Public History (B.A.)

Program Overview

The History program delivers its majors and minors through a wide range of course offerings in American, European, and World History. Faculty place a strong emphasis on the cultivation of specific experiences, skills, and career-related abilities such as critical thinking, high quality written and oral communication, methods of research, and digital and public projects. The public history major, in particular, prepares students for careers in public-facing institutions such as archives, museums, and libraries.

The program presents the academic study of history within the framework of a liberal arts tradition that also engages the rich traditions of the Christian faith. In this way, it promotes life-long learning that recognizes the powerful role history and faith play in shaping contemporary society and culture.

Outside its normal course offerings, the program offers many enrichment opportunities for majors—including working with professors on research and public history projects; internships with museums, historical archives, and governmental agencies; archaeological fieldwork; study semesters around the world; and teaching in local schools. Students enjoy the benefit of studying in immersive learning environments, creatively connecting the past to the present, in diverse and inclusive ways.

Graduates from the Public History program are prepared to enter a variety of professions and occupations from collegiate and secondary level teaching, museums, archives, historic preservation, public history, and journalism to government service, law, business administration and management, and data analytics. The discipline of history develops analytical, communication, and organizational skills that prepare students for a broad range of careers. The history program encourages cross-fertilization with other programs in the form of double majors, minors, and strategic use of a wide range of elective courses. Faculty also act as mentors and advisors providing valuable guidance that goes a long way in ensuring student success in their vocational pursuits at the university and beyond.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah's Public Health major can:

1. Explain the influence of past political, social, cultural, economic, and religious practices and structures in the field of public history.
2. Explain principal theories, concepts, and ethics that shape professional practice in public history.
3. Explain methods and skills of making history accessible to the public.
   1. Analyze primary and secondary sources
   2. effectively communicate analysis of monuments, memorials, material culture, museum exhibits, digital resources, and other forms of public history.
4. Identify, select, and interpret texts and other cultural resources to produce synthetic interpretations of the past in order to educate general public audiences.
5. Identify potential opportunities for employment, professional development, graduate studies, service and public outreach in the field of public history.
6. Develop skills through experiential learning in public history projects that prepare them for public history work, service, and citizenship beyond graduation.
7. Evaluate the historical complexity of human identities, cultures, and societies from the viewpoints of Christian faith traditions.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

Nine credits from the following:

Three credits from the following 300-level European:

Three credits from the following 300-level World:

Three credits from the following Public History focus courses:

Three credits from the following applied courses:

Five credits from two of the following Experiential Learning Components:

QuEST Requirements

¹Three credits of disciplinary overlap regardless of course.

² May be met by major, dependent on course selection.