Rutgers University-Newark* | National Council on Public History

American Studies

Last Updated: September 30, 2024

175 University Ave.
Conklin Hall 243

Newark, NJ 07102

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Director(s)

Kyle Riismandel, PhD

Director of American Studies

[email protected]

973-353-1886

Program Introduction

Established in 2008, the Graduate Program in American Studies was created with publicly-engaged scholarship at its heart. To that end, we are interested in training professionals who are able to use the humanities to address contemporary issues of critical concern through the MA general track, MA public humanities track, and the PhD. Approximately 30 students have graduated with the PhD and approximately 40 with an MA. They work in a range of occupations and institutions including in public history and humanities such as tenured and non-tenure track university instructors, archivists and collections managers, state and historic commission researchers, curators, television producers, and more.

Degrees Offered

M.A. in Public History
Other

Program Strengths

Historical Administration
Local/Community History
Oral History
Other

Credit Hour Requirements

MA - 30, PhD 60 (42 coursework, 18 dissertation research)

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

MA3-8

PhD3-5

MAs produced last year

Full-time Program Staff/Faculty

Program Director, Associate Director, Administrative Coordinator

43 affiliated faculty across 8 schools and departments

Financial Aid Available

Tuition remission for M.A. students is regularly available though not guaranteed and determined on a semesterly basis. Full-time PhD students are employed as a Graduate Assistant/Teaching Assistants (GA/TA) for 5 years. Students may also be nominated for competitive scholarship and fellowship awards

Deadline To Apply

PhD - 12/15/2024 MA - 04/01/2025

Internship Requirements

Students in the Public Humanities MA track are required to complete a 3-credit internship with a relevant organization or project to gain practical experience in the field and develop professional contacts. A successful internship will be mutually beneficial for the student and the host institution. The student should expect to be given meaningful work that is relevant to their interests and career goals. The institution should expect that the student will act professionally, as if they are an employee. Selection of a internship is made in conjunction with the Director and Associate Director of the Program.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

New Jersey Historic Preservation Office

Morris County Museum

Price Institute Community Garden

Newark Art Museum

Humanities Action Lab

Institute for Jazz Studies

Robeson Galleries

Job Placement Assistance

The program regularly offers trainings and workshops on locating and applying for jobs in public history and humanities as well as a access to a digital job board. Further, our faculty and alums have deep roots in archives, museums, and public history and humanities that we use to place grads.

Job Placement Percentage Within One Year

75-90%

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

Mellon Foundation

New Jersey State Historical Society

Rutgers University Library

Science History Museum of Philadelphia

9/11 Museum

Getty Conservation Institute

Community & Institutional Connections

City of Newark

Clement A. Price Institute for the Study of Ethnicity and the Modern Experience

Institute for Jazz Studies

Newark Library

Newark Art Museum

New Jersey State Historical Society

Humanities Action Lab

Newest Americans

New Jersey Council for the Humanities

MA in American Studies

Last Updated: June 13, 2017

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Director(s)

Jason Cortes, Director
Graduate Program in American Studies
[email protected]

Mary Rizzo, Associate Director, Public & Digital Humanities
Graduate Program in American Studies
[email protected]
973-353-1166

Financial Aid Available

Fellowships
Teaching, Research and Administrative Assistantships
Tuition waivers

Internship Requirements

Internships are arranged through the program in consultation with the student. Internships earn 3 credits and are part of regular coursework. For students who are already working in the field, work experience can count for internship credit.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years