COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Applied History and Public Humanities curriculum at The University of Akron is designed to provide students with comprehensive training across three interconnected fields: Public History, Thematic History, and Public Humanities. In Field 1, Public History, students engage with advanced topics in museums and archives through courses such as IHSC 501 and 502, as well as specialized reading seminars in American history, including HIST 666 and HIST 669, totaling 13–14 credit hours. Field 2, Thematic History, emphasizes comparative, global, and regional perspectives on conflict, memory, media, and historical interpretation, requiring students to select eight credit hours from seminars covering topics such as modern European history, the Middle East, Latin America, China, and the British Empire. Field 3, Public Humanities, develops interdisciplinary skills through a minimum of six credit hours drawn from two different departments, with options including English, Communications, Theatre, and Arts Administration courses, equipping students to apply historical knowledge in public-facing and organizational contexts. In addition to these fields, students complete core history courses including HIST 601, a Graduate Research Seminar, and HIST 689, a Historiography course, ensuring mastery of research methods, critical analysis, and theoretical frameworks. Altogether, the program requires 31 credit hours and integrates rigorous scholarship, interdisciplinary engagement, and practical experience to prepare graduates for careers in museums, archives, public programs, non-profits, and further academic study.