University of Maryland, Baltimore County* | National Council on Public History

MA in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History

Last Updated: October 17, 2024

Department of History, Fine Arts Building North, 5th Floor
1000 Hilltop Circle

Baltimore, MD 21250

[email protected]

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Director(s)

Melissa Blair, Director of Public History
[email protected]
410-455-2758

George Derek Musgrove, Graduate Program Director
[email protected]
410-455-2044

Program Introduction

Established in 1997, the Public History Track for students pursuing an MA in Historical Studies at UMBC admits fifteen to twenty students each year. The program specializes in community based public history. Over their course of study, students will work on a variety of real-world projects with external partners in local, regional, or national historical organizations. Specialty courses in public history practice are offered on a regular, rotating schedule. Students can work with the public history program director to select courses leading to one of three specialties: public history in museums, public history in preservation, or public history content development for digital environments. In 2014, the Department of History established a minor in public history, which offers undergraduate students the opportunity to learn public history methods and explore various areas of specialization and professional practice.

Degrees Offered

B.A. in History
B.A. in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History
M.A. in History
M.A. in History with a Certificate or Concentration in Public History

Program Strengths

Historic Preservation
Museum Studies

Credit Hour Requirements

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

BAN/A

MA20

PhDN/A

MAs produced last year

Financial Aid Available

Scholarships
Fellowships
Assistantships
In-State Status

Deadline To Apply

February 15 for Fall

Internship Requirements

Internships are arranged in consultation with the Director of Public History. While internships have generally been unpaid, there are a growing number of paid internship opportunities in the greater Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Maryland State Archives
• Maryland Historical Society
• Baltimore Heritage
• National Museum of American History
• Library of Congress
• NASA History Office
• Montgomery County Historical Society
• National Park Service

Job Placement Assistance

Current job and internship announcements are listed on the History Department website. Two campus resources --the Job Placement Center and the Shriver Center-- also offer career assistance for students and alumni.

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