Graduate Certificate in Public History

This 18-hour certificate program centers the idea of "history with a purpose" and prepares students to enter the profession with the skills they need to create and present public-facing, community-engaged historical scholarship. The certificate can be completed in conjunction with a degree program at the MA or PhD level or as a stand-alone credential.  

Students in the Introduction to Public History course install their exhibit in Ekstrom Library, (Olivia Raymond, Eric Shoemaker, Michael Reikes, Angela Pyle.

Students in the Introduction to Public History course install their exhibit in Ekstrom Library (pictured: Olivia Raymond, Eric Shoemaker, Michael Reikes, and Angela Pyle).

Curriculum

The following courses are required for the certificate:

  • HIST 697 Introduction to Public History (3 credit hours)
  • HIST 608 Public History Practicum (3 credit hours)
  • Two graduate seminars (600 level) in the History Department (3 credit hours each, 6 total)
  • Two Public History electives at the graduate level; these may be taken outside the History Department if appropriate courses are available in other programs like Public Administration, Critical and Curatorial Studies, etc. (3 credit hours each, 6 total)

Note:  History M.A. students enrolled in the certificate program may apply six hours of certificate courses toward requirements for the M.A. The remaining 9 hours must be in addition to their M.A. coursework.

Download a fact sheet for the program here.

Admissions

The following materials are required for the certificate program:

  • two letters of recommendation
  • official undergraduate transcripts
  • personal statement of interest in public history (500 words)
  • $40.00 application fee

History M.A. students who wish to enroll in the certificate program must complete the online application (see link below) and submit (1) a letter of recommendation from a U of L faculty member, and (2) a personal statement of interest in public history.  All materials from your application for the M.A. program will also be considered.

Click here to begin your application!