The Department of History is one of the largest and most vibrant academic units at the University of North Alabama. We offer a Master of Arts in History that can be completed fully online or through a combination of online and on-campus coursework. Students pursuing the M.A. in History may also choose to complete a concentration in public history.

In addition to the M.A., the department offers two standalone certificate programs. The 12-hour Certificate in Public History is designed for individuals seeking to strengthen their public history practice without completing a full master’s degree. The 18-hour Certificate in History is ideal for students who already hold a master’s degree in another field and wish to qualify to teach dual enrollment or community college history courses.

Graduate students learn from award-winning teachers and scholars who are actively engaged in research,teaching, and public scholarship. Faculty bring expertise across a wide range of geographic areas and specialize in fields such as public history, religious history, environmental history, and political and cultural history. Current faculty projects explore the cultural history of Batman, the public memory of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, geography and inequality in turn-of-the-century St. Louis, early modern readings of the Bible, Indigenous history in the southeast, the story of the Tennessee River, ancient Romans in Malta, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Graduate students are active participants in the department's intellectual life. They study abroad, present at academic conferences, and contribute meaningfully to local and regional communities. Our alums have gone on to pursue Ph.D. programs, become outstanding educators, and work in public history institutions across the country.

We invite you to join our dynamic and supportive community through graduate study at the University of North Alabama.

Graduate Assistantships

The Department of History offers a limited number of assistantships to qualified MA in History applicants. These positions provide professional experience through research, instructional, or administrative work and may include tuition benefits and a monthly stipend for on-campus work. Assistantships are awarded for one year and are renewable upon review. Graduate assistants work with either the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, the UNA Public History Center, the Willingham, or assist faculty with research projects. For more information, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Carrie Crawford, at cbarske@una.edu or 256-765-4968.