Program Overview

Education & Training

Oral History Master of Arts (OHMA)

The Oral History Master of Arts (OHMA) is an interdisciplinary Master of Arts degree program in the field of oral history that focuses on interviewing methodologies and interpretative methods. OHMA links social sciences and humanities research across six disciplines: History, Sociology, Literature, Anthropology, Psychology, and Public Health. OHMA also has practical applications in historic preservation, radio production, writing, and legal and human rights work.

The program trains students in how to conduct research through creating and analyzing interviews, and developing fieldwork projects to address historical and contemporary issues that require interdisciplinary investigation. The field of oral history supports research on immigration, migration, ethnicity, gender, politics, government, and human rights. Students who are interested in conducting institutional and community histories will also benefit from this degree.

The program is designed for students who have a strong background and interest in social science and humanities research that is focused on living individuals, cultures, and social groups. Students will be trained in field research methods, and encouraged to develop analytic skills to interpret their research from interdisciplinary perspectives. The program is co-supported by the Columbia Center for Oral History.

Program Details

• Program Directors: Amy Starecheski, Director, Mary Marshall Clark, Co-Founder/Director, Peter Bearman, Co-Founder/Director
• The program focuses on the following research areas:
  • Immigration
  • Migration
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Government
  • Human rights
• The program has practical applications in:
  • Historic preservation
  • Radio production
  • Writing
  • Legal and human rights work
• The program is designed for students with a strong background and interest in social science and humanities research, focusing on living individuals, cultures, and social groups.