Embedded Certificate in Public History
This Certificate introduces West Georgia students to the interdisciplinary field of public history and provides students with specific training to be successful in the field. The completion of this Certificate program gives students an edge in today's highly competitive job market. The training for the Certificate encourages students to engage in interdisciplinary research and community outreach activities.
Public historians are historians who "do history outside of the academy," whether in a museum, historical society, archives, historic preservation office, or other type of local or regional history association or organization. This Certificate introduces students to these careers and begins building skillsets in addition to those gained as part of the student's major. Students who engage in public history training build intercultural awareness and aptitude as community bridge-builders; these are less tangible traits but ones that are crucial to students' future civic life.
The Certificate program is open to all UWG undergraduate students interested in career opportunities in this field. Because public history is interdisciplinary, students from a variety of fields may see the opportunity for potential careers in this field, including not only history but art history, studio art, anthropology, business, marketing, English, and other humanities fields. Regardless of your major, this Certificate will provide training for participants in areas such as career preparation, professionalism, and work experience.
History majors can count the Public History Certificate as a minor field if desired.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.
To apply for this certificate fill out the Online Application.
For more information, please contact the Undergraduate Public History Advisor, Ms. Keri Adams, in the Department of History at madams@westga.edu or 678-839-5275.
Program Location
Carrollton Campus
Method of Delivery
Face to Face
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required:
For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Office of Student Accounts and Billing Services website.
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
This program may be earned entirely face-to-face. However, depending on the courses chosen, a student may choose to take some partially or fully online courses.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited universities of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, he/she will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Coursework
Requirements
Three required courses.
- HIST-4400
- HIST-4101
- HIST-4486
One Upper-Level History Course, 3000 or 4000 level (3 hours)
- History majors may count a course in their major field towards this requirement.
One Seminar in Public History Practices and Theory from Appendix A (3 hours)
Two Public History Electives, chosen from Appendix B (6-7 hours)
- At least one of these courses must be outside of the History field. Please note that additional courses may be acceptable for this field with the program advisor’s approval.
Required
This course introduces students to careers in Public History and provides training for professional practice. Students gain experience researching professional opportunities, crafting resumes, preparing for interviews, and practicing professional communication.
An examination of the development, philosophies, and activities in the field of public history and the ethical issues which public historians face.
Experience in applying history in a museum, historical society, archive, historic preservation agency or other public history setting. Students must maintain a journal and develop a portfolio of their work.
Appendix A
An examination of the philosophy, ethics, and practice of oral history, with specific training in interview and transcription techniques, and the use of oral history in historical research and analysis.
An introduction to the principles of archival theory and management from appraisal and acquisitions through arrangement, description, preservation, and public access. Includes a practicum experience.
An introduction to the philosophy, theory and practice of museum work and a survey of various functions of a museum, including collections, research, education and interpretation, exhibits, and administration.
A survey of American architecture in its social and cultural context from colonial America through the present, with a particular focus on how to analyze and document historic buildings.
Appendix B
A study of written and oral business communication to develop process and theory skills including writing, speaking, listening, business meetings, teamwork, presentations, and cross-cultural communication. Students write standard business letters and deliver oral and written presentations and reports. Management concepts of business ethics and problem analysis are integrated with communication process and theory.
A study of the underlying theory and application of financial accounting concepts. Requires overall GPA of 2.0.
Instruction in the techniques used in cleaning, cataloging, preserving, and analysis of excavated archaeological materials.
This hands-on religion course will focus on the practice of religion in historical and contemporary Utopian societies in the U.S. By examining the development and legacy of one of America s most quintessential religious communities, the United Society of Believers in Christ s Second Appearing (known as the Shakers), students will gain a wide range of skills and opportunities to explore diverse approaches to religion, theory, and methodology in anthropology. We will also examine other Utopian religious societies as comparative examples. There will be a class travel component and additional Course Fees associated with this course during most semesters.
This course is designed to engage students in critically examining anthropological perspectives on the relationship between the biophysical environment and human physical health, with an emphasis on contemporary environmental health challenges. Topics covered include environment and disease, as well as health in the contexts of food production, natural disasters, radioactivity and toxicity, urban environments, mental health, and social inequalities. The course ends with a consideration of positive ways forward.
This course will investigate and evaluate qualitative analysis in ethnographic field research. The course is participation intensive and will involve research in an actual field project.
Direct participation in all aspects of an archaeological excavation project. Instruction in research design, excavation techniques, recording procedures, data analyses, and field interpretation.
This course will examine long-term human-environmental interaction from an archaeological perspective.
A survey of the pre-Columbian cultural development of North America north of Mexico.
An examination of the history of the field of cultural resource management including major federal and state laws that govern the preservation of cultural resources. Attention will be given to archeological, historical, and architectural applications.
This course is a hands-on introduction to interpreting artifacts from archaeological sites that focuses on the analysis of flaked stone tools, prehistoric ceramics, shell, bone, and perishables artifacts, and historic artifacts.
Lecture-based course on selected topics in non-Western art of Asia, Africa, Oceania, or the New World, studying artworks from within or across these cultures in their cultural and historical contexts. May be repeated up to 9 credit hours if the topic changes.
Lecture-based course on selected topics in the art of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Near East, Greece or Rome, studying artworks from within or across these cultures in their cultural and historical contexts.
A lecture-based course in Italian Renaissance or Baroque art, studying artwork from the period in historical and cultural context. May be repeated up to 6 credit hours if the topic changes.
This is a lecture-based course on 18th or 19th century art which studies artwork in its historical and cultural aspects including Rococo, Neoclassical, Romantic or Realist movements. It focuses on the painting, sculpture, photography, graphic arts of the 18th or 19th century. May be repeated up to 6 credit hours if the topic changes.
