I Compared Every Master’s of History Degree In Arizona So You Don’t Have To

If you’ve been thinking about going back to school for history (or turning to it for the first time), you’ve probably heard some version of this:

“History is dying.”
“The humanities aren’t practical anymore.”
“What are you even going to do with that?”

And yet… here you are.

Still drawn to history.

Still convinced that learning how to think historically… critically, ethically, humanely…

And I agree with you.

If anything, I think we actually need all of these things more than we ever have.

This post exists because I’m asking the same questions you are.

I’m a woman in my 30s, living in Arizona, seriously considering a Master’s in History after time away from school.

I’m researching these programs for myself, and sharing my thinking openly so that other women (at any stage) don’t have to piece this together alone.

This is my practical, honest comparison of three Arizona history MA programs… written by someone actually weighing the decision.

TL;DR: How These Programs Compare

Features	Northern Arizona University (NAU)	University of Arizona (U of A)	Arizona State University (ASU)
Total Credits	36 credits	30 credits	30 credits
Location / Format	In-person only (Flagstaff)	In-person only (Tucson)	In-person (Tempe) or Online
Thesis Option	Depends on emphasis	Yes (optional)	Yes (in-person only)
Non-Thesis Option	Depends on emphasis	Two seminar papers	Applied project or capstone
Language Requirement	Depends on emphasis	Yes	No
Comprehensive Exam	Depends on emphasis	Yes	No
Applied / Internship Focus	Possible, emphasis-dependent	Limited	Strong emphasis
Primary Strengths	Thematic, regional, experiential history	Traditional academic training, research depth	Flexibility, public history, professional skills
Best Fit For	Students seeking structured, in-person learning with applied or regional angles	Students seeking rigorous academic preparation, especially for a PhD	Students who need flexibility or want public-facing, applied history work

If you just wanted the snapshot, you can stop here.

If you want the why behind those differences, keep reading.

Not All History MAs Are the Same

On paper, a Master’s in History can look deceptively similar across schools.

Same degree title, similar credit counts, maybe even similar career outcomes, and second language requirements.

In practice, what matters is:

How you’re trained
What’s expected of you
What kind of historian the program quietly assumes you want to become

You’ll need to make loads of decisions, too.

Thesis vs. non-thesis.

Online vs in-person.

Prestige will likely be a consideration as well.

And, I get it – because we’re sacrificing so much to go back to school, that we want to make sure we make the “right” choice.

We want to ensure that whatever we choose feels “worth it.”

In all of my articles where I do this, it’s important for you to know that this comparison focuses on fit first.

What’s best for me, might not be best for you, and so on.

But I hope this can at least save you some time, and that I can clear things up for you.

Northern Arizona University (NAU)

NAU’s MA in History is a 36-credit, in-person program based in Flagstaff, Arizona.

What stands out immediately is flexibility by emphasis.

Requirements like a thesis, comprehensive exam, language study, or internship may be required, but they could also be optional… depending on the path you choose.

That can be a strength or a challenge. It all depends on what you want and need.

Where NAU Shines

Strong attention to thematic history: environment, race, gender, region
Opportunities for fieldwork and applied learning
Smaller academic environment, which can feel more supportive for students returning after time away

Things to Consider

It’s fully in-person, in Flagstaff (beautiful place to live, but very expensive and “out of the way”)
The variability in requirements means you need to be proactive and clear about your goals

NAU Is Likely a Good Fit If You:

Want in-person learning and community
Are drawn to environmental, social, or regional history
Value applied or experiential components
You want to live in a beautiful mountain town with four seasons

You May Struggle Here If You:

Want a clearly defined, traditional academic pipeline
Need maximum flexibility due to work or caregiving

University of Arizona (U of A)

University of Arizona is based in Tucson, Arizona.

UA’s MA in History is the most classically academic of the three

It’s a 30-credit program with:

Required historiography early on
Defined geographic fields (U.S., Europe, Latin America, East Asia)
A language requirement
A comprehensive exam
A formal committee structure

You complete either a thesis or two substantial seminar papers.

Where UA Shines

Strong preparation for PhD programs
Clear expectations and academic rigor
Deep engagement with historiography and research methods

Things to Consider

The structure can feel intimidating if you’ve been out of school for a long time
Less emphasis on applied or public-facing work compared to ASU

UA Is Likely a Good Fit If You:

Are seriously considering a PhD
Want to be trained as a traditional academic historian
Thrive with clear benchmarks and expectations

You May Struggle Here If You:

Want maximum flexibility
Are primarily interested in applied/public history without a research focus

Arizona State University (ASU)

Arizona State University has their main campus based in Tempe, Arizona (in the greater Phoenix metro area), but they have campuses all over the state.

They also offer a fully online program.

ASU’s MA in History is the most flexible of the three.

It offers both in-person and online formats, with multiple ways to complete the degree:

Thesis (in-person only)
Applied project
Capstone

Public history, professional skills, and applied research are explicitly built into the program.

So if you already know that public history will be your focus, ASU is the clear winner out of these three.

Where ASU Shines

Strong public history orientation
Flexibility for working students
Applied projects that translate beyond academia
Easier to find affordable housing than in Flagstaff or Tucson
Proximity of Phoenix International Airport for easy domestic & international travel

ASU Is Likely a Good Fit If You:

Need flexibility
Are interested in public history, museums, nonprofits, or applied work
Want professional skills alongside historical training

You May Struggle Here If You:

Want a purely traditional academic experience
Are aiming primarily for PhD preparation

Specialization Lens: Which School Fits Which Field?

Not all fields of history are trained the same way.

Ancient / Classical / Medieval / Reformation history
→ U of A is strongest due to language requirements and traditional research training
U.S. History
→ Strong across all three; U of A and ASU offer broader subfield depth
Latin American History
→ U of A stands out institutionally
Environmental, Regional, Social History
→ NAU excels
Public History
→ ASU is the clear leader

If you already know your field, this matters more than credit counts.

Career Lens: Matching Programs to Futures

Aspiring PhD student → UA
Public historian / museum / nonprofit → ASU
Teacher or educator → Any, depending on credentials needed. ASU does have many great resources to prepare educators, so I would give them the edge here.
Independent scholar / writer / content creator → Any — but how you use the degree matters more than where

No MA guarantees a career.

All of them shape how you think.

But as a former teacher myself, I have to give a nod to the Arizona Teachers Academy if you are considering a path to teaching after your master’s degree.

I know most people coming across this article have already completed their Bachelor’s, and they’re looking to get a master’s degree after some time away from an academic setting.

But if you happen to be seeing this before you finish your undergraduate studies, definitely check out the Arizona Teachers Academy.

That came into effect after I was already in the classroom.

And had I waited, my teaching certificate would have been free!