Courses are specially designed not only to train students in necessary skills but also to encourage them to think and work as professionals. The Public History Methodology course develops research techniques and practices appropriate for public historians, thus teaching students to apply a problem-solving approach to a wide range of issues and topics through readings, case studies, short papers, oral presentations, and a brief research project. Other courses acquaint students with the diverse work they will encounter, provide them with specific skills they will need to compete in their fields, and introduce them to an interdisciplinary approach to research and problem solving. Students acquire the degree of computer literacy that they will need in their careers through class projects, independent work in the departmental computer laboratory, and in on-campus workshops. This training prepares students to work as historians in a business setting.
Students prepare for careers in historic preservation and cultural resource management.
Students interested in careers in historical museums and societies, sites, and agencies follow this track. Students prepare for careers as historians in public agencies such as planning offices or historical offices or departments. This option is offered in conjunction with the Anthropology Department .