BA in History, Public History Specialization

Last Updated: February 4, 2021

301 Lake St.

Dallas, PA 18612

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Director(s)

Jennifer Black
Public History Coordinator
[email protected]
570-674-1491

Allan Austin
Program Director for History
[email protected]
570-674-6793

Program Introduction

Established in 2018, the specialization in public history immerses students in service-oriented study to foster independent thinking, develop strong communities, cultivate informed decisions, and inspire leadership. Emphasis is placed upon career preparation and professional development; students complete two internships and participate in service-learning courses and MU's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program. Specializations in History for Business, and History & Media, are also available, as are 4+1 programs resulting in an MS-Organizational Management or MBA. Finally, students are encouraged to consider internships in Washington, DC, through a partnership with American University.

Degrees Offered

  • B.A. in History
  • B.A. in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History
  • Other

Program Strengths

  • Archival Practices
  • Business
  • Digital Media
  • Local/Community History
  • Material Culture
  • Museum Studies
  • Oral History
  • Public Policy

Credit Hour Requirements

49

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

BAup to 20

Financial Aid Available

MU participates in a range of financial aid programs through the U.S. Department of Education. Eligible students are encouraged to apply through the FAFSA program. In addition, special scholarships are available for National History Day participants who major in History or related tracks.

Deadline To Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Internship Requirements

Two 3-credit internships are required, and are taken as part of the 49-credits required for the major. Internships are arranged on an individual basis with the Public History Coordinator 1-2 semesters before desired completion, and may be completed in the fall, spring, or summer terms in 3-6cr. increments. Students must complete 45hrs of work per credit of internship earned. Paid and unpaid internships are available.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

Students have completed internships at a variety of local and regional institutions, including National Park Service sites, local / county historical societies, local archives, regional / state historical sites, and national institutions in Baltimore and Washington, DC.  Some recent placements include:

  • National Federation of the Blind (Baltimore, MD)
  • National Cemetery Association, US Office of Veterans’ Affairs (Washington, DC)
  • Steamtown National Historic Site (Scranton, PA)
  • Luzerne County Historical Society (Wilkes Barre, PA)
  • Eckley Miners’ Village (Hazleton, PA)
  • Anthracite Heritage Museum (Scranton, PA)
  • Misericordia University Archives (Dallas, PA)

Job Placement Assistance

First-year students are eligible to elect participation in the Guaranteed Placement Program, which provides supplemental job-market preparation throughout a student's course of study at MU, and guarantees job placement upon graduation. See https://www.misericordia.edu/page.cfm?p=547 for details.

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

Recent graduates have gained employment at local historic sites such as Eckley Miners’ Village (Hazleton, PA), in local government, and in area businesses.  Students from our program have also gone on to graduate study at John’s Hopkins University, The New School for Social Research, and George Washington University, among other institutions.