Master of Arts in History with a Concentration in Public History
Public History is history that is seen, heard, read, and interpreted by a popular audience. Public historians expand on the methods of academic history by emphasizing non-traditional evidence and presentation formats, reframing questions, and in the process creating a distinctive historical practice... Public history is also history that belongs to the public. By emphasizing the public context of scholarship, public history trains historians to transform their research to reach audiences outside the academy.
—New York University Public History Program
A wide range of career opportunities are available to public historians in museums, archives, historical societies, public and private libraries, historical sites, national parks, audiovisual and digital arts media, corporations, and nonprofit agencies. Public historians also frequently collaborate with anthropologists, archaeologists, librarians, architects, and public officials. Jobs in the field of Public History are listed by, among others, the American Historical Association, the National Council on Public History, and the Public History Resource Center.
Introductions to careers in Public History are afforded by student internships. The Philadelphia area offers a treasure trove of internship possibilities and careers in public history. Several institutions have agreed to partner with La Salle’s Public History concentration for internship projects, including the Barnes Foundation, the Betsy Ross House, Cliveden of the National Trust, The Franklin Institute, Germantown Historical Society, the Library Company, and The National Park Service, including Independence National Historical Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park.
Program Highlights
La Salle’s Public History program will provide graduates with both historical content knowledge and professional skills need for successful careers in Public History by offering:
- A general introduction to Public History
- An understanding of and facility in basic historiographical skills
- An overview of American History
- An in-depth history of Philadelphia
- The acquisition of both content knowledge and pedagogical skills in visual representations associated with American social and cultural history
- An introduction to and the practice of skills related to oral history
- An introduction to the analysis of material culture and archival analysis
- Familiarization with the workings of history museums and the development of exhibits
- Familiarization with various digital media skills for the development of websites and documentaries
- An internship with a public history venue in order to develop skills required for a successful career in public history
The Curriculum
The M.A. in Public History requires the completion of the following courses for a total of 30 credits:
HIS 505: Introduction to Public History
An introduction to the theoretical and methodological practices of public history. It serves as a foundation for considering the implications of shared practices of history in which professionals consider and collaborate on the meaning of the past for the present.
HIS. 510: Historiography—Introduction to Research and Historiography
An introduction to the methodology of historical interpretation, research, and writing.
HIS. 610: Readings in American History
A seminar covering central themes and developments from 1607 to the present, including the growth of national identity, the founding and preservation of the American republic, the crucible of slavery and its aftermath, the rise of the United States as a military and industrial power, and the struggle to create an inclusive society.
HIS 615: History of Philadelphia
A survey of the history of Philadelphia from its founding to the present through an examination of the peoples who imagined it, built it, and struggled for and over it.
HIS. 640: Visualizing History
An analysis of historical themes and topics related to American social, cultural, and intellectual history through readings, photography, painting, and film documentaries.
HIS. 650: Oral History: Theory and Practice
Theme-based readings and practice in oral history (e. g., family history, labor and class history, gender history, and African-American history).
HIS. 660: Handling History: Material Culture and Archival Analysis
Theme-based or chronologically-based readings, complemented by analysis of material culture and archival research.
HIS 665: Museum Studies
An introduction to basic object theory and practice as central to every history museum and historical society. Students will gain practical hands-on knowledge through various assignments such as developing exhibitions and creating clear and proper documentation for researchers and future generations.
HIS 680: Techniques in Public History
An introduction to the basic concepts of various digital media processes (e. g., the design and publishing of public history projects by using Web sites, audio, and video content). Students will also review and evaluate public history Web sites and other media based on criteria used by professional public history organizations.
HIS 705: Internship in Public History
An internship experience that allows students to combine theory and course content knowledge with practice through a hands-on experience in one of several public history venues in the Philadelphia area.
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