University Catalog 2024-2025

Public History (MA)

Degree Requirements

Degrees earned will be distributed as: "Master of Arts in Public History" without focus area track or thesis option specifications.

Required Courses36
Introduction To Public History
Internship In Public History
Historiography and Historical Method
Historical Writing
Colloquium in History
Additional HI course approved in conjunction with the academic commiitee
Core Courses and Colloquium Courses
"Core Courses and Colloquium Courses" are approved in conjunction with the academic committee
Focus Area Track Courses
See "Thesis Options & Focus Area Tracks" listed below
Elective Courses
"Elective Courses" will be determined in conjunction with the academic committee
Thesis Option
See "Thesis Options & Focus Area Tracks" listed below
Total Hours36

Thesis Options & Focus Area Tracks

Non-Thesis

Select a Focus Track Area and corresponding courses:

Select courses from one Focus Track Area below:
Museum Studies
HI 591Museum Studies3
HI 593Material Culture3
HI 588Family and Community History3
or HI 589 Interpretation in Historic Sites and Parks
or HI 787 African American Public History
or HI 788 Native American Public History
HI 789Public History in International Context3
Cultural Heritage
HI 594Cultural Heritage3
HI 595Special Topics in History1-6
HI 588Family and Community History3
or HI 589 Interpretation in Historic Sites and Parks
or HI 787 African American Public History
or HI 788 Native American Public History
Public Memory
HI 563Topics in History and Memory3
Select two of the following courses:
HI 533Theory and Practice of Oral History3
HI 534Theory and Practice of Digital History3
HI 787African American Public History3
HI 788Native American Public History3
HI 789Public History in International Context3
Archives and Records Management
Select any three courses; this track must be completed as part of the credit transfer agreement with UNC SILS

Select courses from the following list to fill the 36 total hours:

History and Public History Electives
HI 533Theory and Practice of Oral History3
HI 534Theory and Practice of Digital History3
HI 535Spatial History3
HI 563Topics in History and Memory3
HI 587Cultural Resource Management3
HI 588Family and Community History3
HI 589Interpretation in Historic Sites and Parks3
HI 591Museum Studies3
HI 593Material Culture3
HI 594Cultural Heritage3
HI 595Special Topics in History1-6
HI 787African American Public History3
HI 788Native American Public History3
HI 789Public History in International Context3
Non-History Electives
ANT 531Tourism, Culture and Anthropology3
ANT 533Anthropology of Ecotourism and Heritage Conservation3
ARC 451Digital Representation3
ARC 544American City Planning History3
ARC 545Methods of Interpretation in Architectural History3
ARC 548Vernacular Architecture3
COM 537Gaming and Social Networks3
COM 546Nonprofit Marketing and Public Relations3
COM 581Visual Rhetoric: Theory and Criticism3
NR 548Historical Environments3
PA 531Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations3
PA 535Problem Solving for Public and Nonprofit Managers3
PA 536Management of Nonprofit Organizations3
PA 538Nonprofit Budgeting and Financial Management3
PA 539Fund Development3
PA 540Grant Writing for Public Administrators3

Thesis

Required Courses6
HI 598Historical Writing3
HI 693Master's Supervised Research1-9
Select courses from one Focus Track Area below:
Museum Studies
HI 591Museum Studies3
HI 593Material Culture3
HI 588Family and Community History3
or HI 589 Interpretation in Historic Sites and Parks
or HI 787 African American Public History
or HI 788 Native American Public History
HI 789Public History in International Context3
Cultural Heritage
HI 594Cultural Heritage3
HI 595Special Topics in History1-6
HI 588Family and Community History3
or HI 589 Interpretation in Historic Sites and Parks
or HI 787 African American Public History
or HI 788 Native American Public History
Public Memory
HI 563Topics in History and Memory3
Select two of the following courses:
HI 533Theory and Practice of Oral History3
HI 534Theory and Practice of Digital History3
HI 787African American Public History3
HI 788Native American Public History3
HI 789Public History in International Context3
Archives and Records Management
Select any three courses; this track must be completed as part of the credit transfer agreement with UNC SILS

Faculty

Full Professors

  • David R. Ambaras
  • Nishani Frazier
  • Craig T. Friend
  • Tammrah Gordon
  • Holly Hurlburt
  • Akram F. Khater
  • Traci Brynne Marante
  • Julia Rudolph
  • David Aaron Zonderman

Associate Professors

  • Katherine Mellen Charron
  • Frederico Freitas
  • Verena Kasper-Marienberg
  • Susanna M. Lee
  • Noah B. Strote

Assistant Professors

  • Kristen Alff
  • Ajamu Dillahunt
  • Frederico Freitas
  • Ebony Jones
  • Alicia McGill
  • Tate Sewell Paulette
  • Jordan Rogers

Teaching Assistant Professor

  • Steven Lechner

Lecturer

  • Gwyneth Anne Thayer