Sample Ph.D. Program with M.A. in Public History

The plan of study outlined below illustrates the courses that might be taken by a Ph.D. candidate who wishes to earn an M.A. in Public History and a Museum Management Certificate while completing the course work for the doctorate. In this example, the student’s major field for the Ph.D. is the United States since 1789, but a similar program could be developed for a candidate specializing in the United States to 1877 or another major field. While the History Department and McKissick Museum may not offer all of the courses in this sample in the exact sequence shown here during a given two-year period, the illustration does follow the standard course rotation of the department and the museum. A student might also achieve these goals through a different sequence of courses.

Note that this illustration provides for the sample student to take 42 hours of course work before receiving the master’s degree, although the M.A. in Public History requires only 36 hours of course work. The reason for the extra hours is that a student may only count 12 of the 18 hours required for the Museum Management Certificate both for that program and for the master’s degree. A student who does not wish to earn the certificate might follow this same program of study without the MUSM 702 internship. In any event, candidates for the MA in Public History must satisfy the language requirement, present a portfolio, and defend a thesis.

Year 1, Fall
HIST 720: Introduction to the Study of History
HIST 702: Reading Seminar in U.S. History, 1789-1876
MUSM 700: Administration and Management of Museums

Year 1, Spring
HIST 703: Reading Seminar in U.S. History, 1877-present
HIST 787: Material Culture Studies (or a different Museums course)
MUSM 701: Exhibition Development

Year 1, Summer
MUSM 702: Museum Internship (6 hours)

Year 2, Fall
HIST 7--: Topics Course in U.S. History since 1789, preferably with strong Public History content
HIST 803: Research Seminar in U.S. History, 1877-present
MUSM 704: Collecting, Collection Management, and Curatorial Practice

Year 2, Spring
HIST 7–: Topics Course in U.S. History since 1789
HIST 798: Internship in History
HIST 799: Thesis Preparation

May: Receive M.A. in Public History
August: Written comprehensive examination in Public History as second field for Ph.D.

Year 3, Fall
HIST 783: History and Theory
HIST 7–: Topics Course in Third Field
HIST 803: Research Seminar in U.S. History, 1877-present

Year 3, Spring
HIST 7–: Topics Course in Third Field
HIST 7–: Any appropriate elective course
HIST 815: Dissertation Prospectus Workshop

May: Written comprehensive examinations in major and third Fields for Ph.D.
Oral comprehensive examinations in all fields

Years 4-5
HIST 899: Dissertation Preparation