UMass Amherst’s Master of Arts in History, administered by the College of Humanities & Fine Arts and offered through collaboration with the Five Colleges, delivers rigorous training in historical research, writing, theory, and teaching. Students can focus on specialized or cross-disciplinary areas such as U.S., Latin America, Europe, Middle East, East Asia, and the History of Science. MA students may also pursue certificates/concentrations in Public History or Global History. The program is capstone-based, requiring a portfolio spanning three areas (one outside the major geographical field) and/or an optional master’s thesis in place of two courses. Training emphasizes both breadth and depth, access to extensive faculty and resources in the Five Colleges, and close mentorship. Reading proficiency in a foreign language is required (alternatively, a specialized research tool may be substituted by U.S. history specialists). Class sizes are small, and students may study full-time or part-time.