Browse the topics below for general answers to common questions, or contact the History Department by email or at 607-753-2723 to learn more about the program.
Who should be interested in this program?
The big-picture answer is anyone who: (1) enjoys learning about history, (2) seeks a master’s program that will excite them and (3) wants become a better reader, writer and thinker.
More specifically, the M.A. program will appeal to social studies teachers in search of a graduate degree that they can earn from anywhere. States such as New York, Connecticut and Maryland all require a master’s to teach social studies at the high school level. This program would fulfill that requirement.
Additionally, this degree should attract anyone who aspires to work in an educational role in settings such as museums, archives and national parks.
What should I know about the online experience?
SUNY Cortland’s program aims to deliver all of the goods that students expect from a classroom experience — engaging historical content, meaningful discussion, dedicated faculty mentors — in an online format.
With students and teachers both gaining more exposure to educational technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, the university’s History Department developed a curriculum to share some of its best work with a wider audience: namely SUNY Cortland’s second-to-none training of teachers and historians.
Many professors strive to host synchronous online meetings at times that are convenient for working professionals. Of course, if graduate students are interested in visiting campus, they should contact faculty members directly to set up a meeting time.
Should I still apply if I missed the application deadline?
Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on based on space availability and timing. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 607-753-4800 to check availability.
What is SoTL and why is it important?
SoTL stands for scholarship of teaching and learning. It is an important educational movement that focuses on how and why students learn, and SUNY Cortland is proud to be uniquely qualified to explore the concept with historians who teach.
The History Department includes faculty who specialize in SoTL. The goal is to develop educators who are equally strong in their teaching pedagogy and historical content knowledge.