For Prospective Students

Are you interested in applying to grad school for public history? Are you considering further education after undergrad, but aren’t sure what options are out there for history majors/minors? Do you just want to network with some excellent historians, educators, and administrators as you prepare to graduate and start your professional life?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you should register for NCPH’s Grad Fair. Held virtually on October 9 and 10, 2025, from 12 pm to 5 pm Eastern both days, the grad fair will be a great opportunity to compare public history grad programs and chat face-to-face (on Zoom) with program directors, faculty, and current students.

Register by October 5 for FREE at https://community.ncph.org/event/GradFair2025. (Prospective students should select the free prospective student ticket. High school teachers, undergraduate history teachers not promoting a grad program, and parents of prospective students should select the option that best applies to you, although all options are free.)

FAQs

Q: What does the virtual grad fair cost?
A: This event is FREE to prospective students. You need to register (so we can invite you to the platform), but you will not be asked to pay to attend.

Q: Do I have to attend all five hours on both days?
A: No! In fact, we assume most prospective students won’t. You pick the hours that work with your schedule. We will ask grad programs to be available at their booths from 12-3 pm Eastern both days, and there will be live sessions from 3-5 pm Eastern. However, you are welcome to attend as much or as little as you want; we’ll email you recordings of the live sessions in case you can’t make them.

Q: Do I have to network, even if I don’t know for sure grad school is for me?
A: Definitely not. While booths will have the option to chat on Zoom with different programs that interest you, you can also just lurk and collect information. We’ll provide you with some suggested questions to help ease the way if you want to network, which should help you compare apples to apples as compare different programs, but we will also provide programs with some suggested resources to “leave” at their booths for shy prospective students.

Q: What will the sessions be about?
A: Check out the Program as session plans come together. We’ll also start listing available pre-recorded sessions as they are confirmed!

Some Questions to ask

No two grad programs are alike, and this event is your chance to ask representatives of a wide selection of public history programs the questions that will help you find your path forward. We encourage you to ask about whatever’s on your mind, but these questions will help get you started.

  • What are your program’s strengths?
  • What aspects of public history does your program have a particular focus in?
  • What funding sources does your program offer? What resources are there for me as I weigh my financial options?
  • What is the average amount of debt students at this program incur?
  • How many people are typical in a cohort (graduating class)?
  • Are internships required, and if so, what does that time commitment look like?
  • Does the program find me an internship, or are students expected to find their own internships?
  • Where have your students interned recently?
  • What are the job placement rates of your program?
  • Is a thesis required? If not, what capstone experience do graduates complete, if any?
  • What courses are required as a part of the degree? What sorts of projects do students complete?
  • Are there partnerships with local history institutions in program courses?
  • Do you offer resources on finding somewhere to live?
  • Can I get in contact with a current student in the program?
  • What percentage of your faculty have meaningful experience with public history and/or public history projects?
  • How is your program or university being impacted by the current political environment? Are there concerns about the future of the program?