Why a Master's in American History and Government from Ashland?

Can you combine the experience of a traditional residential program with the convenience of an online program?

With our new Master of Arts with a Specialization in Teaching American History and Government (MASTAHG), you don't have to choose between a fully-online program or a fully on-campus program. Want a fully online program in which you never have to travel to campus? You can do that with Ashland's MASTAHG. Want to add to your experience with our renowned weeklong summer courses? You can do that, too. 

Will you learn from noted scholars who are tenured faculty from institutions around the nation?

Only Ashland offers the opportunity to study under a faculty of tenured professors from universities like Boston College, Pepperdine University, Skidmore College, Louisiana State University, the University of Houston, Xavier University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Wake Forest University, Washington and Lee University, the University of Dallas, and more. No other master's program in history or government offers such an array of scholarship.

Is there a single dedicated administrative and advisory staff that will guide you from your first inquiry about the program all the way through graduation?

In Ashland's MA programs, you won’t be handed off from one department to the next as you work toward your degree. Whether by phone, email, or in person, you will work with the same dedicated staff from start to finish. There's no need to wonder who to call to get an answer to your questions. The same people who greeted you for the first time will be there to congratulate you as you receive your degree.

Will you be part of a scholarly community of faculty and students who share your passion for the people, events, and ideas that make up the American experience?

Unlike your local university, MAHG attracts students from across the country. Whether it’s one of our live online courses or our weeklong summer courses at our Ashland, Ohio campus, you will meet and learn from peers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Our students find the opportunities for networking with colleagues as valuable as the topics they study.

Will you just be a number or a face in the crowd? Or, will you be known by name to your professor and peers?

If you have taken an online course in the past, have you wondered how many other students were vying for the attention of the instructor? Did you get to know your professor? More importantly, did the professor get to know you?

In our live online courses, all participants can see and hear each other in real time. A genuine conversation and exchange of ideas takes place just like in our traditional summer courses.  Have a question? Ask it and get an immediate answer. Have something to add to the conversation? Make your contribution immediately.

Is fellowship aid available and will the program help you find outside financial assistance other than student loans?

Perhaps the most important question to consider is: Will the program help you find fellowship aid that you don’t have to pay back?

Most institutions will just offer you a loan. At Ashland, we will help you get started immediately by letting you take your first on-campus summer course tuition-free. Go ahead and try it. There’s no obligation on your part. You aren’t expected to pay us back if you don’t finish the degree. Each year after that, you may apply for additional fellowships — generally awards of $500 to $750 — to help offset the cost of summer travel to Ashland.

If you are considering an outside fellowship like the James Madison Memorial Fellowship, we’ll even help you refine your application essays.

Are they a regionally accredited non-profit institution with a tradition that dates back more than 130 years?

Founded in 1878, Ashland University is a private, non-profit comprehensive university that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our focus is on our educational mission, not the corporate bottom line.