History — Public History (M.A.P.H.)
The M.A. in Public History (M.A.P.H.) is a professional degree for students seeking careers in museums, at historical societies or historic sites, in cultural resource management, in nonprofits, in government agencies, and in allied fields. It is also appropriate for secondary school teachers who seek to gain experience in project-based, community-engaged pedagogy. The M.A.P.H. degree can be completed in two years of full-time study.
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. Earning a graduate degree is an undertaking which requires a considerable commitment of time and financial resources. The Department of History expects applicants to its graduate program to arrive well-prepared to undertake a rigorous course of study.
The department normally considers only applicants whose undergraduate grade point average is at least 3.00 overall and at least 3.25 in a minimum of eighteen semester credits in history and related subjects at the advanced undergraduate level. The department requires that all applicants submit a statement of purpose, a writing sample, two letters of recommendation (at least one should be from a former instructor; the other may be a professional reference from a supervisor for a history-related internship or other employment), a resume or curriculum vitae, and copies of transcripts from each college or university previously attended. Please consult the Department of History graduate handbook for detailed instructions for preparing application materials.
Application deadlines are October 15 (for Winter admission), January 15 (for Fall admission with funding consideration), and April 15 (for Fall admission without funding consideration).
For the Master's in Public History degree at least 33 credits are required, as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIS 7830 | Methods and Research in History | 3 |
| HIS 7835 | Public History | 3 |
| HIS 7855 | Memory and History | 3 |
| HIS 7998 | Internship in Public History | 1-3 |
| HIS 7999 | Master's Essay Direction | 1-3 |
| At least one 8000-level HIS seminar | ||
| At least two additional HIS courses numbered 5000 or above | ||
| At least two public history electives | ||
Students may either develop a specialization composed of the three related courses (as approved by their advisor and the Graduate Director by their signatures on the student’s plan of work) or concurrently complete one of three graduate certificates: Archival Administration, Nonprofit Management, or Museum Practice.
Candidacy must be established by filing an official Plan of Work with the Department when twelve credits have been earned.
Academic Scholarship: All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.