Pathways to a dynamic career
Public History Program
Do you feel a call to history, but not a call to teach? Are your passions multifaceted, infused with a love of collaboration and of sharing historical knowledge? Then Anderson University’s public history degree may be the right fit for you.
At AU, we integrate faith, career, and calling to best prepare you for a life of service. Follow your God-given passion and contribute to society by helping to preserve the past, and shape the future, with a public history degree from Anderson University.
Tomorrow's history advocates are starting right here.
Connect people and pasts by preserving stories and fostering community understanding.
A public history program prepares students to engage with history outside traditional academic settings, focusing on sharing historical knowledge with the broader public. Students learn methods in archival research, museum studies, digital history, oral history, and historic preservation, gaining skills in communication, project management, and community engagement. This hands-on, interdisciplinary field emphasizes making history accessible, relevant, and engaging for all, helping to preserve and interpret history in ways that connect with communities and foster an understanding of the past’s impact on the present.
EXPLORE THE PUBLIC HISTORY PROGRAM
AU’s public history major includes 24 credit hours of public relations, marketing, and business courses — increasing marketability, widening the scope of opportunity, and building the foundation you need to be a successful public history professional.
This degree pairs easily with other majors, such as business, communications, political science, and pre-law, so AU graduates will be prepared for a professional pathway in history. Students graduate with a variety of career options before them, including areas of social justice, political activism, and community engagement.
Program Options
- Graduate with a BA in Public History in four years.
- Graduate with a BA in Public History and an MBA with the 4+1 program.
- An 18-credit minor is available.
Career Pathways
- State Parks
- Historical Societies
- Government Offices
- Museums & Archives
Practical Experience
- AU’s Jeninga Museum
- Indiana Historical Society
- Madison County Museums
- Pendleton, Indiana Museums
Meet our public history faculty during your campus visit.
History
Dr. Brian Richard Dirck
Professor of History
Dr. David Thomas Murphy
Professor of History
Dr. Jaye Lee Rogers
Chair, Department of History and Political Science; Professor of History
The Anderson You
You have unique interests and skills that set you apart. Explore the free My College Career Quiz to receive a personalized list of majors selected just for you. We’ve taken out the guessing work. Come find the Anderson you.