Public History
Elevate your public history career and explore practice-based learning and mentoring from top scholars. Apply now!
Public History, Ph.D.
Are you ready to take your public history career to the next level? Do you want to deepen your knowledge of history and its applications in the public arena? Thinking about teaching at a college or university? Consider pursuing a Ph.D. in Public History at MTSU!
MTSU led the way in offering a PhD with public history as the major field of study. This program offers an innovative, practice-based, individualized program of study and provides a community of nationally recognized scholars and cultural heritage professionals cooperating to train the next generation of leaders in the field.
Public History Ph.D. Program Highlights:
- One-on-one mentoring from nationally recognized faculty and public history professionals
- Research and professional development opportunities with our campus and community partners, including the Center for Historic Preservation, Albert Gore Research Center, Center for Popular Music, and Rutherford County Archives
- A flexible teaching or professional practice residency of 3-12 credit hours
- Professional development opportunities in the local community, throughout Middle Tennessee, and beyond
- Graduate assistantships and scholarships offered on a competitive basis
- Afternoon and evening classes accommodate work and family life
- If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, you may be able to attend MTSU at in-state rates under the Academic Common Market
Designed to assist candidates in melding scholarship and theory with professional practice, the third-year residency is at the heart of the Public History doctoral program. Students have benefited from teaching residencies at MTSU and other universities in the state and from professional practice residencies with a wide variety of local, state, and national organizations and institutions, including the Tennessee State Parks, the National Park Service, and the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive.
If you live in one of these states: AL AR FL KY SC; you may be able to attend MTSU at in-state rates under the Academic Common Market program.
News Briefs
MTSU on WGNS: Public History Ph.D. program, Women’s History Month events, Positive Aging Conference
Middle Tennessee State representatives appeared on WGNS Radio recently to talk about an impactful public history degree program, a full slate of events on campus for National Women’s History Month in March, and an upcoming conference on positive aging. They appeared on the live “Action Line” program with host Scott Walker broadcast on FM 100.5, [ Read More ]
MTSU public history Ph.D. candidate helps get over 100 years of Maryland records released
Michael McCormick, a candidate in Middle Tennessee State University’s Public History Ph.D. program, took a passion for researching his family origins to a career of multiple, major genealogy projects and most recently an internship that helped release over 100 years of vital records in Maryland. “There are legal and health reasons why a person should have [ Read More ]
News Briefs
MTSU on WGNS: Public History Ph.D. program, Women’s History Month events, Positive Aging Conference
Middle Tennessee State representatives appeared on WGNS Radio recently to talk about an impactful public history degree program, a full slate of events on campus for National Women’s History Month in March, and an upcoming conference on positive aging. They appeared on the live “Action Line” program with host Scott Walker broadcast on FM 100.5, [ Read More ]
MTSU public history Ph.D. candidate helps get over 100 years of Maryland records released
Michael McCormick, a candidate in Middle Tennessee State University’s Public History Ph.D. program, took a passion for researching his family origins to a career of multiple, major genealogy projects and most recently an internship that helped release over 100 years of vital records in Maryland. “There are legal and health reasons why a person should have [ Read More ]
Public History, Ph.D.
Public historians work in a wide range of professional settings with public audiences of all ages. Potential employers include archives, museums, historic organizations, historical societies, historic sites, private consulting firms, and historical agencies at all levels of government. Examples of career possibilities with an advanced degree in public history include
- Architectural historian
- Archivist
- Author
- College professor/instructor
- Consultant
- Cultural heritage manager
- Cultural resources manager
- Digital librarian/cataloger
- Historic preservation planner
- Historian
- Museum/collections curator or administrator
- Oral historian
- Public archaeologist
American Association for State and Local History job postings
Employers of MTSU alumni have included
- Alabama A&M University
- Appalachian State University
- Arkansas State University
- Blount Mansion
- Center for Historic Preservation, MTSU
- Coastal Carolina University
- Colorado State Historic Preservation Office
- East Tennessee Development District
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- History Colorado
- James Madison's Montpelier
- Metropolitan Nashville Historic Commission
- NASA
- National Museum of African American Music
- North Dakota State University
- Northern Kentucky University
- Sewanee: The University of the South
- Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of American History
- Southeastern Archaeological Research Inc.
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Tennessee Agricultural Museum
- Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area
- Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- University of Nebraska-Kearney
- University of North Carolina-Greensboro
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake .
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
Academic links
- Ph.D. Public History Student Handbook
- Ph.D. Public History Professional Residency
- Past Residencies and Job Placement
- Student Learning Outcomes for History Graduate Seminars
- Student Learning Outcomes for Public History Seminars
- Professional Development
- Maymester Experience Visiting Professors
On-campus partners
- Center for Historic Preservation
- Center for Popular Music
- Albert Gore Research Center
- MTSU Digital Collections
For students
- Association of Graduate Students in History
- Current History Graduate Students
- Public History Internships
- Public History Student Portfolios
- Society of American Archivists - MTSU Student Chapter
Public History news
- Public History Newsletters
- Center for Historic Preservation Annual Reports
- Center for Popular Music Annual Reports
Program history
The MTSU Department of History added an emphasis in historic preservation to its master's program in 1976 and to its former doctorate degree in 1981. Historic preservation and the preservation of American popular music assumed a public dimension in 1984when MTSU established the Center for Historic Preservation and the Center for Popular Music, with missions that combined research and public outreach. After adding courses in museum studies, material culture, and archival methods, the master's program concentration changed its name to Public History in 1991. History faculty also developed the Albert Gore Research Center, which opened in 1993. In 2005, the department launched a new Ph.D. in Public History, the first doctoral program nationally to declare public history as the major field of study. Today, MTSU's Public History program partners with all three campus centers and collaborates with the Walker Library Media Studio to develop digital collections and other digital initiatives.
Financial aid links
Graduate Assistantships
To help support students pursuing graduate study, the Department of History offers a number of graduate assistantships at both the M.A. and the Ph.D. levels. These assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis and are renewable for up to two years for M.A.assistantships and up to three years for Ph.D. assistantships. Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver plus a stipend to cover living expenses. In return, graduate assistants work a maximum of 20 hours a week during the semester on an assignment determined by the History Department. These assignments include work as teaching assistants, research assistants, and other duties related to the ongoing work of the department and our on-campus partners. To apply for a graduate assistantship with the HistoryDepartment, complete the College of Graduate Studies' Graduate Assistantship Application, and submit it to the Department of History along with the rest of your application.
Many M.A. and Ph.D students in the History Department also work as research fellows, graduate assistants, and hourly employees for MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation. The Center has a separate application and review process for these positions. You can read full descriptions of these opportunities on the Center's Academic Opportunities page and download the Center's Application for Student Academic Support. The department urges students applying for a graduate assistantship with the History Department to apply to the Center as well.
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