conflicts in our electives, examine the military history of a particular region or era, or explore the relationship between war and society. From strategic thought to operations and tactics, from the Greeks and Romans to the War on Terror, from traditional to innovative methodologies, find your niche.

Advance Your Career. The Master of Arts in Military History is designed to meet the diverse professional development needs of officers in the U.S. Armed Forces; government officials in the fields of diplomacy, national defense, homeland security, and intelligence; public historians at the federal, state, and local levels; corporate and business leaders; high school history teachers; students planning to pursue a Ph.D. in the fields of war studies or military history; and those who seek to deepen their understanding of human conflict. The curriculum emphasizes reading and researching, analysis and complex thought, and written expression. Our concise curriculum, at 30 hours, lends itself to on-time completion in two years or less.

Study With Experts. The Citadel’s History Department and affiliated fellows bring together award-winning and experienced scholars in the fields of war, society, and military history. This large concentration of scholars has designed and leads the Master of Arts in Military History. A body of affiliated fellows assures broad subject matter expertise and stable relationships with the program. Our large, resident faculty presence assures contact, program continuity, and support for study. Our program exhibits a strong mixture of traditional military history, interdisciplinary study of the theory and practice of war, and innovative approaches to military history and the interplay of war and society.

What You Will Learn

Think historically about the study of war, its conduct, meaning, and consequences, as a historian.
Understand the evolution of warfare and its relationship to modern operational environments, joint warfare, civil-military relations, and strategy.
Gain knowledge of armed conflict at all levels of warfare: strategic, operational, and tactical.
Appreciate the political, social, economic, environmental, geographic, and cultural contexts of war.
Develop skills in historical thinking, analytical research, and clear, persuasive writing.
Analyze and apply issues of military leadership and decision-making throughout history.
Explore the human dimension of war and experience of combat.

Explore the M.A Military History Online Curriculum

Admission Requirements

The Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis. To be considered for the Master of Arts in Military History program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Online Graduate Application: Complete the online application and submit the non-refundable application fee.
Official Transcripts: Provide transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. A competitive GPA is expected, with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 and at least a 3.0 in the major. Applicants who do not meet this GPA requirement may be provisionally admitted, provided all other criteria are met. After successfully completing nine credit hours of coursework with a GPA of 3.50 or higher, provisional students will be fully admitted to the program.
Letter of Recommendation: Submit one letter of recommendation, ideally from a former professor. Recommendations from commanding officers or employers are also acceptable. The letter should specifically assess the applicant’s writing, research, and analytical abilities, as well as their potential for success in the program.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (C.V.): Provide an updated resume or C.V. detailing relevant experience.
Letter of Intent: Submit a one-page letter addressing the following:
1. How has your experience prepared you for graduate study in history?
2. How will your knowledge, skills, and attitudes contribute to the Military History program’s learning community?
3. What do you hope to gain from the M.A. in Military History program?

Transfer Credits

Are you considering whether or not graduate courses that you have already completed at your current or former institution would transfer into The Citadel’s Online MA in Military History Program? If you would like to discuss our transfer credit policy in relation to your graduate work, please contact Dr. David Preston, Director, at prestond1@citadel.edu.

Note:

Online students are welcomed to attend their MA graduation on campus.
Students must confer with their online graduate advisor prior to beginning their program of study.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaila V. Peters.