Public History Program

Public History Program

Public History - History in action photoPublic History is a field of study that applies historical methods to the public sphere. The Public History and Preservation Program is offered as either a major or minor specialty of a master's degree. Students can choose to concentrate in museum studies or historic preservation.  ​

Students with a major field in Public History must complete a thesis or project. Public History majors can minor in any subspecialty the department currently offers. Students majoring in U.S., European, or Global history can also minor in Public History. In conjunction with the College of Architecture and Planning, an 18-hour graduate certificate program in historic preservation is also available.

More about the Public History Program

Learning Outcomes

Graduate students in history develop skills in critical thinking, writing and independent research. Through history courses, students should be proficient in the following areas characteristic of critical thinking:

  • Textual analysis. Analyze texts of a variety of types, distinguishing the various philosophical, historical, and/or literary elements.
  • Interpretive skills. Engage with texts to develop supported meaningful readings.
  • Context awareness. Identify the cultural, historical, and intellectual influences on a text.
  • Ethical thinking. Recognize various ethical situations and ideas, and distinguish viable ethical positions from simple opinions or self-interest.

The department expects that students graduating with an MA in Public History will master the following general skills for their degrees:

  • the ability to pursue independent historical research projects
  • the ability to analyze historiographical arguments
  • the ability to analyze primary documents and develop arguments from them
  • the ability to create bibliographies using archival, library and Internet resources
  • the ability to write in a variety of formats, including historiographical essays, book reviews, and research papers
  • the ability to perform many tasks related to museum management or historic preservation 

Program Overview: 36 Credit Hours Total

Program guidelines can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook

Note: This course is required for all graduate students
HIST 6013, Introduction to the Professional Study of History. This course introduces students to historiography and historical practice.

 

Concentration Requirement: Students who choose to concentrate in museum studies or historic preservation must take:

HIST 5234, Introduction to Public History

Concentration Requirement: Students who choose to concentrate in museum studies or historic preservation must take either:

HIST 5231, History in Museums  -OR- HIST 5232, Historic Preservation

Major Field Electives: 9-12 credits

These courses in public history focus on methodology and practice and count toward the 18 credits that make up the major credit total. These courses include:  

  • HIST 5133, Management of Material Culture and Museum Collections
  • HIST 5228, Western Art and Architecture
  • HIST 5229, Colorado Historic Places
  • HIST 5240, National Parks History
  • HIST 5242, Oral History
  • HIST 5243, Public History Administration  
  • HIST 5244, Interpretation of History in Museums: Exhibits and Education 
  • HIST 5245, Heritage Tourism
  • HIST 6992, Seminar: Colorado Studies

Research seminars focus on students' development of an original, primary research paper.

12 credits of electives in the minor field. Electives include readings courses, which address specific field historiographies, and research seminars.

Students may use the open elective to explore a course outside their major or minor, or to do extra coursework in one of their fields

Candidates may register for up to 6 hours of internships or independent study, only one of which may be at the 6000-level. Students will not be allowed to fulfill the research seminar requirement with an independent study. Any independent study at the 6000-level needs the permission of the Graduate Advisor. ​Students interested in pursuing an independent study must find a faculty member willing to oversee their work, and they should expect the workload for an independent study to equal or exceed that required for other courses at the same level.

Plans of Study

Public History with a Thesis  Public History with a Project

Application Deadlines and Requirements

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History Advising

Undergraduate Advisor 

William Wagner
Contact: (303) 315-1781 or William.Wagner@ucdenver.edu
Office: Student Commons Bldg. 3118

Graduate Advisor

Peter Kopp
Contact: Please email
Peter.Kopp@ucdenver.edu
Office: Student Commons Building, Room AB1 - 3124

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