Public History, M.A.

M.A. Specialization in Public History

Public History graduate education at UIS has its roots in the 1970s, when our predecessor institution Sangamon State University first offered courses in oral history, museum studies, and local history. Today, the program prides itself in a flexible curriculum, robust student funding, unparalleled internship and volunteering opportunities, a high rate of professional placements, and a rich alumni network that stretches across the country.

Interested in learning more? Email us to set up an appointment to speak with faculty, current students, and recent alumni about the program.

Courses and Curriculum

Students are welcome to attend full-time or part-time, with graduate course offerings on weekday evenings. Please see the catalog for more information.

Admissions

We have a rolling deadline, with an option to begin classes in the Fall or Spring. For students seeking funding, we recommend applications be completed by March 1.

Funding

Public History applicants are frequent recipients graduate funding offers through Graduate Assistantships and the Graduate Public Service Internship Program. Both programs offer tuition waivers (in-state and out-of-state) and hourly stipends.

• Graduate Assistantships: Assistantships in UIS departments and offices provide monthly stipends during the contract period. Assistants are eligible to receive a tuition and service fee waiver (this includes the activity fee, the intercollegiate athletic fee, the Career Center fee, and up to 8 credit hours of the Health Service fee) for qualifying course work. General fees and course fees are not waived. Assistants are entitled to a maximum of 30 credit hours of tuition waived during the academic year (includes fall, spring, and summer semesters). Application deadline: March 15.

• Graduate Public Service Internship Program: GPSI is ranked as one of Illinois’ premier governmental internship programs. For over 45 years this program has provided top-flight graduate students with a high quality graduate education, real world experience, and lifelong networking connections. Recent GPSI locations for History students have included: Illinois State Historic Preservation Office, State Historic Sites of Springfield, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Revenue, and the Illinois Art-in-Architecture Program. Positions include a monthly stipend, tuition waivers, and professional development funding. Application deadline: March 15.

Alumni Success

Our graduates have built a remarkable placement record in achieving fulltime, career Public History positions. In 2021 and 2022, alone, eight of eight graduates secured positions. Our recent alumni work throughout the country in archives, museums, historic sites, historic preservation and cultural resource management, and education, in state, local, federal, and non-profit organizations. They join a network of alumni that includes leaders at the National Park Service, the Smithsonian, Illinois State Historic Sites, the Illinois State Archives, and many other institutions.

Recent Placements