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Program details
The Department of History offers programs of study leading to a Master of Arts degree in History. The MA program is a joint degree program offered by the History departments of the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.
Master of Arts in History
Expected duration: 1+ years
Students will choose to take one of the following program options: Course-based MA, Major Research Paper MA, Thesis-based MA or an Archival Studies MA.
Tuition and fees: One year’s tuition, then continuing fees in subsequent years (refer to Graduate tuition and fees)
All graduate students in History are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second language.
In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section, students must complete program specific requirements and:
- Complete the course HIST 7110: Advanced Historical Methodologies (6 credit hours).
Course-based MA
Expected duration: 1 year
Students in the Course-based MA program must complete:
- 21 credit hours of coursework including:
- At least 18 credit hours of History courses at the 7000 level, including HIST 7110 (6 credit hours)
- 3 credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level if the course is outside of History
- A written comprehensive exam in the major field, followed by an oral exam
Students pursuing the course-based MA must be competent in at least three areas of historical study. Two of these are classified as minor fields and include the Ancillary. From the major field 12 credit hours are normally chosen. At least one of these courses must be a research course.
The Course-based MA stream does not fulfill the primary research component required by some funding agencies.
Major Research Paper MA
Expected duration: 1 year
Students in the Major Research Paper MA program must complete:
- 21 credit hours of coursework including:
- At least 18 credit hours of History courses at the 7000 level, including HIST 7110: Advanced Historical Methodologies.
- 3 credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level if the course is outside of History
- A major research paper
Students meet with their advisor and develop a topic for the paper. The paper will be a piece of original writing based on research that includes primary sources. It will be roughly 8,000-10,000 words in length.
Thesis-based MA
Expected duration: 2 years
Students in the Thesis-based MA program must complete:
- 12 credit hours of coursework at the 7000 level selected from two areas of historical study, where 6 credit hours must be from HIST 7110: Advanced Historical Methodologies
- A thesis and oral examination
After an advisor has been determined, the student will prepare a thesis project form in consultation with their advisor.
The thesis will be a piece of original writing based on a variety of research sources and will make a contribution to the study of its particular field.
Archival Studies MA
Expected duration: 2 years
The Joint Master's Program offers an archival studies stream. Students in the program will be preparing to enter the archival profession.
Students in the Archival Studies MA program must complete:
- 21 credit hours of coursework including:
- HIST 7372
- HIST 7382
- HIST 7110
- 3 credit hour elective course (normally taken within History)
- A summer internship
- A major research paper on a topic relevant to archival studies and an oral examination
Second language requirement
All graduate students in History are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second language, relative to the candidate’s research program.
Candidates who major in Canadian History must display a reading knowledge of French and English.
To satisfy the language requirements, students must do one of:
- Pass a language competency test by way of a translation exam;
- Complete an introductory language course and obtain a grade of B or better;
- Provide proof of successful completion of undergraduate coursework in the appropriate language
Pre-Master's option
Expected duration: 1 year
The Pre-Master’s program consists of 24 credit hours of coursework of four full year History courses at the 4000 level including HIST 4400 or HIST 4580 (if necessary).
Tuition and fees: Varies (refer to the pre-masters section in Graduate tuition and fees)
Students without the qualifications necessary for admission directly into the MA program may take a Pre-Master's year, which is similar to a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in History.
Sample course offerings
- HIST 7760 A01: History of Aboriginal Rights (6 credit hours)
- HIST 7910: Studies in World History: Global Economic History (6 credit hours)
- HIST 7772: Getting Graphic with the Past: Comics, Graphic Novels and History (3 credit hours)
- HIST 7772: Canada's Left: National and International Perspectives (3 credit hours)
- HIST 7240: State and Society in Latin American History (6 credit hours)
- HIST 7372: History of Archiving and Archival Records (6 credit hours)
- HIST 7382: Archiving in the Digital Age (6 credit hours)
- HIST 7640: Social History of Health and Disease in Modern Canada (6 credit hours)
For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.
Admission requirements
The following are minimum requirements for entry into the program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Admission decisions are based on the qualifications of the applicant as well as the ability of the Departments of History at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg to serve the applicant’s intended program of study and area of specialization.
In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
To qualify for admission to the Joint Master's program, you must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree with a major in History.
Pre-master's admission requirements
To be considered for the Pre-Master's program, you must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree which includes at least four courses in history.
How to apply
The Joint Master's program has one application deadline per year, and applications are accepted for September entry only. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:
- $100 application fee (non-refundable)
- Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
- Statement of intent
- Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
- Proof of English language proficiency, if required
Students interested in applying should consider contacting prospective supervisors by email, to determine whether a faculty member will be available for graduate supervision and to find out if their area of study would be an appropriate match.
Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.
Application deadlines
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Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Program inquiries
Department of History, Faculty of Arts
403 Fletcher Argue Building
15 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
history@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-8401