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 (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!