Public History
The undergraduate certificate in public history allows you to expand on your liberal arts education and develop hands-on skills in fields such as museum studies, archival methods, historic preservation, grant writing, oral history and the digital humanities.
You’ll learn from Duquesne's public history faculty—leading practitioners in the field, work in our Digital Lab and Oral History Studio, and enroll in internships with community partners like the Heinz History Center, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and the city of Pittsburgh.
With a public history certificate, you’ll find job opportunities in government as well as for-profit and not-for-profit entities, including museums, archives, libraries, state and national parks, historic homes and corporations. You’ll also be well qualified for entering a graduate M.A. or Ph.D. public history program upon graduation.
Program Information
Our Public History certificate equips students with museum studies and preservation knowledge for diverse job opportunities in museums, libraries, national parks, historic homes/corporations, and more.
Program Type
Minor
Academic Department
History
Required Credit Hours
15
Preserving Our Story
As a history major and recipient of the certificate in public history, Alyssa Broome-Webster, A’25, was dedicated to uncovering and preserving the past. Through her work processing historical documents for digitization at Gumberg Library to support JSTOR’s digital archives, she helped ensure Duquesne’s records are accessible to future generations.
“Archival work allowed me to apply the skills I learned in the classroom to the outside world. I was passionate about making Duquesne’s history accessible to a wider audience,” Alyssa said.
In her role, Alyssa assisted in developing finding aids and updating outdated information — efforts that made the university’s archives easier to navigate and more useful to researchers.
Alyssa’s hands-on experience in the archives complemented her academic studies and strengthened her commitment to public history. The skills she gained through this work helped her earn admission to a top museum studies graduate program, where she continues to build on her passion for preservation and public engagement.
“The Duquesne history department was an incredible resource throughout my academic journey, both in the classroom and outside of it,” she said. “The faculty offered me guidance and support every step of the way, and I know that the connections I made will stay with me long after graduation.”
Historic Legacy
Discover the people, moments and materials that shaped Duquesne’s history through digitized collections, photographs and documents preserved by our students and staff.
Requirements for the Public History Certificate
- 3 credit hours of PHST 223, "Practice of Public History" (typically offered every fall semester)
- 3 credit hours of PHST 490, "Public History Internship"
- 6 credit hours of PHST, such as “Introduction to Archives,” “Grant Writing” and “Oral History”
- 3 credit hours of 300- or 400-level HIST elective