HIST 112Introduction to Public History

3 credits · History · Penn State

Practicing as a historian outside traditional classrooms opens up worlds of diverse professional opportunities. This course is designed to introduce students to that broad world, allowing for learning and experimentation. The course teaches theories of public history practice, audience development, collection management, interpretation, organizational management, finance, and other pillars of practicing history with and for the masses. The course will consider both the past and future of the field. Students should encounter public history at work in society. There are various ways to achieve such aims, including interaction with practicing public historians through field trips and/or in class, preparing a grant application, and presenting a modest public history project in class.