Students will take two semesters of coursework, including an introduction to historiography and historical method, research seminars, and thematic as well as regionally-based reading seminars.  Students will also prepare a research portfolio consisting of two major research papers. Candidates must pass a language exam that tests reading knowledge of a language other than English.

Applicants to the M.A. program may apply for apprenticeships in archives and manuscript collections, editing scholarly books and William and Mary Quarterly articles, and humanities computing. Students chosen to serve as apprentices receive a small stipend.