Graduate Program in Public History

Last Updated: June 5, 2025

1400 Washington Ave.

Albany, NY 12222

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Director(s)

Sheila Curran Bernard
[email protected]
518-442-5300

 

Program Introduction

Founded in 1983, the MA program in public history at the University at Albany, SUNY, trains historians to work at a variety of public history venues and enrolls roughly 15 students each year. The program offers a 36-credit MA with a concentration in public history, usually completed in three semesters. Students may also apply separately to the 36-credit MS in Information Science, for a dual degree that allows up to 13 overlapped credits. Albany is home to major New York State agencies including the State Archives, State Museum, and Office of Historic Preservation. The region also contains many public and private museums, historical societies, archives, and public media and television stations. This diversity permits a wide choice of internship and career possibilities, and a pool of specialized experts who supplement the regular faculty of the Department of History.

Degrees Offered

  • B.A. in History
  • M.A. in Public History
  • M.A. in History
  • Ph.D. in History
  • Other

Program Strengths

  • Archival Practices
  • Digital Media
  • Historic Preservation
  • Historical Administration
  • Library Science Program
  • Local/Community History
  • Material Culture
  • Museum Studies
  • Oral History
  • Public Policy

Credit Hour Requirements

36-credit for Public History MA concentration; 30-credit for Academic History concentration. Students admitted to both the History MA and the 36-credit MS in Information Science may overlap up to 13 credits.

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

MA12, average (2020-25)

PhD5, average (2020-25)

MAs produced last year

There are roughly 20-25 MA students in the program each year; graduation rates vary.

Full-time Program Staff/Faculty

Eighteen full time history faculty members, plus lecturers with expertise in public history. See https://www.albany.edu/history/people/faculty.

Financial Aid Available

Very limited; there are in-state tuition discounts, some paid internships, some scholarships, and some department awards.

Deadline To Apply

August 1 (Fall admission); December 1 (Spring admission). No GRE requirement.

Internship Requirements

For the public history concentration, six internship credits (50 hours per credit) are required. These may be completed full time over the summer or broken into smaller units. Internship opportunities are publicized to students throughout the year, and they are also encouraged to seek out opportunities on their own, whether in the Capitol Region or elsewhere. Some students find internships that offer hourly pay and/or stipends or housing, but many internships are not compensated.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

Borscht Belt Museum
Dutchess County Historical Society
Historic Cherry Hill
Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society
Metropolitan Museum of Art, The
New Netherlands Institute
New York State Archives
New York State Department of Education
New York State Library
New York State Museum
New York State Military Museum & Veterans Research Center
Old Sturbridge Village (Massachusetts)
Sanford-Springvale Historical Society (Maine)
Saratoga National Historical Park
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
WAMC Northeast Public Radio
Watervliet Historical Society
Westchester County Archives

Job Placement Assistance

The program hosts an annual fall mixer for students and area professionals and alumni. We also regularly share job opportunities via email and social media.

Job Placement Percentage Within One Year

Unknown

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

Albany Institute of History and Art
New York State Museum
Office of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Others