Bachelor's in History - Public History

Turn your passion for history into a career preserving, interpreting, and sharing the stories that shape our communities. The Public History concentration within the B.A. in History degree at UNC Greensboro prepares students for careers and graduate study in museums, historic sites, archives, cultural organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, and other public-facing history professions. As home to one of the nation’s recognized public history programs, UNCG provides students with opportunities to explore how history connects to contemporary issues and public audiences.

Through hands-on coursework and real-world projects, students learn to research, preserve, and present history in meaningful ways. You’ll develop practical skills in areas such as oral history, museum and exhibit interpretation, digital history, public engagement, and community-based research while building a strong foundation in historical analysis and communication. This combination of professional experience and critical thinking prepares graduates to make an impact in a growing field and succeed in careers or advanced study.

Public History Concentration Highlights

• Learn from a nationally recognized public history program. UNCG’s Department of History has a long-standing reputation in public history, supported by its award-winning master’s program with a concentration in museum studies and advanced public history training at the doctoral level. As an undergraduate, you’ll benefit from the same expertise and mentorship.
• Choose the format that fits your goals. Complete the Public History Concentration in either an on-campus or online format, giving you the flexibility to balance your education with work, family, and other commitments.
• Gain experience through community-engaged learning. Work on real-world public history projects and internship experiences that help you apply classroom knowledge while building professional skills and connections.
• Learn from dedicated faculty mentors. History faculty are recognized for excellence in teaching, mentorship, and research. Their expertise helps students develop the knowledge, skills, and professional confidence needed to succeed after graduation.
• Turn your interest in history into meaningful impact. Explore how history is preserved, interpreted, and shared with the public while preparing for careers in museums, archives, historic sites, cultural institutions, and related fields.

THE Public History STUDENT EXPERIENCE

• Explore how history shapes the world around you. Through a sequence of courses, you’ll examine how people understand the past and how public memory influences communities. You’ll discover where history can be found in everyday life, how historic places are preserved, and how public historians interpret and share history with diverse audiences.
• Build practical public history skills. Gain hands-on experience with oral history, exhibit design, archival research, and digital history methods that prepare you for careers in museums, archives, historic sites, and cultural organizations.
• Learn through research and real-world experience. Faculty support and encourage students to pursue research projects, internships, and experiential learning opportunities that connect classroom knowledge with professional practice.
• Intern with leading history and cultural organizations. Past history majors have completed internships at the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Greensboro History Museum, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, the High Point Museum, and UNCG’s Special Collections and University Archives.
• Connect with a community of history enthusiasts. The UNCG History Club regularly engages students through lectures, films, games, trips, and other activities that bring history to life outside the classroom.

AFTER GRADUATIng with a bachelor’s in History — Public History Degree

Graduates of UNC Greensboro’s Public History bachelor’s in History — Public History concentration leave with a strong foundation in historical research, communication, and interpretation, along with specialized skills in oral history, exhibit development, digital history, and public engagement. These experiences prepare students for careers in museums, historic sites, archives, cultural and heritage organizations, nonprofits, preservation agencies, and public history institutions.

Students are also well positioned for graduate study in public history, museum studies, archival management, historic preservation, and related fields. By learning how history shapes public understanding, civic life, and social change, graduates develop the knowledge and practical expertise needed to preserve, interpret, and share the past with diverse audiences.

Potential Career Paths