The Department of History at Georgia Southern University offers a Public History concentration within its Master of Arts in History program. This option is ideal for those students desiring to work in careers in museums, archives, historic sites, and other public venues. This concentration has also proven a viable pathway for students seeking careers as classroom teachers as it is still grounded in the critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills needed to excel in the professional aspects of teaching, writing, and pursuing research in history.

As an added value, this concentration provides opportunities to take a number of hands-on, elective courses for customized training in the professional fields of your choice. Indeed, our graduates work in a number of important historic sites throughout the region and beyond. The Department of History has developed partnerships with numerous high-profile state and national parks, historic sites, archives, and museums granting you access to unique training and internship opportunities throughout the Statesboro / Savannah region. In addition to working with our community partners, students can take advantage of opportunities at the Georgia Southern University Museum and Henderson Library, to train in museology, archives, and new media.

Additionally, students are able to work in the History Lab, an experimental cross-media knowledge space dedicated to game theory, design, fabrication, and audiovisual production. The department offers a number of generous assistantship opportunities to assist in making our program an affordable option for graduate school. Please contact program director, Dr. Michael Van Wagenen, for more information: mvanwagenen@georgiasouthern.edu.