Lecture-based course in American art, studying artwork in its historical and cultural context.
Lecture-based course on the art and architecture of the pre-World War II period, exploring the concepts and formal characteristics of 'modernism' in Western art.
Lecture-based course on art movements from 1945 to the present.
This course involves classroom study of the art collections and architecture of a city or country followed by a trip to visit what has been studied. The subject varies: American cities or abroad. Credit will vary by trip. Students enrolling in the summer Bayeux program will take 4 hours; others take 3 hours credit. May be repeated up to 16 hours credit.
An introduction to communication design with a strong emphasis on sound design and typographic principles, developing an understanding of structure, history, technology and application.
This course provides art majors the opportunity to explore the historic perspectives, cultural relevance and technical aspects of graphic and design issues within the context of the contemporary profession of design. Study of historic print production processes will include printmaking and photography. Pre-requisites: ART 1006, 1007, 2201, Permission of Instructor. $75.00 lab fee request.
This course explores the use of digital - SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Studio practice emphasizes digital workflow and print production. Assignments are usually weekly and present a cumulative set of strategies for constructing images. Course also provides an introduction to the history and the many cultural implications of the medium. Emphasis is placed on sophisticated seeing and image making within the camera rather than digital manipulation.
Intensive practice in composing powerful audience-driven documents in a variety of real-world business, professional and technical contexts. Students will also learn how to make effective business-related presentations supported with appropriate documentary and visual aids.
An introduction to GIS, mapping and geospatial sciences. Topics include introductory GIS, map projections, land partitioning systems, map reading, map analysis, GPS, map making, aerial photography, and remote sensing. This course will guide students to GIS, mapping sciences and emerging geospatial technologies.
Analysis of resource endowments, patterns of occupancy, and aspects of economic and political organization in different regions. The course may be repeated for additional credit with differing content. Title and hours of credit will be supplied at the time of offering.
Introduction to urban processes and patterns, including: global urbanization and the origin of cities; urban hierarchies and systems of cities; global cities; uneven economic growth and the functional specialization of cities; economic restructuring, migration, regional policies, dynamics of urban property markets; changes in population job location, housing, mobility and neighborhoods; ethno-cultural diversity, and spatial inequalities; and planning, politics and policy issues in North American cities.
This course examines the geographic dimensions of the city of Atlanta and its metropolitan region. Students will gain an understanding of the historical, urban, social, economic, political and physical patterns and processes shaping the city and metro area at different geographic scales: at the local and metro scales, the city's growth and internal structure; at the regional scale, the city's role in the American South; and at the national and global scales, the city's dynamic position in wider urban, economic and social systems.
An introduction to the use of Geographic Information Systems, including GIS theory, data input, spatial analysis, and final output.
An examination of the philosophy, ethics, and practice of oral history, with specific training in interview and transcription techniques, and the use of oral history in historical research and analysis.
An introduction to the principles of archival theory and management from appraisal and acquisitions through arrangement, description, preservation, and public access. Includes a practicum experience.
An introduction to the philosophy, theory and practice of museum work and a survey of various functions of a museum, including collections, research, education and interpretation, exhibits, and administration.
A survey of American architecture in its social and cultural context from colonial America through the present, with a particular focus on how to analyze and document historic buildings.
This course is designed to help students understand the major functions and skills required by managers. Emphasis is placed on management's role in planning, organizing, leading, and controlling organizational resources.
Study of marketing policies and practices in the flow of goods and services to the customer/consumer.
This course will examine the impact of social media and the internet on marketing strategy. Topics will include an exploration of social media technologies and applications such as Facebook, blogs, Twitter, wikis, YouTube, etc. Students will learn how to develop an online presence, leverage these technologies and use the power and impact of Web 2.0 in implementing successful marketing strategies.
The emphasis in this course is on conceptualizing and conducting a marketing research project as well as using research as an aid for marketing decision making. Both primary and secondary sources of information are considered, along with defining the research problem, research design, measurement and scaling, questionnaire construction, sampling, data analysis, and interpretation. The SPSS statistical software package is used for data management and analysis.
A writing-intensive survey of selected musical styles, composers, and genres of American and European art music 1800-present and of non-Western music. Students must have completed ENGL 1102 or equivalent. Prerequisite: Music major or minor or the ability to read musical scores and the permission of the instructor
The student will be introduced to the total process of the costume designer. This process includes play analysis, research skills, costume period and style, design problems, rendering and construction skills, organization skills, and an understanding in the principles and elements of design. Prerequisites may be waived with permission of the instructor.
Devised Theatre is an alternative approach to playwriting that emphasizes collaborative ensemble-based writing, community research and outreach, and social and political awareness. Utilizing improvisational techniques, community- oriented research skills and non-textual performance practices, students will explore and write plays based on their communities, interests and concerns. Prerequisites may be waived with the permission of the instructor.
This course concentrates on the theory and mechanics of traditional play-writing as well as its processes and skills as a profession. Students will experience the writing, development and rehearsed reading of performance works.
No faculty members listed
Guidelines for Admittance
Admittance Guidelines
Specific requirements are associated with the following areas: Freshman; Adult Learners; Transfer; International; Home School; Joint/Dual Enrollment; Transient; Auditor; Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Seeking
Application Deadlines
See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.
Admission Process Checklist
Check your Application Status
Contact
Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.
Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate only), Financial Aid, Fee Payments, Registration, Start/End of term, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.
- Demonstrate knowledge of theory and practice of public history.
- Demonstrate practical knowledge of public history in an internship setting under professional supervision.