The development of a Doctor of Arts (D.A.) program in history at Illinois State University's Department of History is presented. The program proposal was approved in 1974 and a full complement of graduate students were accepted into the program by summer 1975. The overall objective of the program is the improvement of history instruction and curriculum at the secondary and collegiate levels. It emphasizes growth in knowledge and skills related to both the content and teaching of history. The program is designed primarily to provide advanced training for experienced teachers who have the potential to become curriculum leaders or master teachers in their institutions, such as teachers in community colleges, four-year colleges, and comprehensive high schools. The program includes educational, historical, cognate, and dissertation components. Students are required to take 16 semester hours in history, 16 hours in a cognate concentration, 14 hours in education, and 14 hours for the dissertation. The dissertation can emphasize (1) curriculum development and field study or (2) historical topics and their instructional application. Special program features include cooperation with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the College of Education, individualization for student needs and goals, student participation on the doctoral committee, and joint initiation with other D.A. programs at the university. Short backgrounds of the 16 students currently enrolled in the program conclude the document. (ND)