Master of Arts Degree in Public History
**This program is closing and will no longer accept students as of August 1, 2024. A teach-out plan pending SACSCOC approval is in place for any currently enrolled students so that they may complete this program**
https://www.una.edu/history/graduate-students/master-of-arts-in-public-history.html
Admission
In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate studies (See General Regulations and Procedures), admission to the Master of Arts in Public History degree program requires the following:
- Preparation: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and have at least 24 hours in history or public history, including up to twelve hours below the 300 level or have completed a major and/or minor in history or public history. A departmental Graduate Admissions Committee will approve or deny each application. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions of the University in accordance with submission deadlines established by that office
- Scholastic Achievement: A minimum of 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- Test Scores: Submission of satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which shall consist of the attainment of at least two of the three following scores: Verbal, 146; Quantitative, 140; Analytical Writing, 3.5.
- Three completed recommendation forms.
- Application Essay: A type written essay of 250-350 words which describes career goals and areas of historical interest for study in the graduate program.
- Writing Sample: Minimum of four pages, preferably a research or scholarly essay or paper from previous classes. It may also be a sample of professional or creative writing.
- The history graduate committee does not conditionally admit an applicant to the M.A. program in History or the M.A. program in Public History without reviewing the applicant’s completed application containing undergraduate transcripts, GRE scores, application essay, writing sample, & letters of recommendation. An applicant with an incomplete application may enroll in two graduate history courses (6 hours) as a non-degree-seeking student. If the applicant is admitted to the M.A. program in History or the M.A. program in Public History, courses taken as a non-degree-seeking student may be included in the student’s Plan of Study.
Transfer Admission
In addition to the general requirements for Transfer Admission to Graduate Studies (See General Regulations and Procedures), up to six semester hours of B or higher grades in graduate work appropriate to the degree program at UNA by transfer may be accepted with the approval of the history graduate committee, department chair, and college dean. Exceptions must be approved by the history graduate committee, department chair, and college dean. The department will accept up to six hours transfer credit previously applied to a degree, pending approval of the graduate committee.
Advisement
Prior to the completion of their first semester credit in the program, students shall be assigned an academic advisor.
Public History Center
The Public History Center serves as the consulting branch of the Public History Program at the University of North Alabama, and supervises public history graduate students in their fieldwork and project development. Additionally, the Public History Center staff participates in community outreach, research, content development, and historic site strategy, and maintains a close project partnership with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.
Degree Requirements
Master of Arts Degree in Public History requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit and includes the following core and options.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses of Study | ||
| HI 514 | Fieldwork Methods Course | 3 |
| HI 605 | Historiography and Methodology | 3 |
| HI 611 | Seminar in U.S. History to 1877 | 3 |
| or HI 621 | Seminar in World History to 1815 | |
| HI 612 | Seminar in U.S. History Since 1877 | 3 |
| or HI 622 | Seminar in World History Since 1815 | |
| HI 665 | Public History | 3 |
| HI 670 | Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Management | 3 |
| HI 671 | Historical Administration | 3 |
| HI 679 | Public History Internship | 3 |
| HI 697 | Public History Portfolio | 0 |
| Elective Course of Study | 6 | |
| Select two from the following: | ||
| Material Culture | ||
| Collections Management | ||
| Historical Archeology | ||
| Digital Collections Management | ||
| History of American Architecture | ||
| Exhibit Design | ||
| Oral History | ||
| Digital History | ||
| Slavery and the Archive | ||
| Heritage Tourism | ||
| Business of Public History and Foundations of Business, Part 1 (HI 600 must be taken concurrently with MBA 600) | ||
| Research Skill Requirement 1 | ||
| Thesis or Non-Thesis Option - select one from the following: | 6 | |
| Thesis Option 2 | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis Defense | ||
| Non-Thesis Option 3 | ||
| Directed Research and Study | ||
| Comprehensive Examination | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Research Skill Requirement: The M.A. in public history requires demonstration of a research skill. Students satisfy the research skill requirement by successfully completing graduate coursework in a foreign language reading proficiency or by the successful completion of a reading proficiency examination administered through the Department of Foreign Languages. A student may also satisfy the research skill requirement through successful completion of upper-division coursework as approved by the graduate committee of the Department of History.
- 2
Thesis Option: students choosing the Thesis Option must complete a minimum of six hours of HI 695 Thesis, in addition to the core (24 hours), and six additional hours from the list of public history electives, for a minimum of 36 semester hours. Students choosing the thesis option must also enroll in and satisfactorily complete HI 699 Thesis Defense.
- 3
Non-Thesis Option: students choosing the Non-Thesis Option must complete six hours of HI 640 Directed Research and Study, in addition to the core (24 hours), and six additional hours from the list of public history electives, for a minimum of 36 semester hours. Students choosing the non-thesis option must also enroll in and satisfactorily complete HI 698 Comprehensive Examination.