History

Master of Arts (MA)



Meet Rosemary Giles, MA candidate in History

“Our department really makes us feel like a family and goes out of their way to help us, whether it be through having a tea and coffee station set up all year, or by running Professional Development Workshops, or anything in between.”

Describe your research.
I am researching the intersections of patriotism, masculinity, and wilderness in the experiences of Canadian conscientious objectors during the Second World War.

Where’s your favourite place on campus to work?
My favourite place is definitely my office. I share it with some great graduate students, and I find that it’s a great place to bounce ideas off of each other and do our research.

Do you belong to any university or community groups?
I am part of Gradcast, the podcast for the Society of Graduate Students at Western. We interview different graduate students about their research and their experiences at Western.

What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I visit my horse, read a lot of books, or garden in the summer.

What’s the best advice you could give to someone considering applying to your graduate program?
I would say to make sure that you come and visit campus before you decide what school to attend. I think that there is something really special about our department that you won’t necessarily see from a website, so come and meet the current graduate students (who are always willing to chat!) or talk with some of the professors.

Program Websites


Program Contact

Kara Brown (kbrow@uwo.ca)
Graduate Program Advisor

Department of History

Western University
Lawson Hall Rm 2201
London, Ontario N6A 5B6

t. 519-661-2111 ext. 84961
f. 519-661-3010

The Master of Arts in History at Western is a one-year, fully-funded program that emphasizes the deep study of history and the development of research, writing, and analytical skills. Our students explore the histories of Canada, the United States, Britain and Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as international, transnational, and global history.

The Master of Arts in Public History program combines traditional historical skills with experiential learning to prepare graduates to work as public historians in museums, archives, government agencies, consulting and heritage management.

Students in both the History and Public History streams have access to both academic and applied course offerings, and are well-prepared to continue their education at the Ph.D. level.

Program Length

  • 3 Terms (Course based or project-based)
  • 4 Terms (Public History project-based)
  • 6 Terms (Thesis based)

Program Design

  • Full-time study
  • Course based, project-based or thesis-based

Funding Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

Admission Requirements

Master of Arts in History

  • 4-year B.A. degree or equivalent from an accredited university, with a major or specialization in History.
  • 78% average or better on last ten courses.

Master of Arts in Public History

  • 4-year B.A. degree or equivalent from an accredited university, with a minor, major or specialization in History.
  • 78% average or better on last ten courses.

Additional Requirements

Master of Arts in Public History

  • Resume of related course, volunteer or paid experience.
  • Reference letter from a Public History employer or supervisor.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language:

Application Deadline

  • February 1
Acceptance notification begins in March.

The Graduate Committee will begin reviewing applications on February 1 and will stop reviewing applications on April 30. Applications received on or before February 1 will receive full consideration for scholarships.