Program Type: Graduate
Degree Awarded: M.A. in Public History Select the degree to view its requirements.
Department: History
Welcome to the Master’s in Public History Program at Northern Kentucky University!
The Master of Arts in Public History program at Northern Kentucky University offers students an opportunity to explore public history, broadly defined as "history put to work in the world." This dynamic and evolving field engages with the past in ways that are meaningful to contemporary audiences and issues. Public history is not merely a vocational pursuit; it is a rigorous intellectual enterprise with its own methodologies, theories, and lines of inquiry. At its core, public history is both a process and a practice—it interprets the past and involves individuals and communities in the creation of shared histories. Public historians work in diverse settings, including museums, archives, historic sites, government agencies, and digital platforms. Their work connects scholarship with real-world applications, making history accessible, engaging, and relevant.
Public history combines rigorous historical research with a deep commitment to ethical and collaborative practice. Public historians conduct thorough examinations of historical sources and communicate their findings in ways that resonate with a wide range of audiences. By collaborating with communities, public historians co-create narratives that reflect shared experiences and ensure that history is inclusive and participatory. This ethos also emphasizes the moral responsibility of presenting history with integrity and nuance, acknowledging its power to inform and shape society.
Public history is interdisciplinary, skills-focused, and civically engaged. The field emphasizes active learning, reflection, and dialogue, encouraging practitioners to interpret the past, engage with audiences, and create meaningful connections between history and the present. Public historians often work with diverse sources and formats, including digital tools, to produce histories that are tailored to specific audiences and contexts. The NKU Master of Arts in Public History program provides students with a robust theoretical foundation while equipping them with practical skills such as research, analysis, communication, project design, collaboration, and grant writing. Students also gain experience with ethical considerations and audience engagement, ensuring their work is impactful and meaningful.
Hands-on experience is central to the program, and students have the opportunity to complete internships with museums, historical societies, and archives. These experiences, combined with specializations in areas such as museum studies, digital humanities, and archival practices, allow students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals. Faculty with diverse expertise guide students throughout the program, fostering an environment of collaboration, mutual respect, and professional dialogue.
The program culminates in a capstone project, which allows students to synthesize their knowledge and skills in a real-world context. Through a guided sequence of courses, students develop and execute projects that may include academic papers, public exhibits, digital initiatives, or community programs. These capstone experiences are designed to prepare students for careers in a wide range of settings, including museums, archives, government agencies, digital history, heritage tourism, and historic preservation.
Graduates of the program are equipped with transferable skills that are valuable not only in public history but also in fields such as journalism, marketing, law, business, and the civil service. The program's emphasis on collaboration, civic engagement, and community partnership reflects its commitment to using history to contribute to a more just and ethical society. By fostering dialogue and mutual respect, the program prepares students to be leaders in the field of public history and to make history accessible, relevant, and impactful for diverse audiences.
We invite prospective students and their families to learn more about this exciting program and the opportunities it offers. With a combination of academic rigor and practical experience, the NKU Master of Arts in Public History program equips students to engage meaningfully with the past and make a difference in the world.
Kevin Eagles
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor and Director, MA in Public History
446 Landrum Academic Center
(859) 572-5337
eaglesk1@nku.edu
Graduating Year: 2011
Education: M.A. in Public History
Career: Assistant Director of African American History, Culture and Digital Humanities Initiative at Coppin State University, Washington, DC
Aleia Brown’s work utilizes objects as portals to understanding both historic and contemporary issues of civil and human rights. By looking at craft during and about the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, she illuminates the nuanced, interior, and personal narratives that big history often omits. Her current manuscript traces Black women’s ideologies on the Black Freedom Struggle through their quiltmaking and oral histories.
Brown co-founded and leads two digital humanities projects #MuseumsRespondstoFerguson and #BlkTwitterstorians.
Our campus is more than classrooms. It’s a hive of activity and connections that instantly feel familiar. Come walk it, take it in, check it out.
A variety of financial assistance is available, from grants to scholarships, loans to veteran benefits.
