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While students can pursue a master's degree in history at a brick-and-mortar school, many opt to complete this graduate degree program online at their own pace. This option lets students continue working and taking care of other responsibilities while pursuing graduate studies in their spare time, and it allows them to continue their current living situation without having to relocate for school.

The key to finding the best online master's in history degree is making sure that the schools you consider are fully accredited by an accrediting organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This ensures the online degree program will be fully respected, and the curriculum offered meets the same standards as brick-and-mortar institutions of higher education. 

Curious to browse other online degree options? Explore our list of the best online degrees.

Pursuing an online history master's can help you understand the world as we know it, as well as the documented and recorded events that have helped shape humanity over thousands of years. Still, there are plenty of factors to keep in mind as you compare the best degree programs and schools that offer a history major for graduate students. For example, you'll want to search for an affordable master's in history program that suits your learning style and tastes, and you'll need to make sure your online school is fully accredited.

Before you dive into our ancient past with the goal of securing the future you truly want, you should also take the time to consider potential career paths for an online masters' degree in history. Read on to learn what a history master's program is truly like, how to pursue this field of study online, and common courses you'll need to take as part of your degree program. 

First off, you should know that several degree options fall under the umbrella of an online master's degree in history. The most common educational path is the Master of Arts in History, yet there are numerous concentrations students can choose from. For example, graduate school students can choose to pursue a Master of Arts in History, with a concentration in American History, Military History, Public History, Europe 1500-1815, History of the American West, and more.

While colleges and universities typically prefer candidates who have an undergraduate degree in history, it's possible to pursue an online master's in history with an undergraduate major in an entirely different field. A minimum GPA may be required to gain admittance to a master's degree program, as well as a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and a CV or resume.

Once admitted to this program, an online master's in history degree can require anywhere from one to two years of coursework, depending on the school and curriculum.

The exact courses you'll take during this graduate program may depend on your school and your chosen concentration if you have one. However, some courses for a master's in history online come pretty standard.

In addition to the courses listed below, students may need to complete a comprehensive exam or thesis in their chosen concentration. Some programs may also require graduate students to complete a capstone project that encompasses the most profound lessons they learned while pursuing their studies.

Below are some of the most common core classes for history students at the master's level:

• American History: American History explains the historical events that led to our country's official founding in 1776. Topics of study include the history of the Native Americans who inhabited this continent long before ancient explorers landed on its shores, as well as the political and social constructs that led to the creation of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
• Comparative History and Research: This course teaches students to use comparative research as a tool, with the goal of uncovering connections between historical events across time. Students will learn proper research techniques that are used in academic and professional settings as well as different comparative approaches to history. This course will almost certainly include a research project, which students complete as the culmination of their studies.
• Digital History: This course studies current historical events through the lens of digital media. Students will examine the history of digital media and tools to understand how our modern world explains the past while shaping our future in real-time. The end goal of this course is to help students learn how they can use digital media and resources to preserve and safeguard history for future generations.
• Historiography: Historiography is the study of historical writing, so it's not surprising that this course dives deeply into some of the most famous historical writings from our ancient past. Students study various historical texts as well as their interpretations and how they have changed over the years. Other topics covered include the role of historical narratives and how they shaped humanity as well as the preservation of historical writings for generations to come.
• World History: This course provides an overview of the main historical events that have taken place since the beginning of recorded time. Students learn about various world events and how they impacted humanity, as well as how they were explained and shared over thousands of years.

It's easy to believe an online history master's degree can only lead to a career in teaching, yet this is far from the truth. In reality, this graduate degree program can lead to a plethora of career options — both inside and outside of the classroom.

Consider the following career prospects before you enroll in a master's in history degree program:

• spend their entire careers studying, documenting, and analyzing various historical events. They often archive and preserve materials of historical significance, and they may create presentations or write books based on their findings and theories. While many historians work for the federal government, some work for local and state governments as well as professional organizations.
• typically begin their careers with a master's degree in history or a related field. They use their knowledge and expertise to accurately appraise, process, and catalog various records and documents from our past. Many archivists work for museums, where they may help create exhibits that carefully display important historical items for public examination. In addition to working in museums, many archivists work for the federal government or the educational services industry. 
• typically need a graduate degree in political science, history, or a related field to begin their careers. From here, these professionals use their in-depth knowledge of historical events in order to evaluate and interpret the political events we experience today. Not only do political scientists research historical events and the underlying political constructs that caused them, but they forecast future political and social trends as well. Many political scientists find work with the federal government, yet others work for professional, civic, or religious organizations.
• History majors with a master's degree can also find work in . Although, most positions will be found in community colleges instead of four-year colleges and universities. Either way, this career option lets graduates impart their extensive knowledge of history to students who are also interested in learning about our past and how events from thousands of years ago still shape the world we live in today. 

Employed people with a history degree : in 2023, management and education/library occupations each represented 18% of the field, and 50% of employed history degree holders had an advanced degree. However, because those figures are not limited to MA graduates, use them as a map of possible career paths and ask each online program for placement data specific to its graduates.

While some careers pay history majors a higher salary, political scientists tend to earn the most among graduates with this degree. Political scientists often work in roles such as policy analysts, researchers, or consultants, where their understanding of political systems, policies, and trends is highly valued. As of May 2022, the median annual salary for this field was $142,080. However, the top 10% of earners generally make more than . Their work involves analyzing political data, conducting research on policy issues, and providing insights and recommendations to policymakers and decision-makers.

Overall, while there may be career paths within the broader field of liberal arts, such as history, that offer competitive salaries, political science stands out for its potential to lead to lucrative opportunities, driven by the demand for expertise in politics, policy analysis, and strategic decision-making.

If you are looking to go the traditional route, however, the BLS lists a master's degree as typical entry-level education for historians and reports a median wage of , with about 400 openings projected each year through the end of the decade.

Ultimately, the answer to this question depends on the school you choose, the exact degree program you pursue, and how much you choose to focus on your studies while still taking care of other responsibilities.

That said, there are plenty of advantages and disadvantages that come with this field of study when compared to other, similar programs.

Potential Benefits:

• Pursuing a graduate degree in history can lead to more job opportunities than a mere bachelor's degree. While a bachelor's degree in history is not typically enough to become a postsecondary teacher, an archivist, or a historian, earning a graduate degree unlocks the potential to pursue any of these careers.
• Earning a master's degree in history can lead to higher pay. Many jobs for professionals with a master's degree pay significantly more than comparable careers for bachelor's degree holders.
• Professionals who study history as their life's work tend to be happy in their chosen careers. According to a survey by CareerExplorer, historians report a in their careers (as do political scientists). 

Potential Drawbacks:

• Some history degree jobs come with relatively low pay. , for example, earn a median annual salary of $60,330.
• You may need a doctoral degree to teach history at the collegiate level. While a master's degree in history can help you secure a postsecondary teaching position in a community college, you'll typically need a doctoral degree in order to teach history at a university.
• Pursuing your studies online requires a significant amount of discipline and focus. Studying online can make it more difficult to meet others in your program that can help you stay on track. To succeed at an online school, you'll need to have the discipline to see your program to fruition on your own. 

Earning an online master's in history can help you work toward the future you have always wanted — whether you desire a career as a community college teacher, a historian who studies the past as their life's work, or an archivist who spends the bulk of their career tracking historical objects and other amazing finds in museums.

That said, you'll definitely want to spend some time comparing the best online history master's degrees and the schools that offer them.