Public History Program

Last Updated: July 6, 2022

1201 Larimer Street

Denver, CO 80217-3364

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Director(s)

Dr. Peter A. Kopp
Co-Director, Public History
Associate Professor of History
 Dr. Rachel S. Gross
 Co-Director, Public History
 Assistant Professor of History
 Dr. Cameron Blevins
 Clinical Associate Professor of History
 Digital Studies Certificate

Program Introduction

Established in 1988, CU Denver's faculty and its extensive network of partnerships with Colorado museums and historic sites have built a strong and dynamic graduate program to train Public History professionals. Public historians deepen community roots and create a potent sense of place. The CU Denver Public History Program specializes in training students to work in museums, heritage tourism, on digital projects, and as consulting historians in a variety of settings. Public historians also collaborate with interested parties to produce books, brochures, exhibits, landmark nominations, business and institutional histories, family histories, documentaries, and tours.

Degrees Offered

  • B.A. in History
  • M.A. in Public History
  • M.A. in History

Program Strengths

  • Digital Media
  • Historic Preservation
  • Local/Community History
  • Material Culture
  • Museum Studies
  • Publishing

Credit Hour Requirements

36

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

MA10-12

MAs produced last year

5

Full-time Program Staff/Faculty

Peter A. Kopp (museum studies, national parks, publishing)

Rachel Gross (local/community history, museum studies, material culture)

Cameron Blevins (digital studies)

There are also ten additional professors in the department who serve as resources.

Financial Aid Available

Fellowships; Scholarships; Internships; Assistantships; In-State Tuition

Deadline To Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Internship Requirements

Students are required to take one 3-credit internship. Students work with their professors and the university's Experimental Learning Center to find appropriate fits. We advocate on behalf of our students for paid internships or those that have stipends or other sources of funding. In collaboration with History Colorado, the department also offers competitive Koch Fellowships. These positions place students in three different departments such as exhibits, curation, podcasts, archives, and historic preservation throughout the academic year and include a stipend.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

  • History Colorado
  • Aurora History Museum
  • Molly Brown House
  • Historic Denver, Inc.
  • Denver Voice
  • Golden History Museum
  • National Park Service
  • Golda Meir House Museum
  • Louisville Historical Museum
  • Broomfield Depot Museum

Job Placement Assistance

We offer a variety of workshops related to the job market, such as writing resumes/CVs and cover letters and breaking down the interview process.

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

  • History Colorado (the State Historical Society)
  • Historic Denver, Inc.
  • Denver Planning Office
  • Colorado Preservation Inc.
  • Aurora History Museum
  • Gilpin County Historical Society
  • National Park Service
  • History Corps
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Four Mile House Museum
  • Molly Brown House Museum
  • Louisville Historical Museum