Norwich University | Master of Arts in Military History

MMH Program Overview

Explore your passion for military history

Program Mission

The mission of the Norwich University Master of Arts in Military History program is to provide students with a base of historical knowledge within the field of military history; build an awareness of differing historical interpretations; build the ability to synthesize diverse types of historical knowledge; build and refine student research, writing, analysis, and presentation skills; provide students with an introduction to historical pedagogy; provide students with a foundation for developing a professional identity as a historian; and help students "learn to think like a historian" as well as develop "historiographical sensibilities" and "historical habits of mind."

The Master of Arts in Military History curriculum is guided by the goals for history M.A. degrees outlined by the American Historical Association. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a base of historical knowledge, graduate level historical research skills, an introduction to historical pedagogy, the foundation for an identity as a historian, and the "habits of mind" of a professional historian.

Program Goals

Produce historians.
Provide students with the critical thinking, research, writing, and analytical skills necessary for work in the field of teaching at the secondary or post-secondary level, work in public history venues, careers as professional writers, and to prepare students for Ph.D. level work in history.
Prepare military professionals with the skills necessary for success at staff and war colleges.

Additional Features

Norwich University's Master of Arts in Military History is a rigorous course of study designed specifically for working professionals. It lets you explore your passion for military history without the constraints of a traditional classroom education. Interaction with faculty and peers all happens within a virtual classroom. You are provided with 24/7 help desk support for technical issues within the online classroom, a uniquely designed curriculum structure, and a caring atmosphere that comes along with being part of Norwich University.

The program offers far more than just a study of American military history. The program structure and curriculum were designed to present a broad picture of military history. You will graduate from this program with a sophisticated understanding of the role of the military and war in history.

What is military history?

The discipline of history emphasizes objective analysis and critical thinking, rigorous research skills, an understanding of the particular sources used by historians, and a high standard of writing ability. Military history is not just battle history or operational research. It is not a small subdivision of history, but instead offers a framework through which many aspects of historical events and human behavior can be understood, including economics, politics, social issues, international relations, leadership, and group dynamics.

What can I do with a master's degree in military history?

The American Historical Association lists three basic goals for any master's program:

Mastery of a body of historical knowledge
The capacity to synthesize and present that knowledge
Basic research competencies

This is a degree of broad relevance that, while often related to career progression, offers, to a wide variety of potential students, the opportunity to attain a graduate degree in a field that is highly relevant to today's world. A history degree teaches critical thinking and analysis with rigorous development of writing skills – qualities that are invaluable in business, teaching, government, and military work.

Online access to the Norwich Library is included in your tuition. The Kreitzberg Library serves all Norwich University students and faculty, whether online or on-campus. The library currently provides access to 100 online databases, 22,000 full-text electronic journals and tens of thousands of e-Books The library provides books in print and journal articles not available online to students through their Document Delivery service. The Reference staff provides research assistance through e-mail, phone, and instant messaging and a dedicated Distance Learning Librarian is here to show SGS students how to get the most out of the library resources.

The military history program is structured as follows:

Four start dates per year; March, June, September or December
Six, six-credit, eleven-week seminars
Complete all coursework in 18 months
Graduate 18-24 months from your enrollment date
Capstone residency experience
Online, asynchronous, curricular activities including threaded discussions, reading, writing, and research

Class Size

Small class sizes (not more than 16 students) ensure you receive individualized attention directly from faculty. You also develop close relationships with fellow learners from around the world as you interact with them creating a vast network of professional contacts.

Norwich University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.