Teaching History

Program Type
Certificate of Graduate Study
Credential
Certificate of Graduate Study
Mode of Study
In Person
Department
Department of History

Tuition & fees

Costs include tuition & fees. See cost details

Credit hours

18 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to 3 credit hours. Browse course list

Program duration

Finish in as few as 2 years. Explore program requirements

Admissions

Apply for fall, spring, or summer term. View application process & deadlines

Program highlights

  • Become eligible to teach concurrent enrollment history courses through the University of Southern Maine Early College Program.
  • Achieve National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) standards to teach college-level history survey courses.
  • Take advantage of a flexible schedule in a program designed for current high school educators.
  • Meet the increasing demand for concurrent enrollment in your school district.
  • Build advanced research skills with access to our Special Collections and Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education.

Prepare to teach Concurrent Enrollment

If you hold a master’s degree, completion of our Teaching History certificate program provides a path to become eligible for concurrent enrollment instruction.

Review requirements
An aerial view of our Portland campus and the East End of the Portland peninsula.

Diverse, accomplished faculty

Our faculty, comprised of professional historians and a Fullbright scholar, regularly present their work at national and international conferences and publish in journals and books.

Meet our faculty
A professor shows students maps in the Osher Map Library.

Program requirements

Along with developing expertise in the theory and practice of teaching and learning history, you will build advanced historical research skills. Our program concludes with a capstone summer institute, that includes hands-on experience with resources in our Special Collections and Osher Map Library.

Visit course catalog
A woman sits on a couch with a laptop.

Flexible course options

Our Teaching History graduate certificate program is also available online. You could choose to take all of your courses online, or take a blend of online and in-person courses.

Explore online program
You may also be interested in…

Teaching History | Online

Certificate of Graduate Study (Online)
Next steps

Our graduate admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.

Get info
Meet us
Apply
A student sits at a table and writes on a stack of papers.

Admission information: Certificate of Graduate Study in Teaching History | In Person

Application deadlines

We accept applications on a rolling basis and review them continuously.

Application deadlineFall term startSpring term startSummer term start
FinalAugust 1December 15April 15

BA or MA degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

General requirements

  • Application: Online application
  • Application fee:
    • In-state, out-of-state, and Canadian applicants: Free to apply
    • International applicants: Submit US $50 fee to apply
  • Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.
  • Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
  • Students whose first language is not English may be required to take one of the following: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo. Applicants must submit official scores as part of the application process. See additional information regarding test scores and requirements.

Additional requirements

  • Essay: One-page cover letter describing your interests in history and why you wish to earn a Graduate Certificate in the field.
  • Students that hold a bachelor’s degree outside of the humanities and do not hold a master’s degree may be required to provide an academic-style writing sample of approximately 5 pages in length.

English proficiency test scores

View test requirements

Where to send application materials

Get our mailing address and email address