Ball State University* | National Council on Public History

Public History Concentration

Last Updated: February 4, 2021

Burkhardt Building, #200
2000 W. University Ave.

Muncie, IN 47306-0480

[email protected]

Visit Website

Director(s)

Wendy F. Soltz

Assistant Professor, Department of History

Director, Public History Program

[email protected]

765-285-8743

Program Introduction

Established in 1988, the Public History Program at Ball State University offers a BA or BS in History with a Public History concentration. The program admits five to ten students each year and puts a strong emphasis on immersion in public history methodologies and placing students in internships opportunities across the country. With Ball State's GIS mapping lab and recording studios, our oral history lab, and several museums and archives right here on campus, public history classes flourish with hands-on learning.

Degrees Offered

B.A. in History
B.A. in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History
M.A. in History

Program Strengths

Archival Practices
Digital Media
Historic Preservation
Historical Archaeology
Local/Community History
Museum Studies
Oral History

Credit Hour Requirements

Total: 39-42 prerequisites, 18; core courses and electives, 12; Public History internship (HIST 369), 9-12.

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

BA7

Financial Aid Available

undergraduate teaching fellowships; in-state tuition status; internships

Deadline To Apply

March 1st (for fall enrollment)

Internship Requirements

Internships are arranged in the fall, spring, or summer on an individual basis with the Public History Program Director. Students can enroll in a nine or twelve credit hour internship which is equivalent to 450 or 600 working hours on site. Depending on the arrangements, some internships are paid, others are not.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

Past internships have included placements in a variety of settings such as:

historical associations and societies;
oral history projects;
museums and halls of fame;
entrepreneurial history firms;
genealogical services;
preservation and restoration agencies;
archives and libraries;
publishers of history books and journals;
documentary film and audio production companies.

Job Placement Assistance

At Ball State University, we have an extensive Career Center which offers a number of programs, skill-building workshops, and one-on-one consultations for all of our students to find the right job placement.
https://www.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/careercenter

Employers Who Have Hired Graduates from this Program within the Past Five Years