School of Humanities
Public History Certificate
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Graduate Certificate Program in Public History
The Graduate Certificate in Public History (GCPH) is designed for those interested in being trained for careers in public history, including museums, historic sites and parks, libraries, archives, historical societies, and other non-profit historical organizations. The GCPH program is an interdisciplinary program which gives students the ability to tailor their studies in public history to their specific interests and career needs. Coursework will expose students to the methods and materials of public history and prepare them for a future in public history positions. GCPH students have gone on to careers in museums and historical associations throughout the region.
The program requires eighteen hours of study, including an internship component for the development of hands-on skills and on-the-job experience.
Students in the program have participated in internships at several public history sites:
- , Washington, DC
- , Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- , Fort Worth, Texas
- Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage, The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi
- , Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia
- , Jackson, Mississippi
- , Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- , Kiln, Mississippi
- , National Park Service, Richmond, Virginia
- , Camp Shelby, Mississippi
- , Laurel, Mississippi
- , National Park Service, Vicksburg, Mississippi
- , New Orleans, Louisiana
- , The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi\
Admission Requirements:
鈥 bachelor鈥檚 degree with some background in History
鈥n undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
鈥urrent immunization records as required by the state Institutes of Higher Learning
Application Procedures:
Complete the Application for Admission to the Graduate School. CLICK HERE for instructions and links.
You will be asked to submit transcripts, immunization records, and a statement of purpose (of no more than two pages) detailing your interest in the program and career goals. There is also a $60 non-refundable application fee.
Program Requirements: Total 18 hours
See the for specific certificate requirements.
I. Foundations of Public History (2 required courses, 6 hours)
- HIS 605 Presenting Heritage I
- HIS 785 Oral History Seminar
II. Required Internship (3 hours)
- HIS 695 Internship in Public History
III. Content Courses (Pick 3 courses, 9 hours).
No more than six (6) credit hours can come from any one discipline, other than History
- ANT 534 Historical Archaeology
- ANT 537 Heritage Resources and Public Policy
- ED 665 Economic Development and Tourism
- HUM 501 Introduction to Digital Humanities
- HUM 502 Digital Humanities Practicum
- HIS 606 Presenting Heritage II
- HIS 710 Philosophy and Methods of History
- LIS 605 Library Management
- LIS 646 Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice
- LIS 647 Introduction to Archival Organization
- LIS 649 Preservation of Documentary Materials
- MC 620 Public Relations Theory
- MC 621 Public Relations Campaigns
- MCJ 521 Public Relations
- NPS 506 Nonprofit Resource Development and Fundraising
- NPS 507 Nonprofit Board and Volunteer Development
- NPS 605 Nonprofits and Social Change
- PS 574 The Politics of Taxing and Spending
*Up to 3 hours of additional internship (beyond the required internship) may be used to help fulfill the 鈥淐ontent Courses鈥� requirement.
- HIS 695 Internship in Public History
- HIS 696 Internship in Applied Historical Research
IV. Comprehensive Exam
- Students will have to successfully complete a final comprehensive examination which assesses all of their coursework and internship experiences.
*Graduate students seeking a degree in history may be able to count up to six hours of credit from this program towards their degree. Ph.D. students may use the Public History Certificate as their research tool.
**Successful completion of the program requires a final GPA of at least 3.0
Courses:
Required:
HIS 605. Presenting Heritage I. 3 hrs. This course is a seminar on public history, folklore, and anthropology. It emphasizes theories and methods of public presentation to prepare students for public sector employment.
HIS 785. Oral History Seminar. 3 hrs. This course trains students in one of the most widely employed methods used by public historians.
HIS 695. Internship in Public History. 3 hrs. Students participate in a supervised internship in a private, state, or federal facility dedicated to public history.
Electives:
ANT 534. Historical Archaeology. 3 hrs. This course is designed to teach students the questions and techniques used on archaeological sites dating from the fifteenth to the early twentieth century.
ANT 537. Heritage Resources and Public Policy. 3 hrs. Students will learn the history and present state of public policy issues related to archaeological and historic resources and their role in the planning process.
ED 665. Economic Development and Tourism. 3 hrs. This course helps students study the relationship between tourism and economic development. It focuses on methods for attracting tourism, hospitality, and gaming businesses as target sectors for economic development and includes a study of ecotourism and the gaming industry.
HIS 606. Presenting Heritage II. 3 hrs. This course is the second of a two-part seminar (with HIS 605) on public history, folklore, and anthropology, emphasizing the development and management of public humanities programming.
HIS 696. Internship in Applied Historical Research. 3 hrs. Students participate in a supervised internship in a private, state, or federal institution with an emphasis on administrative materials.
HIS 710. Philosophy and Methods of History. 3 hrs. This course introduces students to the nature and methods of historical study, including research and bibliographic techniques and data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
LIS 605 - Library Management. 3 hrs. A special fee is charged for this course. Analysis of administrative theory and principles of management in libraries.
LIS 646 - Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice. 3 hrs. A special fee is charged for this course. Prerequisite(s): LIS 501 and LIS 505. An introduction to the basic concepts and theory related to the acquisition, processing, organization, and preservation of archival materials and special collections.
LIS 647. Introduction to Archival Organization. 3 hrs. Students will learn the basics of handling materials of archival significance and the development of the archives-library relationship.
LIS 649. Preservation of Documentary Materials.3 hrs. This course is designed to teach students the care and preservation of documentary materials in their various formats, including techniques for conservation, preservation, and restoration.
MC 620. Public Relations Theory. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: Undergraduate study of public relations or communication, or permission of instructor. The course explores the theories of excellent communication and public relations management appropriate for grounding the work with internal and external publics of organization.
MC 621. Public Relations Campaigns. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: MC 620 or permission of instructor. Students examine the issues affecting design and implementation of persuasive public communication campaigns for business organizations, nonprofit organizations, political or issue campaigns.
MCJ 521. Public Relations. 3 hrs. This course is designed to introduce students to the professional practice of public relations, emphasizing its function and process, publics, tools and media of communications, and professional ethics.
NPS 506 - Nonprofit Resource Development and Fundraising. 3 hrs. Examines how nonprofits develop resources through a variety of fundraising and grantmaking activities.
NPS 507. Nonprofit Board and Volunteer Development. 3 Hrs. This course will focus on the role of governing boards and voluntary participants in nonprofit organizations.
NPS 605. Nonprofits and Social Change. 3 hrs. This course focuses on the role of nonprofit organizations in meeting the needs of American society.
PS 574. The Politics of Taxing and Spending. 3 hrs. This course is divided into two areas, budgeting models and their politics. It considers such issues as taxing and fiscal policies.
For more information on Public History, see the or the .