Public History

The undergraduate certificate in public history allows you to expand on your liberal arts education and develop hands-on skills in fields such as museum studies, archival methods, historic preservation, grant writing, oral history and the digital humanities. 

You’ll learn from Duquesne's public history faculty—leading practitioners in the field, work in our Digital Lab and Oral History Studio, and enroll in internships with community partners like the Heinz History Center, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and the city of Pittsburgh.

With a public history certificate, you’ll find job opportunities in government as well as for-profit and not-for-profit entities, including museums, archives, libraries, state and national parks, historic homes and corporations. You’ll also be well qualified for entering a graduate M.A. or Ph.D. public history program upon graduation.

Program Information

Our Public History certificate equips students with museum studies and preservation knowledge for diverse job opportunities in museums, libraries, national parks, historic homes/corporations, and more.

Program Type

Minor

Academic Department

History

Required Credit Hours

15

Requirements for the Public History Certificate

  • 3 credit hours of PHST 223, "Practice of Public History" (typically offered every fall semester)
  • 3 credit hours of PHST 490, "Public History Internship"
  • 6 credit hours of PHST, such as “Introduction to Archives,” “Grant Writing” and “Oral History”
  • 3 credit hours of 300- or 400-level HIST elective