Welcome to Public History at Western! We are Canada's
longest running Public History program, offering an intensive 12 month MA
program that explores how history is understood by and communicated to the
public, whether at museums, archives, historical sites, national parks, in films
or on the web, in historical fiction, government policy making, historical
consulting, and even in academic teaching and research. Our classes, projects, and two internships merge classroom theory with hands-on practice so that after graduation, our students possess substantial experience that enables them to successfully enter the job market. Our faculty is award-winning in Public History research and publications, and many had professional Public History careers before teaching at Western. As part of our emphasis on Digital History, we have established a new $150,000.00 digital lab and our digital historians are on the cutting edge of the discipline. The Medical Artifact Collection has been professionally rehoused and is available for student placements and research. Our professional development series adds to the broad range of skills taught and allows students to build a network of influential contacts. While we are located in London, Ontario, our students have internship and career success across Canada, the US, and the United Kingdom. Want to know more? Watch us (below) on YouTube or click for a
brochure or a poster.
We offer students the opportunity to gain diverse experience and
skills in public history through courses, projects and internships in museology, archival
management, heritage planning, GIS, material culture, educational design, oral
history, social memory, and digital history. Like traditional graduate students, Public History students still
engage in archival research and writing, but the final products are much more
diverse than academic papers. We teach students the theoretical knowledge and
practical skills needed for such tasks as writing for a broader audience,
presenting history on the internet, public presentations, designing curriculum
plans for schools and museums, and creating museum, archival, and interactive
exhibits. Today's public historian must use a variety of skills and methods
to ensure that the past remains relevant and accessible to a modern audience.
Digital skills are also highly sought after in the job market. We provide
students the unique opportunity to combine history with technology by blogging,
tweeting, creating websites, wikis and smart board programs, and using GIS and
museum software. During the academic year, students work with community partners to
produce projects that are used by those organizations, and can be included in
student portfolios of work. Between September-April, students have the opportunity to be placed as Public History Research Assistants with faculty or in community museums, archives and other heritage institutions. Our professional development series features guest speakers, workshops, and the opportunity to network with practicing public historians. In the summer, the internship allows students to
further apply their skills in their real world, and mentor under professional public
historians during 12 weeks of full-time work. The professional world of Public History is a highly collaborative
environment, where graduates will be expected to take on a variety of different
roles. Our students have the unique opportunity to work in teams as well as
individually. Students gain experience in creating project plans, delegating
tasks, establishing deadlines, managing budgets, and balancing stakeholder interests. Like other historians, public historians research, write and
teach, but to be successful, they also need to be able to network, create their
own opportunities, be willing to learn new and changing technology, work
independently and in groups, and be comfortable in related disciplines. Explore our website, and see what makes Western's
Public History program unique. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Prof. Michelle A. Hamilton The Public History program is grateful for core financial support
from the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation. Public History
The Western Advantage
Is our MA in Public History right for you? Are
you:
Seeking to develop
marketable history skills for a career outside the classroom?
Interested in
communicating historical knowledge to the public?
Curious about how
technology can improve the teaching and learning of history?
Hoping to build
your resume and networks during graduate school?
Looking to gain
experience in group work and project management?
Innovative,
entrepreneurial, flexible, engaging, experimental and interdisciplinary?
Office: Lawson Hall 1223
Telephone: 519-661-2111 ext. 84973
Email: mhamilt3@uwo.ca
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Western provides the best student experience among Canada's leading research-intensive universities.
Department of History, Western University, Lawson Hall, Room 2201, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7
Tel: 519 661-3645
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