FB Pixel Skip to Main Content
Public History

Public History

Bachelor of Arts

Public historians provide an educational passage to the past. Whether you want to work in classrooms, museums, historical sites, libraries, government or business, the Public History program offers valuable insights into how to turn your passion for history into a rewarding career.

Program Overview

Western History Program

Share your passion for history with your community.

The Public History emphasis introduces you to the associated fields of historic preservation, archival sciences, museum curatorship and oral history while being supported by historical content courses. Through intensive coursework, you will expand your historical knowledge and develop practical field skills.

The Public History emphasis is made up of a History core supported with multidisciplinary courses including Anthropology, Geography, Communication Arts, Environment & Sustainability and Recreation & Outdoor Education. This degree program combines academic and practical skills and knowledge desired by the field.

Upon graduation, you’ll have the preparation needed to continue your studies in Cultural Resource Management, Archival Management and/or Museum Studies. This degree can be the foundation for your career as a museum curator, registrar, collections manager, archivist, museum or historic site educator, or National Park Interpretive Ranger.

Historical knowledge

Public Historian students learn to bring our most important insights about the past to people of all ages outside of specialized academic settings through their work in classrooms, museums, historical sites, libraries, government and business.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

The comprehensive programs in History are the Public History Emphasis and the Secondary Licensure Emphasis. These emphases do not require a separate minor, and allow students to pursue a course of study in which History is integrated with other disciplines across campus.

This emphasis prepares students for graduate work and employment in Public History related fields. A minimum of 67 credits is required, including the required 33 credit History Core, 28 credits of required supporting courses and 6 credits of designated elective courses. 

Course List
Code Title Credits
HIST 200Historical Inquiry3
HIST 370Public History3
HIST 371Oral History Workshop3
HIST 372Monuments and Museums3
HIST 373History of the National Park Service3
HIST 399Internship in History3
HIST 402Engaging the Past3
Select two of the following:6
HIST 100
Topics in World History (GT-HI1)
HIST 126
U.S. History to 1865 (GT-HI1)
HIST 127
U.S. History Since 1865 (GT-HI1)
HIST 128
Environmental History of North America (GT-HI1)
And six credits of Upper Division History electives6
Total Credits33
Course List
Code Title Credits
Required Supporting Courses
ANTH 107Introduction to General Anthropology (GT-SS3)3
ANTH 219Archaeology (with laboratory)4
ANTH 230Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory)4
ANTH 377Cultural Resource Management3
COM 231Stagecraft I3
ENVS 100Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2)3
GEOG 222Our Digital Earth3
Four credits of the following:4
BIOL 130
Environmental Biology (GT-SC2)
BIOL 135
Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)
BIOL 151
Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)
GEOL 101
Physical Geology (GT-SC2)
GEOL 105
Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)
Six credits of the following:6
ACC 201
Introduction to Financial Accounting
ANTH 218
Biological Anthropology (with laboratory)
ANTH 344
Native North America
ANTH 467
Ethnography Field School
ANTH 469
Archaeology Field School
ART 222
Art History I
ART 223
Art History II (GT-AH1)
ART 321
American Art: Colonial to Modern
BUAD 185
Business Communication
BUAD 210
Legal Environment of Business
BUAD 270
Principles of Marketing
BUAD 300
Business Ethics
COM 205
Communication Arts I
COM 274
Public Relations Communication
COM 305
Communication Arts II
COM 323
Media/ Arts Management
COM 346
Multimedia Communication
CS 120
Professional Computer Skills
CS 160
Introduction to Web Design
GEOG 120
Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2)
GEOG 340
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 371
UAV Imagery Acquisition
GEOG 372
Satellite Remote Sensing
GEOG 375
Web GIS
GEOG 460
Geospatial Analysis
GEOG 482
Advanced Applications in GIS
GEOG 499
Internship in Geography
POLS 282
Issues in State and Local Government
ROE 230
Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History
ROE 235
Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education
Total Credits33

