Public History (Graduate Certificate)
Archivist, Cultural Resource Manager, Digital Humanities, Historian, Historic Preservation, Historical Conservation, Management, Museums, National Parks, Oral History, Public History
Have you ever visited the Grand Canyon, or a historical site such as Gettysburg, and thought, "How could I make this my career"? You can become a public historian and gain the skills and hands-on experience to put history to work in the world.
The graduate certificate program in public history offers you the opportunity to explore local and community history, digital humanities, historic preservation, oral history, cultural resources management, historical administration, museum studies, archival training and scholarly publishing. You work with faculty and conduct research in a variety of historical and applied fields, all of which emphasize the intersection of theory and practice in public history.
By its nature, public history training must move beyond the classroom. With a professional experience built in conjunction with community partners, you can develop your professional networks and be introduced to processes and settings, enhancing your career prospects.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe or Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Students can complete two graduate certificate programs and combine them into a Master of Advanced Study degree, giving ultimate flexibility to build their own master’s degree. Interested students can learn more about MAS requirements and the admission process.
15 credit hours
Required Core (6 credit hours) Other Requirements (3 credit hours) Electives (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
HST 502 Public History Methodology (3)
HST/WWS 585 Professional Experience (3)
HST 580 Practicum (3) or
HST/WWS 585 Professional Experience (3) or
WWS 563 The Lived Experience of World War II (3)
HST 585 Professional Experience is crosslisted with WWS 585 Professional Experience; students can take either section to fulfill certificate requirements. For Other Requirements coursework, students complete either an additional three credit hours of HST/WWS 585 or WWS 563 The Lived Experience in World War II, or take an HST 580 course from an approved list. Students should see the unit for an approved list of Other Requirements courses and elective topics.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
Applicants are required to submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- professional resume
- writing sample
- two letters of recommendation*
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Admission Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency. The history program requires a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 4.5, or 90 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026.
The personal statement should be about 500 words in length and addressed to the history admission committee. It should explain the applicant's scholarly background and training; career goals; how they have put history to work in the world or how they want to do so in the future; and how ASU's public history program might help them reach their career or intellectual goals as a historian.
A sample of the applicant's written work should be submitted electronically as part of the online application. Compelling writing samples include a strong thesis, demonstrated use of primary and secondary source evidence, and solid writing foundations (such as proper grammar and logical organization). The writing sample may be a published or unpublished article, a research paper, or any other extended sample of expository skill no longer than 35 pages.
All applications are reviewed by multiple ASU faculty members and assessed holistically to determine whether they demonstrate the capacity to succeed in a rigorous and writing-intensive graduate program. This decision is made on the basis of prior coursework (particularly in history and other social sciences) and the quality of the written statement and the personal statement. Applicants who have not taken coursework in history are eligible to apply to the program but should have a strong written statement.
*Letters of recommendation may be waived for applicants who have already completed a Master of Arts in history or are currently enrolled in the MA program in history at ASU.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 04/15 | Final |
| Session A/C | Online | 07/25 | Priority |
| Session B | Online | 09/18 | Priority |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 12/10 | Priority |
| Session B | Online | 02/12 | Priority |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 04/18 | Priority |
Study abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent. Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Within the public history certificate program, students also have the option to organize a professional experience opportunity that can take place abroad. Students need to consult with the academic unit directly for more information about these professional experience options.
Graduates have the theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on training experience needed for careers in research, teaching, government service, public history and a host of other positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Graduates serve as first-rate historians, researchers and consultants, foreign service officers, management professionals, community organizers and public servants.
Other career examples include:
- archivist
- editor
- historical collections manager
- museum director
- national parks historian or park ranger
- nonprofit director
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4595
SHPRSGradInfo@asu.edu
480-965-5778
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
