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
As a history major and recipient of the certificate in public history, Alyssa Broome-Webster,
A’25, was dedicated to uncovering and preserving the past. Through her work processing
historical documents for digitization at Gumberg Library to support JSTOR’s digital
archives, she helped ensure Duquesne’s records are accessible to future generations. “Archival work allowed me to apply the skills I learned in the classroom to the outside
world. I was passionate about making Duquesne’s history accessible to a wider audience,”
Alyssa said. In her role, Alyssa assisted in developing finding aids and updating outdated information
— efforts that made the university’s archives easier to navigate and more useful to
researchers. Alyssa’s hands-on experience in the archives complemented her academic studies and
strengthened her commitment to public history. The skills she gained through this
work helped her earn admission to a top museum studies graduate program, where she
continues to build on her passion for preservation and public engagement. “The Duquesne history department was an incredible resource throughout my academic
journey, both in the classroom and outside of it,” she said. “The faculty offered
me guidance and support every step of the way, and I know that the connections I made
will stay with me long after graduation.”
Discover the people, moments and materials that shaped Duquesne’s history
through digitized collections, photographs and documents preserved by our students
and staff.
Preserving Our Story
Historic Legacy
Requirements for the Public History Certificate