Program Introduction

The Public History program at UNI began in 1976 at the undergraduate level and expanded to include a graduate emphasis in 2002. Currently, it consists of Public History Minor at the undergraduate level and a Public History Emphasis at the graduate level. The graduate emphasis supports both thesis work and professional development. The program also offers a Public History Certificate to students not enrolled in a degree program. A number of alumni have gone to work in museums, libraries and archives, historical societies, and Main Street offices.

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
  • Public History Minor
  • Museum Studies Degree, Certificate, or Minor

Program Strengths

  • Digital Media
  • Historic Preservation
  • Local/Community History
  • Museum Studies
  • Oral History

Credit Hour Requirements

30 hours

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

MA5-10

MAs produced last year

5

Full-time Program Staff/Faculty

16 Tenured and Tenure-Track faculty staff the History MA program

Financial Aid Available

Scholarships
Assistantships
Tuition Waivers
In-State Tuition Status
Loans

Internship Requirements

Required. Students are required to complete two internships arranged in consultation with the Public History coordinator. Internships consist of 120 hours of work and are worth 3 credit hours each.

Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years

• Grout Museum District
• Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area
• John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
• Rod Library Special Collections
• Cedar Falls Historical Society
• Cedar Falls Community Main Street
• Parkersburg Historical Society
• Salisbury House
• Iowa Children’s Museum
• African American Museum of Iowa
• Rural Schools Project
• Postville Project
• Fortepan Iowa Project
• National Museum of American History
• Grey Towers National Historic Site

Job Placement Assistance

UNI's Career Center offers students support in selecting employment opportunities and preparing application materials.

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

  • African American Museum of Iowa
  • Grout Museum District
  • Cedar Falls Historical Society
  • Clinton County Historical Society and Museum
  • Good Samaratin Society
  • Main Street Waterloo
  • John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
  • Johnson County Historical Society
  • Rod Library (UNI)
  • Park County Archives (Cody, Wyoming)
  • Merrill-Cazier Library (USU)

Credit Hour Requirements

15 hours

Financial Aid Available

Scholarships
Assistantships
In-State Status
Loans

Degrees Offered

  • Public History Minor

Credit Hour Requirements

18 hours

How Many Students are Admitted Annually

BA15-20

Financial Aid Available

Scholarships
Assistantships
In-State Status
Loans