MA in History -US History in Baton Rogue United States | Louisiana State University

The History Department has built an exceptional reputation for its teaching excellence and scholarly achievements. The LSU Libraries boast over three million volumes, five million microforms, and a manuscript collection exceeding 12 million items. Hill Memorial Library's Special Collections are particularly strong in resources covering the Lower Mississippi Valley, Southern history, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Important research materials are also available at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge and various New Orleans repositories.

Nationally and internationally acclaimed for Southern and Civil War studies, the department also supports graduate research across diverse American history fields, including 20th-century cultural history. It maintains strong programs in British history, Medieval and Renaissance studies, and modern European history. Faculty expertise extends to ancient world history, Latin America, Africa, and South/East Asian studies.

The graduate program mandates 30 credit hours (students often exceed this), including 24 coursework hours and 6 thesis research hours for thesis candidates, while non-thesis MA students complete 36 hours. For both degrees, half the coursework must be at 7000-level or above. Graduate faculty may approve 4000-level courses for graduate credit with additional assignments.