Bachelor of Science Applied and Public History

The Bachelor of Science degree in history is offered with the following two concentrations:

  • Applied and Public History
  • Multidisciplinary

The Applied and Public History concentration is available to students who seek career preparation in public service fields such as cultural resources management, historic site interpretation, architectural preservation, planning, and cultural journalism. Careers in public history require a thorough grounding in local, social, and cultural history; an understanding of public policy; and performance skills in areas such as planning, preservation and conservation techniques, records management, historic interpretation, and grantsmanship. 

BS Degree in History with a Concentration in Applied and Public History

The BS degree in History (non-teaching) (246*/54.0101) with a concentration in Applied and Public History (246B) consists of 63 semester hours, including a minimum of 36 semester hours in history and a minimum of 27 semester hours in the concentration. The 36 semester hours in history beyond the core curriculum history requirement must include:

  • six semester hours in United States history
  • six semester hours in European history
  • six semester hours in World/non-Western history
  • HIS 4000
  • Senior Colloquium
  • HIS 4100
  • Senior Seminar ("C" minimum required)
  • plus 12 additional semester hours of history

One 3 s.h. 2000-level course must be taken before any 3000-level course may be taken, and one 3000-level course must be taken before any 4000-level course may be taken. No more than 12 semester hours may be taken at the 2000-level.

The concentration in Applied and Public History (246B) consists of a minimum of 24 semester hours drawn from various departments or disciplines. No more than three semester hours of this career-oriented concentration may be taken at the 1000-level, and must be from the department-approved list of 1000-level course offerings. The concentration must include 15 s.h. at the 3000-4000 level.

Career concentrations are designed by students in consultation with a faculty advisor and must be approved by the departmental chair.

Internships

Internships are optional for undergraduates pursuing a B.S. in Applied and Public History, or a B.S., Multidisciplinary. They are, however, strongly encouraged. Undergraduates who wish to receive academic credit for an internship must register for HIS 4900.

Internships are designed to give students hands-on experience in a number of professional settings: museum management, archives, publications and press, etc. These internships also provide students with the opportunity to network with professionals in the field.

Internships are researched and chosen by individual students – they are not assigned. Students are free to choose internships with any institution regardless of the institution's location. Internships may be paid or unpaid and compensation is often determined by the institution that is offering the internship.

The Internship Data Sheet (DOCX, 14 KB) must be completed and submitted to the Dean's Office prior to starting the internship, and on file before the last day to add a semester class. (The proceeding link is a downloadable document.)

The student must answer the questions found on page 2 of the contract, and submit this paperwork with the form. Contact Dr. Deathridge or Dr. Burns with any questions. Your on-campus internship supervisor will sign the completed paperwork, and then you will take it to the Department Chair's office. It will be completed there and you will be registered through the Internship Inventory.

There is helpful information on finding and securing internships on the University's Internships pages. Also, check out the Where We've Interned page to see hear from Graduate students from the Appalachain State History department.