MA in Public History
Last Updated: November 1, 2023
Lawson Hall 1207
1151 Richmond Street
London, ON N6A 5B8
Director(s)
Mike Dove (Co-Director & Internship Coordinator)
[email protected]
519 661-2111 x84996
Michelle Hamilton (Co-Director)
[email protected]
519 661-2111, x84973
Program Introduction
Established in 1986, the MA Program in Public History at The University of Western Ontario is the longest-running program of its kind in Canada. It provides graduate students with the knowledge, skills, training and practical experience required to promote historical research and understanding within the public sphere.
The program consists of coursework ranging from collaborative projects with community partners to archives, digital public history, museology, and interactive exhibit design, followed by a summer internship with local, provincial, national and international heritage and cultural institutions.
Approximately 12-15 students are admitted each year. Close to 300 students have graduated from the program since its inception.
Degrees Offered
- M.A. in Public History
- Public History Minor
Program Strengths
- Digital Media
- Film/Video
- Historic Preservation
- Local/Community History
- Material Culture
- Museum Studies
- Oral History
Credit Hour Requirements
9.0
How Many Students are Admitted Annually
MA12-15
MAs produced last year
10
Deadline To Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Places Where Students Have Interned During the Past 3 Years
- Admiralty House Communications Museum – Mount Pearl, NF & Labrador, Canada
- Alberta Culture and Tourism, Historic Resources – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Batoche National Historic Site – Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Canada’s History Society – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Canadian Museum of Nature – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian War Museum – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- DK Seaman Hockey Resource Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- Juno Beach Centre Association – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Know History Historical Services – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Library & Archives Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- London Heritage Council – London, Ontario, Canada
- Malta Heritage/ Fort St. Elmo – Malta
- Markham Museum – Markham, Ontario, Canada
- Museum London – London, Ontario, Canada
- Museum of the Moving Image – New York, NY, USA
- National Museum of Scotland – Edinburgh, Scotland
- Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center – Wisconsin, USA
- Oil Museum of Canada – Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada
- Parks Canada – Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada
- Peabody Essex Museum/ Native American Fellow – Salem, Massachusetts, USA
- Port Arthur National Historic Site – Tasmania, Australia
- The Rooms Corporation – St. John’s, NF & Labrador, Canada
- Royal B.C. Museum – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Ontario Museum – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Schneider Haus National Historic Site – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
- Spin Master Entertainment Ltd. – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Yap Films Inc. – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Job Placement Assistance
The Co-Directors and Internship Coordinator regularly offer assistance to students and alumni with finding relevant and satisfying job opportunities. Since 2008, our placement rate in the public history field is approximately 90%, including both contract and permanent jobs.
Employers Who Have Hired Graduates from this Program within the Past Five Years
- Canada’s History Society – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- CDCI Research – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- DK Seaman Hockey Resource Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Eldon House – London, Ontario, Canada
- Golder Associates – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Heritage London Foundation – London, Ontario, Canada
- Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- Joan Holmes & Associates – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Juno Beach Centre Association – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Know History Historical Services – Ottawa, Ontario/ Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Lambton County Archives – Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada
- Library & Archives Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- London Life Corporate Archives – London, Ontario, Canada
- London Heritage Council – London, Ontario, Canada
- Niagara Parks Commission – Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
- Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center – Wisconsin, USA
- Oil Sands Discovery Centre – Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
- Ontario Heritage Trust – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Parks Canada – Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- Port Arthur National Historic Site – Tasmania, Australia
- Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Public History Inc. – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum – London, Ontario, Canada
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Ontario Museum – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Schneider Haus National Historic Site – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
- Spin Master Entertainment Ltd. – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- SSHRC – Ottawa, Ontario
- Stantec Consulting Ltd. – London/ Waterloo Ontario, Canada
- Stratford Festival Archives – Stratford, Ontario, Canada
Public History Minor
Last Updated: November 1, 2023
Director(s)
Mike Dove (Co-Director)
[email protected]
519 661-2111 x84996
Program Introduction
The first of its kind in Canada, the Public History Minor is an interdisciplinary joint program between Western, Huron University College, and King’s University College. Students gain both academic training and practical experience in bringing the past to life. This hands-on program offers flexibility and convenience to help students build a more comprehensive well-rounded degree. It is also excellent preparation for those considering graduate and professional school. Students develop marketable skills and gain invaluable experience and contacts through group-work, presentations, networking, and collaboration with community partners through projects, workshops, guest speakers, site visits, and experiential learning opportunities.
Degrees Offered
- M.A. in Public History
- Public History Minor
Program Strengths
- Digital Media
- Film/Video
- Historic Preservation
- Local/Community History
- Material Culture
- Museum Studies
- Oral History
Credit Hour Requirements
4.0