University of Western Ontario* | National Council on Public History

MA in Public History

Last Updated: November 1, 2023

Lawson Hall 1207
1151 Richmond Street

London, ON N6A 5B8

[email protected]

Visit Website

Director(s)

Mike Dove (Co-Director & Internship Coordinator)
[email protected]
519 661-2111 x84996

Michelle Hamilton (Co-Director)
[email protected]
519 661-2111, x84973

Program Introduction

Established in 1986, the MA Program in Public History at The University of Western Ontario is the longest-running program of its kind in Canada. It provides graduate students with the knowledge, skills, training and practical experience required to promote historical research and understanding within the public sphere.
The program consists of coursework ranging from collaborative projects with community partners to archives, digital public history, museology, and interactive exhibit design, followed by a summer internship with local, provincial, national and international heritage and cultural institutions.
Approximately 12-15 students are admitted each year. Close to 300 students have graduated from the program since its inception.

Degrees Offered

M.A. in Public History
Public History Minor

Program Strengths

Digital Media
Film/Video
Historic Preservation
Local/Community History
Material Culture
Museum Studies
Oral History

Credit Hour Requirements

9.0

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

MA12-15

MAs produced last year

Deadline To Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

Admiralty House Communications Museum – Mount Pearl, NF & Labrador, Canada
Alberta Culture and Tourism, Historic Resources – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Batoche National Historic Site – Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada
Canada’s History Society – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Canadian Museum of Nature – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian War Museum – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DK Seaman Hockey Resource Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Juno Beach Centre Association – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Know History Historical Services – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Library & Archives Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
London Heritage Council – London, Ontario, Canada
Malta Heritage/ Fort St. Elmo – Malta
Markham Museum – Markham, Ontario, Canada
Museum London – London, Ontario, Canada
Museum of the Moving Image – New York, NY, USA
National Museum of Scotland – Edinburgh, Scotland
Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center – Wisconsin, USA
Oil Museum of Canada – Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada
Parks Canada – Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada
Peabody Essex Museum/ Native American Fellow – Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Port Arthur National Historic Site – Tasmania, Australia
The Rooms Corporation – St. John’s, NF & Labrador, Canada
Royal B.C. Museum – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Royal Ontario Museum – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Schneider Haus National Historic Site – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Spin Master Entertainment Ltd. – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Yap Films Inc. – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Placement Assistance

The Co-Directors and Internship Coordinator regularly offer assistance to students and alumni with finding relevant and satisfying job opportunities. Since 2008, our placement rate in the public history field is approximately 90%, including both contract and permanent jobs.

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

Canada’s History Society – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Canadian Museum for Human Rights – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
CDCI Research – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DK Seaman Hockey Resource Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Eldon House – London, Ontario, Canada
Golder Associates – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Heritage London Foundation – London, Ontario, Canada
Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Joan Holmes & Associates – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Juno Beach Centre Association – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Know History Historical Services – Ottawa, Ontario/ Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Lambton County Archives – Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada
Library & Archives Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
London Life Corporate Archives – London, Ontario, Canada
London Heritage Council – London, Ontario, Canada
Niagara Parks Commission – Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center – Wisconsin, USA
Oil Sands Discovery Centre – Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Ontario Heritage Trust – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Parks Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Port Arthur National Historic Site – Tasmania, Australia
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Public History Inc. – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum – London, Ontario, Canada
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Royal Ontario Museum – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Schneider Haus National Historic Site – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Spin Master Entertainment Ltd. – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
SSHRC – Ottawa, Ontario
Stantec Consulting Ltd. – London/ Waterloo Ontario, Canada
Stratford Festival Archives – Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Public History Minor

Last Updated: November 1, 2023

[email protected]

Visit Website

Director(s)

Mike Dove (Co-Director)
[email protected]
519 661-2111 x84996

Program Introduction

The first of its kind in Canada, the Public History Minor is an interdisciplinary joint program between Western, Huron University College, and King’s University College. Students gain both academic training and practical experience in bringing the past to life. This hands-on program offers flexibility and convenience to help students build a more comprehensive well-rounded degree. It is also excellent preparation for those considering graduate and professional school. Students develop marketable skills and gain invaluable experience and contacts through group-work, presentations, networking, and collaboration with community partners through projects, workshops, guest speakers, site visits, and experiential learning opportunities.

Degrees Offered