Public History, Master of Arts

Offered by Department of History

Public History Program Information and Admission Requirements

Master of Arts Degree

  • Option A: Thesis Option
  • Option B: Non-Thesis Option

Master of Arts in Public History Admission Criteria

Admission to the Public History MA program is based on undergraduate GPA, letter of intent, references, and a writing sample. An applicant interested in pursuing a MA in Public History should1:

  1. Meet the requirements for admission set forth by the Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach by submitting a graduate online application,
  2. Have completed an undergraduate program containing at least 18 semester credit hours of history or related disciplines or have completed an undergraduate program with comparable experience in the field of history,
  3. Have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
  4. Submit a letter of intent that describes the applicant's interests and goals in obtaining a graduate degree,
  5. Submit evidence of the writing and analytical skills necessary for graduate level course work,
  6. List at least two references.

Program Requirements

  • At least half of the course work in each program (excluding thesis credit hours) must be completed in non-P courses.
  • Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all graduate credit hours to graduate.

Academic Project for Non-Thesis Students

Students pursuing the non-thesis option must do the following:

  1. Complete all coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  2. At the conclusion of the program, students will develop and complete a substantial, original public history project. Student projects serve as an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities in public history practice. Exact details will vary and should be developed in consultation with the Graduate Program Chair. Students will be required to write a process paper to accompany their project and to defend their work before a committee consisting of at least three faculty.

Thesis and Thesis Committee for Thesis Students

Students interested in pursuing the thesis option must do the following:

  1. Complete at least 12 credit hours of course work with a 3.5 GPA including HIST 801.
  2. Complete HIST 894 with a grade of B or better, and maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 or better.
  3. Obtain a Letter of Agreement from a history faculty member who agrees to serve as thesis advisor.
  4. Submit to the graduate chair and receive approval of a Thesis Prospectus that outlines the proposed thesis topic.
  5. Submit "Proposed Supervisory Committee for Thesis" form.
  6. Successfully defend their completed thesis in an oral defense to be conducted by the student's thesis committee.

A completed thesis must be submitted for the approval of the thesis committee within two years from the completion of the course work. This time requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Department's Graduate Committee.

The thesis committee shall consist of a minimum of three members:

  1. The candidate's thesis advisor who will serve as chair;
  2. a member representing the candidate's major discipline (generally from the degree granting institution); and
  3. a third member representing a related field selected at large from the University of Nebraska Graduate Faculty.

Students in the thesis-option are encouraged to present their research at an academic research conference approved by their thesis advisor.

1 In the absence of any of the above, admission may be granted on a conditional basis. 

This program is offered on campus and online.

Option A: Thesis

Core Courses
HIST 801America Interpreted3
HIST 864Public History Seminar3
HIST 865Public History Methods3
HIST 868PDigital History3
HIST 875Internship in History 13
Select 6 credit hours of U.S. History Courses6
OR Select 6 credit hours of Non-U.S. History Courses
Select 6 credit hours of Public History electives6
HIST 894Introduction to Thesis3
HIST 896Thesis6
Total Credit Hours36

Option B: Non-Thesis

Core Courses
HIST 801America Interpreted3
HIST 864Public History Seminar3
HIST 865Public History Methods3
HIST 868PDigital History3
HIST 875Internship in History 13
HIST 897Public History Project6
Select 6 credit hours of U.S. History courses6
OR Select 6 credit hours of Non-U.S. History courses
Select 6 credit hours of Public History electives6
Select 3 credit hours of U.S., Non-U.S., or Public History courses3
Total Credit Hours36
1

Students already employed in a public history position or possessing substantial and substantive experience in public history work may substitute an additional elective in public history for an internship with the approval from the Graduate Program Chair (GPC). The Public History GPC will determine if a student’s outside experience is significant enough to merit this course substitution.