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University of Wyoming

Public History Concentration for History Majors

(Old Bedlam, Then & Now, Fort Laramie, WY)

As a History major, you can choose a concentration in Public History.  This concentration, when successfully completed, will appear on your transcript along with your History major.

What is Public History?

Simply put, it’s where history intersects with the public sphere.  Public historians work toward making history accessible and useful to the public.  They help people to write, create, and understand their own history, and in some cases they influence the formulation of public policy.  Specifically, people who pursue careers in public history might work as archivists, museum curators, or historic preservationists.  State agencies, such as Wyoming’s State Parks and Cultural Resources, and private contractors, such as environmental consultants, are among potential employers of graduates trained in public history.  Some other pursuits that public historians might follow include documentary film making, writing for popular audiences, and oral history.  Completing the Public History Concentration is one way for students to prepare themselves for careers as historians.

What are the requirements?

The concentration requires 18 credit hours of course work, of which at least 12 will be in History courses and will thus count toward the total 36 hours needed for the History Major.

Required courses include:

HIST 2050, Introduction to Public History (offered every fall semester)—3 credit hours
HIST 4050, Advanced Public History—3 credit hours
HIST 4055, Archival Research Methods (offered every spring semester)—3 credit hours
HIST 4400, Internship—3 credit hours

In addition to the above 12 credit hours, the concentration requires you to choose 2 courses (3 credit hours each) from among the following:

Agriculture: AGRI 4546 Agriculture: Rooted in Diversity (C, D)
American Indian Studies: AIST 2345 American Indians in Hollywood Film (CH
American Studies: AMST 2110 Cultural Diversity in America (CS, D)
Anthropology: ANTH 3310 Introduction to Anthropological Research; ANTH 4190 Public Archaeology
Geography and Recreation: GEOG 4420 Tourism and Recreation; GEOG 4380 Interpreting the Environment
History: HIST 4475 American Environmental History; HIST 4515 American Legal History
Political Science: POLS 2410 Introduction to Public Administration; POLS 4051 Environmental Politics; POLS 4052 Federal Land Politics

Please note with regard to the above courses: Several courses are cross-listed; for the purpose of the Public History Concentration, you may enroll in such courses under any department listing.  Be aware that upper-division courses, and some lower-division courses, have prerequisites.  Topics courses that are not on this list may be used to substitute for the above with the approval of your advisor.  This list is subject to change depending on course availability.

You must declare your Public History Concentration.  The History Department staff can assist you with this.

What else do I need to know about the Public History Concentration?

A successful public historian gains training in the methods and approaches of the field, and the concentration is designed with that goal in mind.  But above all, a successful public historian will have a strong grounding in general history.  To this end, we strongly recommend that you take history courses that offer that grounding, and this means especially courses that cover chronological stretches of history.  These include:

HIST 4450, The Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 4460, Post-Civil War America: The Gilded Age
HIST 4470, The Birth of Modern America, 1890-1929
HIST 4480, The Growth of Modern America, 1929-1960
HIST 4490, Modern America, 1960-Present

If you are interested in European history, we recommend:

HIST 4140, Europe During the Age of the Baroque
HIST 4150, Europe During the Age of the Enlightenment
HIST 4170, Europe in the Nineteenth Century
HIST 4180, Europe in the Twentieth Century
HIST 4190, Europe, 1930-Present

Most importantly, work closely with your advisor to craft a program of study that corresponds best to your career aspirations!