Public History
Public History Minor/Public History Concentration
Introduction
The History program offers a Public History concentration for history majors as well as a Public History minor open to all students. These options are designed to offer interdisciplinary training to those interested in pursuing a career in public history. Both the concentration and the minor provide a strong basis in public history, focusing on research, critical issues in the field, and practical hands-on experience through the internship. These core history courses are supplemented with interdisciplinary electives designed to augment the student’s proficiency in administration and communication in the public setting.
Graduates with a minor or concentration in Public History will have the foundation for pursuing a variety of careers including those in archives, museums, historic sites, editing, corporate history, non-profit organizations, oral history, historical preservation, cultural resource management, and local, state, or national government agencies.
Student Learning Objectives
Graduates with a minor or concentration in Public History should demonstrate:
- Competency in the basic components, knowledge, techniques, and practical application of public history;
- The ability to apply historical research techniques, analysis, and presentation in a public setting;
- An understanding of the contemporary issues facing public historians and the ability to critically respond to those issues;
- Practical, hands-on experience working within the field;
- Competency in the administrative methodology utilized at public history sites;
- Ability to creatively communicate information and implement historical presentations for a non-academic audience.
Assessment of Learning Objectives
Students graduating with a concentration in public history are required to successfully complete the capstone senior history seminar, research and defend a senior thesis, pass a major field exit examination, and be successfully evaluated during a hands-on public history internship. Through these requirements, students must demonstrate their mastery of the major’s objectives.
Majors and Minors
Major Minor
Minor in Public History