Gilder Lehrman and Gettysburg College mark fourth class of online history M.A. graduates

The Gilder Lehrman Institute and Gettysburg College celebrated 239 graduates of their online M.A. in American History on July 16 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The program is designed for working educators and history professionals who want advanced study without leaving the classroom.

Why it matters: - The Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman M.A. in American History gives educators and other history professionals a fully accredited, 30-credit graduate degree they can complete online while continuing to work. - The program meets rising demand for deeper history training and creates a pathway for aspiring teachers focused on U.S. history. - Since 2022, the program has drawn participants from across the country, widening access to graduate-level history study.

What happened: - The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History celebrated the program’s fourth graduating class at a commencement ceremony on July 16 at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. - The Class of 2026 includes 239 graduates. - Nearly 100 graduating students attended the ceremony in person with family and friends. - The degree is offered in partnership with Gettysburg College.

The details: - The program is fully online and fully accredited. - The master’s degree requires 30 credits. - The curriculum is aimed at educators and other history professionals seeking advanced study in American history. - The class included K–12 teachers, community college instructors, district supervisors, museum professionals and National Park Service employees. - James G. Basker, president and CEO of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, said the institute is celebrating a growing community of educators, scholars and history enthusiasts who will preserve history and pass it on. - Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano told graduates that teaching history carries responsibility beyond names, dates and battles. - Barbara Perry, J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center and co-chair of its Presidential Oral History Program, delivered the commencement address. - Perry also teaches in the M.A. program and leads graduate students through advanced historical research and analysis. - Perry said the degree recipients represent some of the nation’s best educators.

Between the lines: - The partnership extends Gilder Lehrman’s graduate education strategy and builds on earlier M.A. collaborations with other universities. - The program’s online format appears designed to remove a major barrier for working educators who need graduate credentials without pausing their jobs. - The ceremony’s location in Gettysburg reinforces the program’s historical branding and institutional identity.

What's next: - The program will continue recruiting educators and history professionals seeking advanced training in American history. - Prospective students can learn more at the program page. - Gilder Lehrman will keep leveraging its broader history education platform, including the Gilder Lehrman Collection and historian network, to support teaching and public learning.

The bottom line: - The online M.A. is becoming a durable pipeline for history educators who want graduate study without stepping away from their classrooms.