Master of Arts in History
If you have an undergraduate degree in history or a related field, this is the option for you. Our program starts from the premise that the core skills of gathering and reading evidence, analyzing, and writing are powerful, transferable skills that will serve you well in any part of the public history field. That's why students get a Master's in history with a concentration in Museum Studies or Historic Preservation.
Museum Studies concentration
The Museum Studies concentration offers a broad-based training in how to build relationships between history and public audiences, focusing on the theory and practice of telling stories through museums, historic sites, and other cultural institutions. It introduces students to the tools that public historians use; examines contemporary models for how best to reach audiences in ways that make history meaningful; and offers concrete experience in the development of public projects, collaboration, and leadership. Students engage in re-thinking how the professional practices of collecting, preserving, and interpreting the past are changing in the 21st century.
Historic Preservation concentration
The Historic Preservation concentration trains students to see the past in the tangible world around us. Students focus on the theory and practice involved in “reading” the built environment, developing skills in researching the stories these sites tell, and making informed decisions about the appropriate treatment of historic buildings and neighborhoods. Students gain tools that help them inject historic preservation into contemporary discussions about urban planning, economic development, and environmental impact.