COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master’s in Public History at Southeast Missouri State University is a 36-hour graduate program designed to prepare students for careers in museums, archives, historic preservation, cultural resource management, and digital heritage fields by combining advanced historical research with practical, hands-on training. The program begins with core requirements such as Introduction to Public History, Methods of Research in History, and American Material Culture, which build a strong foundation in historical analysis, research methodology, and the study of physical and cultural artifacts. Students then complete either a thesis option, which includes six hours of original research through GH695–697 Thesis, or a non-thesis applied option that includes an internship (HP640) and an advanced applied history project (HP645), allowing students to gain real-world professional experience in historical organizations. All students must also pass a comprehensive master’s examination (GR698) to demonstrate mastery of the field.Beyond the core, students specialize in either the Digital Heritage Option or the Historic Preservation Option. The Digital Heritage track focuses on the use of technology in historical work, offering training in areas such as heritage outreach, collections management, and advanced geography, along with a structured 12-hour concentration in computer science, educational technology, or a multidisciplinary combination of approved courses. This prepares students for modern careers at the intersection of history and digital tools, including digital archiving, educational media, and interactive historical communication. The Historic Preservation track emphasizes the study and protection of physical heritage, including American architecture, preservation law and economics, and historical building techniques, along with elective coursework in museum studies, archives, oral history, field schools, and preservation practice.Overall, the program equips graduates with advanced research skills, professional field experience, and specialized training in either technology-driven or preservation-focused public history careers, enabling them to work in museums, archives, historic sites, government agencies, and cultural organizations while contributing to the documentation and preservation of historical heritage.