Public History Certificate
Last Updated: September 4, 2025
History Department
400 W. First Street
Chico, CA 95929
Director(s)
Jason Nice
[email protected]
Program Introduction
The Public History Certificate at Chico State was originally established in 1993 and redesigned in 2025. It is a 28-30 unit program that is open to all undergraduate students and credits earned towards the certificate also count towards the total number needed for the B.A. in History degree.
The Public History Certificate offers undergraduate students an opportunity to explore the theory, scholarship, and practice of public history. Students will explore a variety of public history activities completing public-facing and community-based work (such as oral history projects and digital history projects).
Degrees Offered
- B.A. in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History
Program Strengths
- Archival Practices
- Editing
- Local/Community History
- Material Culture
- Museum Studies
- Oral History
- Publishing
Credit Hour Requirements
28-30
How Many Students are Admitted Annually
BA30
Internship Requirements
Internships are a key component of the certificate. The student works with the coordinator to identify and arrange an agreement with a host institution. The goal of the internship is to provide practical experience in a Public History organization to allow the student to apply and develop skills related to public history. (1-3 credits)
Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years
- Meriam Library Department of Special Collections at CSU Chico
- Chico History Museum
- Northeast California Archaeological Information Center
- Butte County Clerk-Recorder
Job Placement Assistance
Faculty help place students in internships and help students network with graduate programs based on their interests.