Bachelor of Arts [B.A] [History - Public History] From St. Mary's University

Students selecting this option take an introductory course in Public History and a practicum/internship in a Public History setting. Public history refers to how history is presented and interpreted in non-academic environments. It involves not only the historical content but also the approaches, tools and strategies for presentation that enhance the general public awareness of the past and its connection to the present.

The contributions of public history may be seen at the national, state, county and local level through historical associations, heritage tourism, museums, public access archives, and online digitized historical information, historic preservation, commissioned histories for historic sites, foundations, corporations, and public agencies of many kinds. Public historians develop collaborative relationships among historians, community leaders, activists, and those interested in preservation of heritage for practical or commercial purposes. Through making explicit links between the past and the present, applied history activities enhance tourism, economic development, and a general sense of community, which is inspired by knowledge of a shared past.