MA History – Public History
Master of Arts in History program at UNC Charlotte is a program of the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences. The Public History concentration within the program emphasizes historic preservation, museum studies, and digital history, or the creation of new media projects such as websites, digital collections, and documentaries history. The program also offers courses in United States, European, and Latin American history. Students who pursue the Concentration in Public History must complete 30 credit hours of required and elective coursework, 3 credit hours for an internship in some area of Public History, and 3 credit hours of thesis work, for a total of 36 credit hours.
Core courses
History Colloquia Courses
HIST 6001 – Colloquium in United States History Before 1865
A reading colloquium focused on the major events and historiographical approaches in U.S. history to the Civil War.
HIST 6002 – Colloquium in United States History Since 1865
A reading colloquium focused on the major events and historiographical approaches in U.S. history since the Civil War.
HIST 6101 – Colloquium in 19th-Century European History
A reading colloquium focused on the major events and historiographical approaches in European history during the long 19th Century (1789-1914).
HIST 6102 – Colloquium in 20th-Century European History
A reading colloquium focused on the major events and historiographical approaches in European history from World War I to the late 20th Century.
HIST 6201 – Colloquium in Colonial Latin American History
A topical colloquium devoted to selected themes in colonial Latin American history. Provides an introduction to research methods, documentary sources, and the critical analysis of historical literature. Topics will change.
HIST 6202 – Colloquium in Modern Latin American History
A topical colloquium devoted to selected themes in modern Latin American history. Provides an introduction to research methods, documentary sources, and the critical analysis of historical literature. Topics will change.
Other Required Courses
HIST 6300 – Topics in Public History (or another approved public history elective)
Intensive treatment of a field of public history, depending on student needs and staff resources.
HIST 6310 – Museum Studies
Introduces students to the management, curatorial, public relations, and fundraising aspects of historical museums and related historical sites. These skills are acquired through readings, term projects, and a “hands-on” experience at local museums and historical sites.
HIST 6320 – Historic Preservation
An introduction to the theory and practice of identifying, preserving and restoring buildings, sites, structures and objects in the historic built environment of the United States.
HIST 6330 – History in the Digital Age
Analyzes the impact of new media technology on the discipline of history as well as well as the ways in which new media enhances the discipline by making history accessible to a much broader audience. Involves a new media project that will require students to learn to work as a team, important to their preparation for careers in public history settings. Coursework includes common readings of texts and encounters with online studies, with emphasis on the media projects.
HIST 6400 – Internship
Completion of 145 hours of work as an intern, plus a journal and reflection paper.
HIST 6693 – Historiography and Methodology
A study of historians and their philosophical and methodological approaches. Required of all M.A. candidates.
HIST 6694 – Seminar in Historical Writing
Seminar on the process of writing a history thesis, including evidence, argument, narrative, and organization. In this seminar, students write a thesis chapter or research paper. Required of all M.A. candidates.
HIST 6999 – Thesis
Appropriate research and written exposition of research is required.
program affiliate faculty
Dr. Kristina Shull
Program Director