Master of Arts in Teaching History
The master of arts in teaching history is a combined degree program with graduate seminar work in history and a program of state certification in teaching. This program is jointly administered by the department of history and the College of Education and Human Sciences.
The MAT history is designed to prepare qualified students with liberal arts degrees for teaching careers at the high school or middle school level. It also is directed toward those who wish to pursue additional graduate study work.
Goals and purposes of the program
- The purpose of the MAT degree is to provide students with an opportunity to:
- Broaden their knowledge and understanding of history and techniques of historical research.
- Acquire an understanding of theoretical approaches to history and historiography.
- Apply their understanding of the historical complexity of the people, institutions, events, and ideas that shape the world today.
- Comprehend the role of the history teacher in developing concerned and participating citizens.
- Acquire a foundation in pedagogy.
Prerequisites for admission to the program
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum of 24 semester credits of undergraduate history, with 30 semester credits recommended.
- An overall GPA of 3.0 or 3.15 in the second half of all undergraduate work.
The department admits the best qualified applicants from a pool each year depending on available space in the program and its assessment of a student’s potential for graduate work. Students normally are admitted from this pool for fall semester and should have completed their applications by March 1. Students occasionally may be admitted for spring semester or the summer session if their qualifications and space in the program permit.
Admission application requirements
To apply to the master of arts in teaching history program, an applicant should submit the following documents by March 1:
- A completed graduate application form and submission of the application fee.
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended.
- A letter of intent from the prospective student, stating as precisely as possible the applicant's special area of interest in history as well as career goals and expectations.
- Three letters of recommendation from professionals who are familiar with the applicant's past work and potential to do graduate work. These letters also may be used for applying for graduate assistantships and fellowships.
- A research paper or a writing sample of about 10 pages in length.
- Official PPST scores.
Send materials to:
Graduate Admissions
UW-Eau Claire
Schofield Hall 112
Eau Claire WI 54702-4004
Further notes to applying students
The department strongly recommends that applicants complete two semesters of foreign language study at the college level or its equivalent. The language should be related to the intended area of concentration. Applicants also must possess computer literacy skills beyond word processing.
The department occasionally may consider admission of a student whose grade-point average and/or other qualifications do not meet all those specified above if there is convincing evidence that he/she is capable of performing satisfactory graduate work. Admission under these circumstances is conditional. Completion of nine hours of graduate work with a grade of B or better in each course and removal of all deficiencies will lead to full standing. Any such admissions assume the department has adequate staff with appropriate specialization to accommodate such students.
Financial Aid
The department does all that it can with limited funds to assist every qualified, admitted graduate student with financial assistance. In addition to helping students gain access to loans for graduate education, the department has offered the following types of financial aid:
- Graduate assistantships, worth up to $7,150, that carries with it a responsibility to work up to 20 hours per week for the department.
- Graduate fellowships, worth $1,000 per year, and no work requirement.
- Private research assistance employment, usually for department faculty members who have external research grants.
For graduate assistantships or fellowships, applications must be complete by March 1.
The Eau Claire Advantage
- The department of history has been awarded nearly $5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities to fund programming and graduate fellowships for teachers.
- U.S. News & World Report magazine consistently ranks UW-Eau Claire among the top public regional universities in the Midwest in its annual America’s Best Colleges guidebook.
- Four UW-Eau Claire professors have been recipients of Wisconsin Professor of the Year awards.
- UW-Eau Claire is a member institution of The Council of Graduate Schools and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
- UW-Eau Claire offers flexible graduate programs, such as the Community of Learners, a program in which education graduate students spend one weekend a month together for two years sharing experiences, research and teaching strategies.
For more information
For further information about the master of arts in teaching history program, contact: |
For general information about the campus and admission to a program, contact: |
