Public history is perhaps one of the fastest-growing sub-fields within the historical profession, as it allows the use of the traditional skills of the historian outside of academia. Museums, historical societies, national parks, historic sites, and tourism bureaus employ public historians to effectively generate interest in a region’s cultural and physical heritage. Businesses, public policymakers and government entities depend upon the skills of the historian to either assist them in recording their history or to provide insight into the decisionmaking process. Documentary and feature filmmakers also rely upon historians to ensure that what they produce is an accurate reflection of the historical record. With experience in public history, it is hoped that students who possess an interest in history will find opportunities to continue to pursue a career in these and other areas. Through a cooperative relationship with the Grady McWhiney Research Foundation and other museums and historic attractions in the Abilene area, students of the McMurry University Public History Program have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in Public History by pursuing projects and internships at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, McWhiney Collection, McWhiney Foundation Press, the Grace Museum, and the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum. They have also been active in the Buffalo Gap Chips, an 1880’s-style vintage base ball team.

The Public History Certificate at McMurry University is one of the few programs of its type in the United States that provides undergraduates with an advanced, experiential introduction to the multi-disciplinary field of public history. By taking fifteen hours of college credit and completing two ten-hour internship modules, students will receive a certificate in public history. It is anticipated that this certificate will enhance their employment opportunities in the field of history, as well as increase their chances for acceptance into graduate programs in public history, as the program is currently seeking articulation agreements with a number of graduate programs in public and/or applied history located throughout the region. All courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.

Requirements for the Certificate in Public History

1. Major or minor in history, or approval of the program director. During the 2007-2008 academic year, the regular director, Dr. Bob Wettemann, will be on leave; students should direct their inquiries instead to Dr. Don Frazier. (The certificate is not a substitute for an academic major, but in addition to it. HIST3340: Public History and HIST 4340: Public History Practicum do not count as history hours toward the major or minor in history, but will be computed as advanced elective hours in a student’s degree plan).

2. Required Courses: Three courses/nine hours:
HIST 3340: Public History
HIST 3310: Texas History
HIST 4340: Public History Practicum

3. Elective Courses: One course selected from any two of the following areas of concentration (two courses/six hours total):

Music/Fine Arts:
ART 2302: Art History II
ART 3390: Gallery Practices
MLH 2350: American Popular Music

Communication/Theater:
COMM 2330: Business and Professional Speaking
THRE 2350: Costume Construction
THRE: Digital Video Capture and Editing

Business:
MGMT 3310: Principles of Management
MKTG 3370: Principles of Marketing
BA 4385: Ethics in Business and Society

Geography/Political Science:
PSC 3310/GEOG 3310: Political and Cultural Geography

Special topics courses in related areas of study (Historical Archaeology, Living History Interpretation, and Public Policy) may be substituted for the six elective hours with approval of the program director.

4. Field Work: In addition to the required coursework, students seeking a certificate in public history will also perform ten hours of volunteer work in any two of the following areas of concentration, working under the guidance of a public history professional. Field work must be performed in fields unrelated to the project undertaken in HIST 4340: Public History Practicum. The program director will coordinate this work, in conjunction with the appropriate local entities:

Field work must be performed in fields unrelated to the project undertaken in HIST 4340: Public History Practicum.

Students in the McMurry University Public History Program are encouraged to pursue projects that contribute to the further development of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. Students play a major role in the sites’ interpretive programs, as shown above. BGHV, operated by the McWhiney Foundation since 1999, is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history of the last fifty years on the Texas Frontier, 1875-1925. Originally a static collection of structures and artifacts, BGHV is in the process of transforming itself into an outdoor museum integrating traditional exhibits with living history interpretation to provide a dynamic portrayal of life in Texas as a variety of forces led to the gradual closing of the frontier.