MA History/Public History concentration

Last Updated: December 3, 2021

2000 Lakeshore Drive

New Orleans, LA 70148

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Director(s)

Mary Niall Mitchell
[email protected]

 

Program Introduction

Established in 2008, the M.A. Concentration in Public History offers two tracks: local/community history and military history. The curriculum combines regular M.A. requirements with courses in the theory and practice of public history and an internship at a museum, archive or library. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, culminating with a thesis and a comprehensive oral examination. The program admits about 8 students to the Public History concentration each year.

Degrees Offered

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

Program Strengths

  • Digital Media
  • Local/Community History
  • Oral History
  • Public Policy
  • Other

Credit Hour Requirements

30

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

MA15

MAs produced last year

14

Financial Aid Available

Assistantships, scholarships, tuition waivers, in-state tuition status.

Internship Requirements

An internship is required of all public history graduate students in their second year. The internship 120 hours during the semester (approximately 8 hours per week) earns 3 graduate credit hours.

The City of New Orleans has many opportunities for internships, from the National World War II Museum to the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Internships engage students in professional-level work that employs their public history training, strengthens their skills, encourages collaboration and teamwork and enriches their understanding of how public history methods are applied in practice. Such work is performed under the supervision of experienced public history professionals willing to share their knowledge and insights with student interns.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

  • National Park Service
  • National World War II Museum
  • Archdiocese of New Orleans
  • Louisiana State Museum
  • National Guard Museum, Jackson Barracks
  • Historic New Orleans Collection
  • New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
  • Amistad Research Center, Tulane University
  • Ashe Cultural Center
  • New Orleans Jazz Museum
  • Dillard University Archives
  • Vieux Carre Commission

Job Placement Assistance

The department has close ties with institutions in the city and we are often asked to recommend graduates for positions. We also often assist students in obtaining interviews with public history institutions in the area. We have had a very good record of placing our graduates.

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

  • National Park Service
  • Louisiana State Museum
  • Archdiocese of New Orleans
  • World War II Museum
  • New Orleans Jazz Museum
  • Orleans Parish Schools
  • Architectural firm
  • Hermann-Grima House
  • Ogden Museum of Southern Art