Public History Certificate

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The Graduate Certificate in Public History is designed for those interested in being trained for careers in public history, including museums, libraries, and historical societies. Coursework will expose students to the methods and materials of public history and prepare them for a future in public history positions.

The program requires eighteen hours of study, including an internship component for the development of hands-on skills and on-the-job experience.

No more than two (2) courses in any subject area (other than History) can be used to fulfill the requirements of the Public History Certificate, unless specific approval is obtained from the department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

I. Foundations of Public History (2 required courses, 6 hours)

HIS 605 - Presenting Heritage I 3 hrs.
HIS 785 - Oral History Seminar 3 hrs.

II. Required Internship (3 hours)

HIS 695 - Internship in Public History 3 hrs.

III. Content Courses (Pick 3 courses, 9 hours)

ANT 534 - Historical Archaeology 3 hrs.
ANT 537 - Heritage Resources and Public Policy 3 hrs.
ED 665 - Economic Development and Tourism 3 hrs.
HIS 606 - Presenting Heritage II 3 hrs.
HIS 710 - Philosophy and Methods of History 3 hrs.
LIS 605 - Library Management 3 hrs.
LIS 646 - Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice 3 hrs.
LIS 647 - Introduction to Archival Organization 3 hrs.
LIS 649 - Preservation of Documentary Materials 3 hrs.
MC 620 - Public Relations Theory 3 hrs.
MC 621 - Public Relations Campaigns 3 hrs.
MCJ 521 - Public Relations 3 hrs.
NPS 605 - Nonprofits and Social Change 3 hrs.
NPS 506 - Nonprofit Resource Development and Fundraising 3 hrs.
NPS 507 - Nonprofit Board and Volunteer Development 3 hrs.
PS 574 - The Politics of Taxing and Spending 3 hrs.
*Up to 3 hours of additional internship (beyond the required internship) may be used to help fulfill the “Content Courses” requirement.
HIS 695 - Internship in Public History 3 hrs.
HIS 696 - Internship in Applied Historical Research 3 hrs.

IV. Final Comprehensive Exam

Students will have to successfully complete a final examination which assesses all of their coursework and internship experiences.