Public History
Public History is a field that combines traditional academic training with non-traditional methods in creative ways to prepare students for a broad range of careers. Public Historians do many of the things "university historians" do, such as teach and research, but they emphasize interaction with communities and institutions beyond an academic setting. Many people choose this field because they enjoy history, but are not sure they want to teach or because they want to add breadth to their traditional training in history. Public historians work for state, county, and federal agencies, and they frequently work in conjunction with archeologists and anthropologists.
The History Department at UTEP offers several options for undergraduates and graduates interested in Public History. Undergraduates may enroll in internships and directed study courses administered in close coordination with faculty members. Graduate students may enroll in classes emphasizing community history, oral history, historical memory and methodology, and they may also organize internships. Internships are crucial for Public History students because they emphasize "hands on" interaction with communities and institutions beyond the university setting. Previous internships have included the following: writing historical markers for the Texas Humanities Council, conducting oral history interviews with migrant laborers, working with high school students on family geneologies, assisting libraries with archival projects, and building a museum exhibit.
Students will receive full credit for work in Public History and they will receive a certificate upon completion of required credit hours. Ph.D. students may take and additional fourth field for Qualifying Exams in Public History.
Public History
Baylor University Oral History