Capstone Course Requirement

The following course in the History Major fulfills the Capstone Course Requirement: HIST 402 Engaging the Past.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ANTH 107 Introduction to General Anthropology (GT-SS3) 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
ENVS 100 Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) 3
HIST 1XX 100-level HIST (GT-HI1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 113 Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits16
Spring
ANTH 218 Biological Anthropology (with laboratory) 4
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
HIST 1XX 100-level HIST (GT-HI1) 3
HIST 200 Historical Inquiry 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
ANTH 219 Archaeology (with laboratory) 4
GEOG 222 Our Digital Earth 3
Rel. Field Public History elective (related field) 3-4
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab (BIOL 130/BIOL 135 or GEOL 101/GEOL 105 or BIOL 150) 4
 Credits14-15
Spring
HIST 370 Public History 3
ANTH 230 Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory) 4
ANTH 377 Cultural Resource Management 3
COM 231 Stagecraft I 3
 Credits13
Summer
HIST 371 Oral History Workshop 3
HIST 373 History of the National Park Service 3
 Credits6
Year Three
Fall
HIST 399 Internship in History 3
HIST 3XX Upper-division history elective 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
Elective Elective 3-4
Elective Elective 3
 Credits15-16
Spring
HIST 372 Monuments and Museums 3
HIST 3XX Upper-division history elective 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
Elective Elective 3
Elective Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
Elective Elective 3
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
 Credits12
Spring
Elective Elective 3
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
HIST 402 Engaging the Past 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits119-121

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

Apply Request Info

Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Public history

Expand your community and your network.

There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western Colorado University. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.

  • Field Experience: Public History majors travel to historical locations and visit local, regional and state museums and archives.
  • History Honor Society: Join Iota Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, one of Western’s oldest academic honor societies.
  • History League: Sponsors student activities including movie nights, Ancient Games and historical field trips.
  • Internships: Land an internship with local, regional, state and national museums, historical preservation commissions, and historical societies.
  • Study Abroad: Travel to India, Ecuador, Prague, London, Italy or Belize through Extended Studies and earn History credit through independent study or transfer credit.

History buffs

The Public History emphasis is built on a core of History courses, which introduce students to the associated fields of historic preservation, archival sciences, museum curatorship and oral history while being supported by academic historical content courses.

News & Research

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
A digital map of Gunnison, Colorado with a GPS walking route traced.

Western Students Team Up to Create Digital Walking Tour

Read More about Western Students Team Up to Create Digital Walking Tour
Art History’s Unique Final Exam

Art History’s Unique Final Exam

Read More about Art History’s Unique Final Exam
Public history students

Public History Students in the Field

Read More about Public History Students in the Field
Spotlight: Ashley O’Hara, Alumna

Spotlight: Ashley O’Hara, Alumna

Read More about Spotlight: Ashley O’Hara, Alumna
Sarah with her dog

Spotlight: Sarah Bellian, Alumna

Read More about Spotlight: Sarah Bellian, Alumna
Western adding new minors, emphases to curriculum for 2018-19

Western adding new minors, emphases to curriculum for 2018-19

Read More about Western adding new minors, emphases to curriculum for 2018-19

Department Chairperson

Heather Thiessen-Reily, Ph.D.

Professor of History

Administrative Assistant

Patricia McCarthy

Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences Administrative Assistant

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Kelley Hall 240
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

Take the Next Step

Apply to
Western
Students pose for a photo on top of Mount Crested Butte in the summer

Apply to
Western

We understand that applying to a university can be daunting, which is why we make our admission process as simple and straightforward as possible. Learn more about applying to your program of choice at Western.

Visit
Western
Colorado Hall with the Palisades in the background on a bluebird day.

Visit
Western

The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.

Alumni
Community
A group of four alumni look at an old photo that one of them picked up from a selection of photos that were printed and laid out for the Ski Team Social event.

Alumni
Community

We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

Request
Information
A few students pose for a photo behind the Multicultural Center table at the Admitted Student Day Club Fair.

Request
Information

Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.