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History - Public History Emphasis

Start your journey toward becoming a public historian with a bachelor's degree in public history.

Available as
Major
Description

Share Your Love of History with the World

Rooted in real-world learning, the growing major offers countless opportunities to expand your perspective and build your resume. Explore museums and historical sites in England and Central Europe during study abroad. Gain professional experience alongside public historians during an internship. And pursue a passion project during a seminar in public history course.

Classes throughout the major will provide you with a strong and diverse background in world history and will introduce you to the theories, concepts, methodologies, research methods, and historiographic traditions used by historians. Electives within the degree allow you to study the topics that most interest you and best align with your career goals. As part of a required capstone experience, you'll complete a major research project for presentation, enhancing your writing, reading, communication, and analytical skills.

Graduates of UW-Eau Claire's public history major are prepared for a wide range of career options, including work in historic preservation, museums, archives, cultural resource management, and contract history, as well as other occupations in the private sector or for government agencies. Whether your dream job is working as a small-exhibit coordinator at a museum or as an executive at a historical society or private company — our program will help you launch an interesting, rewarding, and successful career. 

Degree Types

Program Details

Degree Types
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Degree Level undergraduate
Available asMajor
Department
Program Length 4 years
Campus
Eau Claire
Offered
On Campus
Requires a minor Yes
Authored on
Hallmarks
History student summer interns in Michigan
Internship Experience

A required internship will allow you to gain professional experience in the field, make valuable professional connections and build your historical knowledge — all while earning course credit. The Wisconsin Historical Society's Northern Field Services Office, which is located in the UWEC history department, helps students find placements in Wisconsin, while other partners help place interns across the nation. Internship sites range from local museums to archives, historical sites, public agencies, and private businesses.

Student in England, 2022
Career-Enhancing Study Abroad Programs

Public history majors have a unique opportunity to learn about preservation and interpretation in Great Britain during a month-long, faculty led immersion experience that travels around the island. They can also choose to participate in a buddy program with the University of Winchester during the school year. These programs allow students to explore the history of another culture and its impact on the rest of the world while helping shape them into culturally competent historians. 

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Connection to Local Employers

Annual on-campus Career Conferences and a Non-Profit and Government Career Fair bring potential employers right to you. These events are excellent opportunities to network and submit your resume for current and future job openings. 

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Groundbreaking Research Projects

All history majors at UWEC complete an independent research project as part of their senior capstone thesis. Many Blugolds also choose to participate in research collaborations with department faculty on both national and international topics. This work may lead to research presentations at local, state, and national conferences. It also will set you apart, especially when applying to graduate school or when pursuing careers requiring research skills and independent initiative.

Facts List

Just
the
facts

100% Employed or Continuing Education
Every 2022-2023 graduate from this major is currently employed or continuing their education.
24 Programs To Choose From
Whether you want to work in a museum, explore a particular area of history, or teach social studies — you have come to the right place.
Explore A New Campus
Participate in the National Student Exchange Program and choose from 180 schools, including universities in Canada, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
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What can I do

Where can the public history program lead me after graduation?

The skills public history majors gain in research, analysis and writing are valued by a variety of businesses and public sector employers. Our graduates go on to work for government agencies as researchers, analysts or information processors. They also are employed at museums, libraries, historic preservation agencies or historic parks.

You may also choose to expand your career options by pursuing a master's degree in public history, a degree UW-Eau Claire is proud to offer.

Example Careers

  • Public historian
  • Museum curator
  • Researcher
  • Analyst
  • Information processor
  • Park ranger
  • State records archivist
  • Consultant
  • Coordinator of library development
Courses information
SampleCourses

The curriculum within the public history emphasis bachelor's degree program at UW-Eau Claire will introduce you to the theory and practice of a variety of history-related pursuits, as well as career options available to public historians. Prior to graduation, you'll complete a seminar in public history, a capstone thesis and an internship in the field. These experiences provide you with professional real-world experience and will prepare you well for your chosen career path. 

Here are a few courses in History - Public History Emphasis at UW-Eau Claire.

HIST 124

World History to 1500

How global processes such as the spread of agriculture, the growth of long-distance commerce, the rise of cities, the establishment of empires, and the development of religions shaped the lives of men and women from 10,000 B.C.E. to 1500 C.E.

HIST 386

Introduction to Public History

This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of a variety of history-related pursuits known collectively as public history because they are primarily aimed at audiences outside the university. Students will learn about a range of career options available to public historians, as well as the special challenges that they confront.

HIST 370

History of the Family in America

Evolution of the American family from colonial times to the present. Emphasis on child raising, gender roles, the economic function of the family, the emergence of adolescence, the importance of kinship, and marriage practices.

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Meet the Faculty

Cheryl Jimenez-Frei
History Department
Latin American and Latinx Studies Program
Associate Professor
Co-director of the Public History Program
What's Next

What's Next?

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