Earning an online master's degree in history may prepare you for a career as a teacher, researcher, or writer. You may even use this degree to find employment as an archivist. In order to earn an online master's degree in history, you'll likely have to finish your high school education and then go on to attend college and earn a bachelor's degree. With this credential in hand, you can apply for admittance to an online master's degree program, which often involves submitting college transcripts, recommendations, standardized test scores, and a writing sample or essay. Once you are admitted to an online master's degree program in history, you may need at least two years to earn your degree.
High school is the first step you'll usually need to take on your way to a master's degree in history. Taking history classes, writing courses, and participating in activities that help you to develop your communication skills may give you good preparation for college. In lieu of completing high school, you may gain admission to college after earning an equivalency diploma. Once in college, you'll typically have to earn a bachelor's degree in preparation for admittance to an online master's degree program. Majoring in history, or another subject that includes a significant number of history courses, may give you a firm foundation on which you can draw for your master's degree studies.
The requirements you'll have to meet to gain admission to an online master's degree program may depend on the college at which you seek admission. You may find this degree option at schools that offer all of their classes online as well as at traditional colleges that offer online programs. While each school's admission requirements may vary, many require history master's degree seekers to hold bachelor's degrees and submit official transcripts from the colleges they've previously attended. This usually means you'll have to submit a transcript from each college you've attended, even if you did not graduate from the school. You may also have to take standardized entrance exams, obtain recommendation letters, and provide samples of your writing.
Many schools require online master's degree students to complete between 30 and 36 credits in order to earn their credentials. Depending on the amount of time you commit to your education, you may earn your degree in about two to three years. As a student working toward an online master's degree in history, you'll likely have to complete a core of classes that focus on the history major you choose. You may also take courses such as world history, the history of religion, and research methodologies. You will likely have to prepare and defend a master's thesis as well.
To keep up with your online master's degree in history program, you'll likely need a reliable computer and high-speed Internet access. The school you choose may require you to use specific programs as well. Making sure your computer is up to date and capable of running the programs the school uses is typically critical, as you may have to view lectures, submit assignments, and take exams using these programs and the Internet. Additionally, you may need to access the school's library system and other resources online.
