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Academic Degrees
History BA
History, in the broad sense, is the study of all human experience. It examines the people, institutions, ideas, and events from the past to the present. The study of history contributes to cultural literacy and develops critical thinking and other useful skills while helping students understand the present and plan for the future. Historical study provides a solid, fundamental preparation for careers in business, industry, government, and education. It also serves as excellent preparation for law school, foreign service, international work, urban affairs, historical consulting, and library science.
History is an academic discipline offering both breadth and focus. At Sacramento State, the History major includes four lower division survey courses and three upper division seminars. In addition, students choose seven upper division electives from a wide variety available. The flexibility of the major allows students to focus on topical areas such as: women's history, the history of particular geographic areas, cultural history, ethnic group history, economic history, military history, and history from the ancient world to that of the U.S. in the 20th century. Those interested in going on to teach middle or high school should consider the History/Social Science Precredential Program.
History MA
Situated in California's capital and along the banks of the historic American River, the Sacramento State History MA program allows students to profit from the unique resources of the region as well as the expertise of a prestigious and dedicated faculty. Program highlights include:
- Small, seminar-style classes and one-on-one mentoring by history faculty
- An active and tight-knit graduate community
- Instructional assistantships
- Prize-winning graduate student history journal, Clio
- Rich array of local historical institutions including the California State Archives, the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center, the California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park, and the California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts
- Unique campus-based resources such as the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection and the Japanese-American Archival Collection
Contact: Dr. Nikolaos Lazaridis, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, (916) 278-6234.
Public History MA
For over twenty years, the Capital Campus Public History Program at Sacramento State has been training public historians for rewarding careers in archives, cultural resource management, museum interpretation, and historic preservation. We offer a two-year course of study leading to the Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Public History. This program requires completion of thirty-six units of coursework, including nine units of supervised, professional internship.
The program provides an integrated professional curriculum that includes specialized project and internship experience in one of several concentrations: archives and manuscripts, oral history, museum studies, historic preservation, business history, and general public history research and analysis. Students pursue a common course of study, gain professional experience through a series of internships, and complete a master's project or thesis within their area of program specialization. For more information, see the Public History website or contact Dr. Rebekkah Mulholland
Recent Graduates
History MA Recent Graduates
Fall 2023:
- Jon Brimer
Major Field: Colonialism and Imperialism with Michael G. Vann
Minor Field: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Museum with Rebekkah Mulholland - Ella Cross
Major Field: Architectural History with Aaron Cohen
Minor Field: French Revolution with Mona Siegel - Susan Diohep
Major Field: California History with Brendan Lindsay
Minor Field: Native American History with Khal Schneider - Mindy Fowler
Major Field: World History with Michael G. Vann
Minor Field: Native American with Khal Schneider - Harpreet Kaur
Major Field: Race and Empire in American History with Maria Quintana
Minor Field: History of American Immigration, Tom Clark - Katia Kevorkian
Major Field: Maritime World History with Michael G. Vann
Minor Field: American Women’s History with Rebecca Kluchin - José Miranda-Campbell
Major Field: Genocide in World History with Michael G. Vann
Minor Field: Race and Empire in American History with Maria Quintana
Spring 2024:
- Julian Hall
Major Field: Colonialism and Imperialism with Michael G. Vann
Minor Field: Race and Empire in American History with Maria Quintana - Andrew Modder
Major Field: American History since 1865 with Rebecca Kluchin
Minor Field: African American History with Rebekkah Mulholland - Preston Moore
Thesis: “Vi Et Armis: Californian gun culture from 1846-1860”
Khal Schneider and Antonio Bly - Bria/Pua Tennyson
Major Field: Colonialism and Imperialism with Michael G. Vann
Minor Field: African American History with Rebekkah Mulholland
Public History MA Recent Graduates
2023-2024
- Ali Blecman
“Keepsakes from the Night Before: Queer Disco's Past and Present”
First Reader: Dr. Lily Anne Tamai
Second Reader: Dr. Chloe Burke - Emily Zinn
“Looking Back and Moving On: Archival Theory and the Grahame Hardy Collection”
First Reader: Dr. Lee Simpson
Second Reader: Julie Thomas - Rowan Graening
“Community Connections: Bringing Local Labor History to the Classroom”
First reader: Dr. Maria Quintana
Second Reader: Dr. Thomas Clark - Ettienne LeFebre
National Register Nomination for the Oak Park School of Afro-American Thought
First Reader: Dr. Rebekkah Mulholland
Second Reader: Gretchen Hilyard Boyce - Dane Nicolas
“Isleton's Forgotten Nihonmachi"
First Reader: Dr. Lily Tamai
Second Reader: Ty Smith - Andrew Shimizu
“The Sacramento Fire Department Collection at the Center of Sacramento History”
First Reader: Brendan Lindsay
Second Reader: Julie Thomas - Harvey Jones
“Duty and Memory: A History of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery”
First Reader: Dr. Lily Tamai
Second Reader: Dr. Rebekkah Mulholland - Desun Oka
National Register of Historic Places: Evaluation of the Mili Atoll Massacre, Republic of Marshall Islands
First Reader: Dr. Lily Tamai
Second Reader: Dr. Nathan Hallam