Welcome to the History Department
at the University of Houston-Clear Lake!

The material which follows is a supplement to the university catalog and not a replacement.

Can I build a career with a degree in History? Yes!

Teacher – You can teach in schools with a B.A. and in community colleges with an M.A. Some of our students have also gone on to Ph.D. programs to train for the position of university professor.

Public Historian – You can bring history to the public as an administrator or exhibit designer at a museum or historical society. You can also get involved with historic preservation efforts to both protect and provide public access to the important places of our past.

Archivist or Librarian – You can combine the B.A. and M.A. in History with a Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degree to become an academic or public archivist or librarian, working to build and provide access to collections of historical documents and books.

Businessperson, Journalist, or Lawyer – You will become expert at sifting through large amounts of evidence for key elements, building structured arguments, and conducting nuanced analyses. This training is excellent preparation for law school or a career in business or the media.

Check out these websites for more career information!

• American Historical Association
• Texas Community College Teachers Association
• American Association for State and Local History
• National Council on Public History
• National Park Service
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Texas Association of Museums
• American Library Association
• Society of American Archivists

Is UHCL the right place to pursue my interests? Yes!

Our program features small classes on the B.A. and M.A. levels and you will not have to compete with Ph.D. students for the attention of an excellent faculty committed to teaching and advising students. Our faculty is also professionally active and engaged in a number of diverse historical fields.

Our well-selected library is part of an integrated University of Houston system that will help you quickly obtain volumes from the central campus collection, one of the very finest in the state. We are also part of an interlibrary loan program that can obtain books and articles from libraries around the nation. Our library is also home to the archives of the Johnson Space Center, a collection of international importance.

Do I have the flexibility to plan a graduate course of study that fits my interests? Yes!

You can specialize in European, Latin American, or United States history and may focus all of your coursework in one of these three areas as long as you take at least three courses that cover both of the other categories. We also have a required introductory course, Research & Methods, that will help you develop your interests and skills.

If you decide to pursue an M.A. thesis, you will take a total of 8 graduate History courses [24 hours] and then at least 6 thesis hours in consecutive semesters. The thesis is a substantial writing project based upon an original argument and extensive research into a specific historical topic. Click here for detailed thesis requirements.

If you find an opportunity with a local public history institution, you may work with your adviser to design an M.A. project. You will take a total of 10 graduate History courses [30 hours] and then at least 6 project hours in consecutive semesters.

If you want to focus entirely on M.A. coursework, you can complete the degree without pursuing a specialized project. You will take 12 graduate History courses [36 hours] followed by a written exam on two of the three broad historical fields and then an oral exam to discuss the written component.

All of these three program options require you to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and you must contact your assigned adviser as soon as you begin the program.

Please contact Dr. Angela Howard, our Program Convener, with any questions at howarda@uhcl.edu or (281) 283-3369.

Come join us in making history at UHCL!