PUBLIC HISTORY
Sharing History
If you are interested in helping the public better understand the historical significance of the world around them, then a history major with a concentration in Public History might be just what you have been seeking. Public historians work in archives, museums, at national parks and monuments, and in historical tourism, where they develop and implement plans to share their particular historical resources with both academic researchers and the broader public. Completion of this degree will prepare students for entry-level jobs in public history and as well as providing a firm foundation for graduate work in public history or related fields.
History for non-majors: History Minor
What is involved in the Public History Concentration?
The Public History Concentration major exceeds the minimum standards provided by the National Council on Public History and provides students with a strong history background as well as public history training and hands-on experiences. Along with the current history major requirements, students in the public history concentration will take required courses in public history, archives management, and choose from a range of electives including art history, public budgeting, web design, and state and local government. Students can take up to two internships with local or national archives, museums, and other public history programs, for a total of 240 internship hours. Finally, the senior Capstone project allows students to put the knowledge they gained through their coursework and internships to use on an in-depth, independent public history project of their own devising.
Mary Lou Peyton History Scholarships
The Mary Lou Peyton Scholarships provide history students with the resources to enhance their studies at The W through awards for tuition, study abroad, and internships. The scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to incoming freshmen or transfer students. Awards of up to $10,000 per year help history majors with education-related expenses and are renewable for up to four years. Additionally, awards of up to $5,000 help history students with expenses related to study abroad and internship opportunities.
Additional Opportunities
General Education Curriculum
In keeping with The W's Mission, the General Education Program provides students with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to become independent, productive members of society in our continually changing world.
The W's General Education Program provides a foundation in the liberal arts that includes knowledge in the historical, literary, aesthetic, scientific, and cultural traditions that shape the world, and fosters skills that allow students to become civically responsible life-long learners ready to adapt to new challenges.
All students who complete the Mississippi University for Women general education program will demonstrate:
- Critical Thinking
- Effective Communication
- Cultural Literacy
- Quantitative & Technology Skills
- Understanding of Self, Global Societies, & the Natural World
- Life-Long Learning
Bachelor of Arts Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must include the following courses (or demonstrate equivalent competency) in their academic program:
- Foreign Language 101-102 8 semester hours
- Foreign Language 201-202 6 semester hours
To fulfill the language requirement for the B.A., students must complete the 202 level or above in a foreign language. For information on foreign language placement, see the Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy section in the Bulletin. If, upon entering the University, a student already has sufficient background to be successful in 201-202, he/she does not need to enroll in 101-102. The requirement is in essence six hours credit at the 200-level or above.
Major Courses (12 Semester Hours)
- HIS 101 - World Civilization to 1600
- HIS 102 - World Civilization 1600 to present
- HIS 109 - US History to 1877
- HIS 110 - US History 1877 to present
HIS 211 - Introduction to Historical Thinking and Research (3 Semester Hours)
An introduction to the techniques of historical methodology, and to some of the major literature.
Public History Courses (6 Semester Hours)
Choose Two:
- HIS 318 - Museum Studies
- HIS 390 - Museum Studies Internship
- HIS 401 - Internship
- HIS 463 - Archives Management
- HIS 464 - Internship in Archives Management
Select five History Content Courses at the 200 level or above (15 Semester Hours)
Select at least one American History, at least one Eurpean History, and at least one Global History
American History elective courses:
- HIS 312 - Mississippi History
- HIS 317 - Sexuality in American History
- HIS 326 - Women in American History
- HIS 351 - Colonial America
- HIS 352 - The American Revolution and Beyond, 1763-1815
- HIS 360 - Capitalism and Democracy in the Jacksonian Era, 1815-1845
- HIS 361 - The Civil War and its Causes, 1845-1865
- HIS 363 - Origins of Modern America, 1870-1920
- HIS 365 - America Since 1940
- HIS 366 - Topics in Political History in 20th Century America
- HIS 371 - Movies and American Society
- HIS 372 - African-American Experience in US Society
- HIS 395 - American Constitutional Law
- HIS 405 - History of Religion in America
- HIS 441 - Everyday Life in America
- HIS 454 - History of the South
European History elective courses:
- HIS 316 - Stones, Punks, and Roses: A Cultural History of Modern Britain
- HIS 320 - The Graeco-Roman World
- HIS 324 - Women in European History: From Antiquity to the Age of the French Revolution
- HIS 328 - Rise of Christianity and the Fall of Rome 200-1000
- HIS 329 - Kingdoms and Christianity: Medieval Europe 1000-1500
- HIS 331 - Medieval Christianity
- HIS 333 - History of Food and Culture in Europe
- HIS 335 - Renaissance, Reformation, and Revolution
- HIS 340 - European Conquest and Exploration
- HIS 345 - The Struggle for Modernity: Europe in the Long 19th Century
- HIS 350 - Crisis and Union: Europe Since 1914
Global History elective courses:
- HIS 300 - Genocide Studies
- HIS 303 - The World Wars and the Holocaust
- HIS 305 - The African Continent
- HIS 325 - The Byzantine Empire
- HIS 327 - The Rise of Islam: The Medieval Middle East
- HIS 342 - History of Global Epidemics
- HIS 358 - Revolution, Drugs, and Development: Perception and Reality in Latin America
- HIS 381 - U.S. as a World Power to 1898
- HIS 382 - U.S. as a World Power Since 1898
- HIS 422 - Socialism and Communism in the Modern Era
Interdisciplinary Requirement (9 Semester Hours)
Three courses at the 200 level or ablove taken from the following list (9 hours) or substitutions approved by department chair:
- ART 313 - Modern and Contemporary Art History
- ART 316 - American Art
- COM 310 - Digital Culture
- COM 325 - Visual Design
- MIS 322 - Web Development for Business
- POL 301 - Public Administration
- POL 330 - Nonprofit Advocacy & Government Relations
- POL 307 - Public Budgeting
- LIB 201 - Digital Research
- GEO 302 - Geography of North America
- COM 200 - Writing for the Media
- COM 431 - Video Production
- MKT 361 - Principles of Marketing
- MIS 300 - Introduction to Information Systems
- MIS 320 - Database Applications
HIS 499 - History Capstone (3 Semester Hours)
A study of the use and abuse of history and historical evidence in a broad perspective, using material which majors have produced in their past coursework, as represented by portfolios of the work. This course requires students to engage in primary and secondary source analysis, archival research, and the completion of an article-length paper.
Total Hours Required for a BA in History - Public History Concentration: 124 Semester Hours