Apr 24, 2025  
2018-19 Graduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
Catalog Home
About MTSU
Previous MTSU Catalogs
Printable PDF
Academic Calendar
College of Graduate Studies
The Graduate Council and Graduate Faculty
Admission to the College of Graduate Studies
International Graduate Admissions
Expenses/Tuition and Financial Aid
Academic Regulations
Policies
Academic Program Inventory (pdf)
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Doctor of Education Degree
General Information for Specialist and Master’s Students
Graduate Certificate Programs
Programs by Degree
Programs by Discipline
Department/Programs
Courses
University College
Libraries/Archives/Centers
Student Resources
Campus Life
Faculty and Administration
Campus Map
MTSU Home
My Portfolio
2018-19 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

History, Public History Concentration, M.A.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by Degree

Mark Doyle, Graduate Studies Director
(615) 898-2545
Mark.Doyle@mtsu.edu

Brenden Martin, Public History Program Director
(615) 898-2643
Brenden.Martin@mtsu.edu

The History Department  offers the Master of Arts in History, Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Public History, and a Ph.D. in Public History. The Public History concentration offers specialized education in one of five tracks: historic preservation and cultural resource management, museum management, archival management, oral history, and public archeology.

For the most current information about the program, department policies, and admission standards, please visit the department website at www.mtsu.edu/history.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Public History program requires

  1. an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college;
  2. an acceptable grade point average in all college work taken;
  3. completion of at least 18 semester hours of undergraduate history courses;
  4. completion of the Graduate Record Exam with acceptable scores.

Modifications to the above requirements may be made with the permission of the department’s director of graduate studies and the department’s graduate admissions committee.

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies (graduate@mtsu.edu).

Application deadline for the M.A. program is March 1. The History Department does not consider graduate students for spring or summer admission.

Applicant must

  1. submit application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
  2. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE);
  3. submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
  4. submit letter of intent, explaining why he/she wishes to pursue graduate education in public history and why he/she wishes to pursue those studies at MTSU;
  5. submit writing sample (preferably a lengthy research paper that demonstrates writing and research skills);
  6. submit three letters of recommendation from professors or professionals that address the applicant’s potential to successfully complete an M.A. program in public history.

Degree Requirements

M.A. students in History with a concentration in Public History choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option. All public history students must complete an internship off campus.

Thesis Option (33 hours)

Once admitted to the program, candidate must

  1. complete 33 hours of graduate-level history and public history courses, all at the 6000 level (see Curriculum section below for specifics);
  2. pass formal review of a portfolio demonstrating proficiency in three domains of professional skills in accordance with the standards and protocols issued by the department;
  3. maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree each semester;
  4. complete comprehensive examinations in the field of public history and a second field of history;
  5. submit an acceptable thesis.

Non-thesis Option (36 hours)

Once admitted to the program, candidate must

  1. complete at least 36 hours of graduate-level coursework, all at the 6000-level (see Curriculum section below for specifics);
  2. pass formal review of a portfolio demonstrating proficiency in three domains of professional skills in accordance with the standards and protocols issued by the department;
  3. maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree each semester;
  4. complete comprehensive examinations in the field of public history and a second field of history.

Curriculum: History, Public History

 

Thesis Option (33 hours)

All M.A. students in History with a concentration in Public History pursuing the thesis option must complete 33 hours (all at the 6000 level) in the following course of study:

Required Core Courses (9 hours)

 

Public History Essentials (3 hours in appropriate track)

 

Internship (3 hours)

 

Public History electives (6 hours)

  • 6 hours selected in consultation with public history faculty

History electives (9 hours)

  • 9 hours outside the public history field

Thesis Research (at least 3 hours)

 

NOTE:

No more than three hours of HIST 6910 , HIST 6920 , HIST 6930 , or HIST 6994  may be counted toward degree requirements.

Non-thesis Option (36 hours)

All M.A. students in History with a concentration in Public History pursuing the non-thesis option must complete 36 hours (all at the 6000 level) in the following course of study:

Required Core Courses (9 hours)

 

Public History Essentials (9 hours)

 

Internship (3 hours)

 

Public History Electives (6 hours)

  • 6 hours selected in consultation with public history faculty

History electives (9 hours)

  • 9 hours outside the public history field, of which 3 must be in a graduate research seminar

NOTE:

No more than three hours of HIST 6910 , HIST 6920 , HIST 6930 , or HIST 6994  may be counted toward the degree.

Program Notes

Student must

  1. file a degree plan with the Graduate Office during first semester in the program;
  2. file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which student intends to graduate.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by Degree