Online M.A. in Military History

The Citadel’s Master of Arts in Military History is a fully online, 30-hour program. The program provides an advanced historical study of the theory and practice of warfare, the institutions, and operations of military forces, and the impact of militaries and warfare on societies. Students may obtain either a Master of Arts Degree in Military History or both a Master of Arts Degree in Military History and a Graduate Certificate in Military Leadership at the same time.

Pursue Your Interests.

The Master of Arts in Military History at The Citadel enables you to work closely with distinguished historians as you pursue specialized interests. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the history and evolution of warfare and military institutions in our core courses. Then delve into specific conflicts in our electives, examine the military history of a particular region or era, or explore the relationship between war and society. From strategic thought to operations and tactics, from the Greeks and Romans to the War on Terror, from traditional to innovative methodologies, find your niche.

Advance Your Career.

The Master of Arts in Military History is designed to meet the diverse professional development needs of officers in the U.S. Armed Forces; government officials in the fields of diplomacy, national defense, homeland security, and intelligence; public historians at the federal, state, and local levels; corporate and business leaders; high school history teachers; students planning to pursue a Ph.D. in the fields of war studies or military history; and those who seek to deepen their understanding of the human conflict. The curriculum emphasizes reading and researching, analysis and complex thought, and written expression. Our concise curriculum, at 30 hours, lends itself to on-time completion in two years or less.

Study With Experts.

The Citadel’s History Department and affiliated fellows bring together award-winning and experienced scholars in the fields of war and society and military history. This large concentration of scholars has designed and will lead the Master of Arts in Military History. A body of affiliated fellows assures broad subject matter expertise and stable relationships with the program. Our large, resident faculty presence assures contact, program continuity, and support for the study. Our program exhibits a strong mixture of traditional military history, interdisciplinary study of the theory and practice of war, and innovative approaches to military history and the interplay of war and society.

What You Will Learn

• Think historically about the study of war, its conduct, meaning, and consequences, as a historian.
• Understand the evolution of warfare and its relationship to modern operational environments, joint warfare, civil-military relations, and strategy.
• Gain knowledge of armed conflict at all levels of warfare: strategic, operational, and tactical.
• Appreciate the political, social, economic, environmental, geographic, and cultural contexts of war.
• Develop skills in historical thinking, analytical research, and clear, persuasive writing.
• Analyze and apply issues of military leadership and decision making throughout history.
• Explore the human dimension of war and experience of combat.

About The Citadel

The Citadel is a military college located in Charleston, South Carolina. For nine consecutive years The Citadel has been named the #1 Public College in the South offering up to a master's degree (U.S. News & World Report). The Citadel was also named the #1 College for Veterans in the South. The Citadel is home to a large number of historians whose research and teaching focus is military history and war and society. It is a college steeped in military tradition and dedicated to training citizen-soldiers and leaders.

The Citadel is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and specialist in education degrees.