The public history program is geared toward providing students with the historical expertise, theoretical basis, and practical skills necessary for careers in museums, cultural tourism, community history, historic preservation, cultural resource management, libraries, archives, new media, and many other professional fields. The general history MA is oriented towards students interested in pursuing a doctorate or careers in education and public service. Because these programs are tailored differently to serve students’ specific needs, you should identify and apply to the program that most suits your interests and career trajectory.

We do not require prior experience, but because we look for students who can make connections between their professional goals and the resources the program offers, we have found that having some experience in the field does make for a stronger application. We encourage potential students to seek out opportunities, whether it’s employment, an internship, a volunteer position, or a class project in public history. If that is not possible, take some time to learn about different facets of the field from resources like the National Council on Public History.

Yes. Many public history students have gone on to pursue doctorates in various fields following the completion of their MA in Public History. Because the program offers coursework in historiography and research, graduates are well-positioned for advanced doctoral work.

All applications received by the priority deadline are automatically considered for merit-based funding. This is typically partial tuition remission that is offered alongside admission. Enrolled students are invited to apply for Fellowship opportunities.

The fellowships offered by our department change annually. Check out our Fellowship page for more.

Your Statement of Purpose should highlight your scholarly and professional interests, connecting them to the experience that you have already have and the skills and expertise that you wish to develop , as well as what you will gain from getting a MA in Public History. Usually this is where you can showcase your research and professional interests and goals and how they align with faculty and programmatic strengths.

To upload supporting documents and send out recommendation request forms, please submit your online application and pay the fee. Then you can access your uploader. If you are still unable to upload your documents, contact the CAS Office of Graduate Admissions (via chat, phone, or casgrad@american.edu).

The History Department’s graduate community — see Current Students and recent Alums — is vibrant and growing. It prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming space to support new and existing students. Graduate Representatives, selected each year, help to organize events to build and sustain this community that often turns classmates into colleagues and friends. This ranges from weekly coffee hours, to bi-weekly happy hours, to
monthly productivity days, and more. It is our goal that students feel
like they have a support system they can rely to help ease the stress
graduate school inevitably brings.

Yes, the majority of students work around twenty hours a week.
While some work on campus in work study positions, others find
employment with local history organizations. Graduate seminars are
most often scheduled in the evening to accommodate these work
schedules.