University of California, Riverside

Statement of Philosophy: The Public History Program, based at the Department of History, University of California, Riverside, combines rigorous training in history with preparation for careers in museum studies, archival management, and historic preservation, among others. Completion of the M.A. program typically takes place in about two years. Students specialize in at least one of the following areas: archival management, historic preservation, or museum curatorship. They complete graduate coursework required for an M.A. degree in an area of historical specialization (including a research seminar), design and complete an internship with a public history institution, and synthesize the results of the internship in a substantial report that constitutes their master's thesis. Ph.D. students may choose a research or complementary field of study (on which they are examined) in public history and may write a dissertation related to the field of public history. Courses in public history are offered by faculty in the history department as well as a group of adjunct professors who are established public history professionals. Graduates of the program are prepared for employment in museums, historic sites, archives, preservation organizations, archaeological sites, specialized libraries, and other institutions with collections of significant artifacts.