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Best Schools for Military History Degrees

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Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: March 28, 2024, Reading time: 8 minutes

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As a military history enthusiast who wants to study historical wars, you must know about the top educational institutions offering this degree. Military history is not a popular major, so you must thoroughly research to find reputable schools. We have identified the best schools for military history degrees to help you make the right choice.

Best Schools for Military History Degrees

We have listed the finest military history degree schools that you can consider for pursuing a degree. Knowing about the key aspects of each institution will help you make an informed decision. 

A military uniform in a museum

American Military University

One of the most prestigious universities to pursue a degree in military history is the American Military University. They offer a bachelor’s of arts degree in this major. It is an online military program, so it gives flexibility to students to study at their own pace. 

The program focuses on armed conflicts and aims to educate students about the impact of these conflicts on civilizations. Earning this degree will help you develop various skills, including critical analysis, writing, research, and critical thinking. 

You can consider different career options after completing the degree, such as history professor, professional curator, and archivist. It can take four years to complete the 120 credit hours, which is the requirement of this program. 

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University offers a bachelor of arts in history degree with a concentration in military history. If you are willing to expand your knowledge of warfare history and military science, then this program can be the right fit for you.

The program is designed to help students learn about the influence of wars on different cultures. It will help you understand how those cultures have evolved after wars. 

The courses in this program are related to different topics. It includes the Cold War, the Civil War, the role of militaries during World War II, and the impact of modern war on non-Western societies. This online program comprises 120 credit hours.

Park University

Another educational institution that offers a top-value bachelor of science degree in military history is Park University. The curriculum is designed to cover topics related to military culture, policy, history, and theory. 

Enrolling in this program will also help you understand the previous contributions of different militaries in preventing global terrorism. You will study courses related to American foreign policy and the US military. The seasoned faculty are trained to educate students regarding different aspects of military history. 

After reaching the final year, you must complete the capstone experience. It may take around eight weeks to complete the research capstone project. After graduating, you can consider various career options such as history professor, military analyst, and archivist.

A clean and quiet library

Marquette University

Marquette University can be one of the best choices for pursuing a degree in military history. It is a non-profit university that is situated in Milwaukee. Enrolling in this program will help you dig deep down into the military policies and institutions. It will help you understand the relationship between civilian societies and the military.

If you want to build a career in academia or seek a rewarding position in the US government, you must go for this major. During this program, you will get a chance to study different military conflicts of the past, their causes, and how they impacted the modern era.

Liberty University

Liberty University offers a bachelor of science degree in military studies. Their Department of History has competent military history experts who have strong command over this subject. 

The modality of the program is online, and you will get access to military veterans and award-winning instructors. It will help you learn from their real-life experiences. 

Earning this degree will help you get a good understanding of military operations that can be useful in your professional life. Furthermore, it will help you explore the ancient cultural contexts for current military policies.

Norwich University

If you want to attain high-level qualifications, consider enrolling in an online master’s of arts in military history degree from Norwich University

This program is designed to help students properly understand global conflicts. It will help you examine the history of different militaries and make your proficiency better as a historian. Studying different courses will help you discover the biggest achievements of militaries across the globe. 

You will get access to the flexible virtual platform for distance learning. Getting good learning experiences under the supervision of seasoned faculty will help you develop analysis, research, and writing skills. More importantly, it will help you improve your historical insights. 

Drawer full of vintage photographs

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Citadel Military College of South Carolina offers a master’s of arts in military history. It is a 30-credit online program that focuses on the impact of militaries on societies and the operations of military forces. 

Earning this top-level degree can open the gates of rewarding opportunities for you in diplomacy, public history, homeland security, high school teaching, and other fields. It will help you deepen your understanding of history and provide you with in-depth knowledge of war studies and human conflict. 

Military History Career Options

Military historians can explore a wide range of employment opportunities in the government and private sectors. Let’s find out more about it that will help you make a suitable career choice.

Military History Professor

To work as a military history professor, you must earn a master’s or Ph.D. degree. If you are interested in this career path, you can choose a relevant doctoral program. The typical responsibilities of a military history professor are:

The estimated annual pay of a military history professor is $154,231

A military tank displayed on a museum

Military Analyst

There are plenty of employment opportunities for military analysts in the government sector and in the armed forces. As a military analyst, you have to do research work and brief policymakers on your findings to help them create the right policies. Some common responsibilities of a military analyst are:

The average base salary of a military analyst is $92,237

Military Historian

Becoming a military historian can make you eligible for a wide range of career opportunities. You can work for historical societies, colleges, universities, and museums. 

The US Army also recruits military historians as servicemen and servicewomen. While working as a military historian in the army, you have to conduct interviews with personnel of different ranks. It helps you gather relevant information and preserve first-hand accounts of maneuvers and combats. 

The primary duties of military historians are:

The average base salary of a military historian is $86,335.

Two military individuals holding a training riffle

Museum Director

Another career option that you can consider after earning a degree in military history is museum director. You can become eligible to work in any military museum. Some primary duties of museum director are:

The average base salary of a museum director is $112,479.

Here are some questions that every aspiring military historian has when they are planning to pursue a degree in military history. Let’s find out about them. 

Where Can You Get a Military History Degree, and What Can You Do With It?

Several schools offer excellent degrees in military history. Some of them are American Military University, Southern New Hampshire University, Marquette University, and Norwich University. There are various career options that you can consider after earning a military history degree, which include military historian, museum director, and military analyst.

What Should You Do to Become a Military Historian?

If you want to be a military historian, you must earn a relevant bachelor’s degree. It will make you eligible for the relevant positions in this field and help you gain practical experience. You can opt for the master’s degree later, making you eligible for better employment opportunities.

What Degrees Are Best for the Military?

There are several degrees that you can consider to advance in the military. Some top military degrees are in criminal justice, strategic intelligence, nursing, healthcare, psychology, political science, and management information systems.

Conclusion

A career in military history can be rewarding. It provides a broad range of career choices, so you can explore different options and decide what suits you best. Earning a relevant degree from a reputable school will also help you develop the required skill set that will help you succeed.