Master of Arts in History

1. Background

The study of history helps us better understand the events, ideas, and structures that characterized different societies in the past and how that past has shaped the social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and intellectual dimensions of the present.

The Department of History (now the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies) is one of the oldest academic departments in Makerere University. Since its establishment in 1950, the Department of History further grew and admitted its first postgraduate students in the academic year 1960/1961. It has since graduated many students in Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Among these are renowned accomplished historians many of whom have continued to publish, teach, train historians, and serve in different capacities in institutions of East Africa and beyond. The Department has a long history of promoting graduate research. The Department continues to intensify training of future generation of historians.

2. Programme Objectives

The objectives of the revised programme include

1. To train students in historical research methods and historical analysis.
2. To enhance students’ skills in historical writing.
3. To equip students with an understanding of intellectual debates in history.
4. To impart knowledge on the relevance of the past in understanding contemporary life and society.
5. To provide a foundation for those who may wish to pursue a PhD in History or a related discipline.

3.   Programme Outcomes

By the end of the graduate program, the student should be able to:

1. Conduct historical research drawing on primary sources.
2. Write historical papers with clear question, argument and evidence.
3. Analyze ongoing and emerging intellectual debates in the field of History.
4. Analyze historical events and their ramifications to society.
5. Enroll for PhD and generate historical knowledge

4.       Employment Prospects

Graduates holding a Masters of Arts (History) degree can teach in institutions of Higher Learning, conduct research or work as research assistants, provide expertise in developing and designing “historical memories” of institutions. They can work as analysts in foreign service, in security agencies, in Parliament and in national planning institutions. They can also work at Museums and cultural heritage institution, Anthropology and Sociology.

5. Nature of the programme

This revised program is a full time day program. It is a blended teaching and learning program.

6.      Target group

The Masters of Arts (History) targets individuals who have an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts in Arts or Bachelor of Education with History as a teaching subject. (We had proposed students with BA (Arts); BASS; BLIS and BAED with History or related subject)

7.      Duration

The M.A (History) is a two-year program (four semesters)

8.    Designation of the Award

The Degree of Master of Arts (History) of Makerere University will be awarded to candidates who have accumulated a minimum of 60 CUs (including the cores for courses passed) and who have passed the Thesis. The M.A. (History) shall not be classified.