Public History

Entry requirements

A 2:2 honours degree, or international equivalent, in history or a related subject such as:

• human and cultural geography
• English
• heritage studies
• media studies

Applicants with non-standard qualifications and/or an appropriate level of professional or voluntary experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Overview

On this innovative course you’ll:

Gain an advanced level appreciation of the theoretical and analytical frameworks that historians bring to their subject.

Discover the varieties of approaches to understanding, constructing and interpreting the past in the present, and how wider publics engage with these processes.

Understand the methodologies and sources used by specialists in the field of public history, and the ethical, practical, and analytical choices that accompany historical study and interpretation.

Explore public history concepts and practices including shared authority, collaborative working environments, and reflexivity.

Engage with diverse audiences by working collaboratively with institutions and communities.

Benefit from a team of experts and guest lecturers who are leading practitioners in our local and global networks.

You’ll spend a third of your time working on a guided public history project. This could involve working alongside practitioners in the popular history field. This may include:

• freelance public historians
• cultural organisations
• charities
• archivists
• publishers
• TV and radio producers

What you'll learn

You’ll develop the core skills to become a successful public historian. These include project planning, collaborative ways of working, and flexible communication skills. You'll gain a solid grounding in key theoretical and analytical frameworks, as well as public practices.

Our Heritage modules offer a window into public history practices, who governs heritage, and the needs of stakeholders. Examining what heritage is, who it is for, and exploring critical approaches to global, local and national heritage processes.

Through a range of optional historical and methodological modules, you’ll enhance your awareness and appreciation of theoretical and analytical frameworks in the study of history.

The final independent project is developed in collaboration with, and supervised by a historical expert from within Newcastle University’s extensive research expertise. You will also have an opportunity to consult with an external industry mentor. This combination provides the flexibility for you to work with small independent community practitioners as well as large regional or national public history institutions, depending on your area of interest.

Information for international students

See Newcastle University's course entry for more information.

Fees and funding

See Newcastle University's course entry for more information.