UMass Boston

Develop your career as a public history professional.

The Certificate in Public History is a graduate-level certificate for students enrolled in other MA programs at UMass Boston, or those who already hold an MA in a related field, such as History, Anthropology, Historical Archaeology, American Studies, English, or other fields.  In all cases, the certificate provides training that supports career development for public history professionals.  It does not confer an MA degree.

The Certificate in Public History offers knowledge and practical experience in the theories, issues and methods of public history practice, preparing students for work in a variety of public history venues, such as museums, archives, historical organizations and historic sites.  With its focus on collaborative practice and community partnership, public history training can be useful in other contexts and fields as well.

Certificate Requirements

Students who graduate with a public history certificate will take an introductory course in the field’s historiography and theories; a course on interpretive methods and practice in public history; an internship consisting of 120 hours of supervised work under the direction a professional public historian; and three skills-based elective courses.