Public History Southeast Missouri State University

Overview

The Public History programme at Southeast Missouri State University provides students with a sophisticated understanding of how historical narratives are preserved and presented to the public. This advanced degree combines rigorous academic research with practical applications to prepare graduates for leadership roles in museums, archives, and heritage organisations.

Students benefit from a highly personalised learning environment where graduate classes average fewer than 15 participants. This small class size ensures meaningful interaction with expert faculty members while developing advanced historical research and analysis skills. The curriculum is designed to foster expertise in documenting and interpreting buildings, objects, and historic sites.

Why Public History at Southeast Missouri State University?

The institution offers a distinctive approach by providing two clear pathways: historic preservation and digital heritage. The digital heritage option is particularly innovative, sitting at the intersection of public history and digital humanities to address the increasing use of technology in the field. Students engage in field exercises and projects that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Facilities within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences support a range of multidisciplinary tracks, including computer science and educational technology. The university also provides opportunities for graduate assistantships in teaching or administrative roles. These positions offer a yearly stipend and allow students to establish professional relationships with administrators and faculty.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 13622 per year
• National fee: USD 7916 per year
• Local fee: USD 7916 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires a minimum of 36 credit hours to complete. Modules may include:

• Public History
• Methods of Research in History
• American Material Culture
• Thesis
• Internship
• Advanced Project in Applied History
• Heritage Outreach
• Collections Management
• Fundamentals of Programming
• Mobile Computing
• Current Topics in Human Computer Interaction
• Multimedia in Education
• Educational Technology
• Instructional Design and Technology
• Oral History
• Living History
• Historic Preservation Field School
• American Architecture
• Legal and Economic Principles of Historic Preservation
• Historic Preservation Based Econ Revitalization
• Seminar in History

Careers with Public History

Graduates are prepared for diverse professional roles across the heritage and cultural sectors. Common career paths include working as historians, curators, archivists, and archaeologists within government agencies or non-profit organisations. The programme provides the necessary credentials for employment in historic sites, archives, and museums.

Recent alumni have secured positions at prestigious institutions such as the National Park Service, the State Historical Society of Missouri, and various State Historic Preservation Offices. Graduates also find success as executive directors of preservation alliances, architectural historians, and manuscript specialists. Career services are available to help students transition into these professional environments.