Salem State University, founded in 1854, is the largest of Massachusetts? nine state universities. Located along historic Salem and Marblehead harbors in the North Shore region of the state, the campus consists of sixty-two acres and twenty buildings on four sites within a one-mile radius: North Campus, Central Campus, South Campus, and the O?Keefe Athletic Center. The campus is approximately one mile from the center of the city and its important attractions and resources, including the Peabody Essex Museum, the sites associated with Nathaniel Hawthorne and other New England writers, as well as historic period houses. The?university is within easy access of Boston, only eighteen miles away.

The Master of Arts ? History program provides graduate candidates with the opportunity to explore a wide range of historical fields and methodologies. For those seeking intellectual enrichment, the program may culminate in a terminal MA degree. It is especially useful for secondary school teachers who wish to earn a degree that will enhance their subject knowledge while refining historical and research skills, or for museum professionals and those who seek a career in museums. For candidates who intend to continue on for advanced studies or even a doctoral degree, the MA in history program provides a firm foundation. All graduate candidates are encouraged to develop concentrations in historical areas of interest as a part of their course of study.