University of North Carolina at Greensboro* | National Council on Public History

Public History Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Last Updated: February 13, 2025

Department of History
PO Box 26170

Greensboro, NC 27410

[email protected]

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Director(s)

Dr. Torren Gatson, [email protected] and Dr. Anne Parsons, [email protected], Co-Directors of Public History

Program Introduction

UNCG graduate students can earn a Master’s degree in History with a concentration in Museum Studies or a PhD in History, with a concentration in Public History. Undergraduate students can major in History with a concentration in Public History, which includes an online option. Our mission is to unearth history while building community. Every semester students complete collaborative projects, start‐to‐ finish, that make a difference in our region—museum exhibitions, public programs, interpretive websites, and collections management plans. In this way, we bridge theory and practice while making a positive impact in our world. The program is unique in that it is affordable, it offers one-on-one support, and hands-on learning experiences.

Program Introduction

UNCG students earn a Master’s degree in History with a concentration in Museum Studies. Our mission is to unearth history while building community. Every semester students complete collaborative projects, start‐to‐ finish, that make a difference in our region—museum exhibitions, public programs, interpretive websites, collections management plans, etc. In this way, we bridge theory and practice while making a positive impact in our world. In 2019, the program received an AASLH Award of Excellence for its exhibition Etched in Stone? (https://news.uncg.edu/etched-in-stone-exhibition-national-honors/) The program has ongoing partnerships with area history organizations—the Greensboro Historical Museum, International Civil Rights Center and Museum, High Point Museum, the National Park Service, Elsewhere, NC Museum of History, and others. Students supplement a three-semester Museum Studies seminar sequence with electives, including Museum Education, Collections Management, and Digital History. Students complete public history capstones, two-semester independent-study public projects. Established in 2000, the program enrolls (and graduates) approximately 10 students each year.

Degrees Offered

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

Program Strengths

Archival Practices
Historic Preservation
Local/Community History
Material Culture
Museum Studies

Credit Hour Requirements

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

BA15

MA10

PhD5

MAs produced last year

Financial Aid Available

-Graduate assistantships (including a public history graduate assistantship and assistantships with the UNCG Libraries)
-Scholarships and tuition awards, in-state & out-of-state
-Students are considered for these awards on merit basis at time of admission

Deadline To Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Internship Requirements

Internships are integrated into UNCG’s curriculum (3 credit hours). Students collaborate with the Director of Public History to identify and pursue internship placements, working with institutions locally and (over the summer) across the country. Some of these opportunities are paid, while others are not.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum
City of Greensboro Planning Department
City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department
Greensboro Historical Museum
High Point Museum
Historic Bethabara Park
Holocaust Awareness and Education Museum
National Parks Service
NC Department of Parks and Recreation
Old Salem Museums and Gardens
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Job Placement Assistance

We provide a semester-long job placement workshop series, with resume, cover letter, and interview coaching. We also have a strong network of alumni who also support our students as mentors, and we provide professional development resources and funds to travel to conferences.

Job Placement Percentage Within One Year

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