Public History C.U.S. and Minor

RIC History student Shane Allen giving tour of RI State House

Meeting a National and State Need

Given the national interest in public history and the variety of historical venues in Rhode Island, the need for public history training is imperative. Rhode Island College has become the first public institution of higher learning to inaugurate a program to meet this need. Students interested in public history can pursue a Certificate of Undergraduate Study (C.U.S.) or a minor.

Who Can Participate

Certificate of Undergraduate Study

The C.U.S. in public history is a 15-credit program designed for:

  • undergraduate students who are pursuing a B.A. in history
  • post-bachelor's degree students

Minor

The Public History Minor is designed for:

  • undergraduate students with an interest in public history who are pursuing a major outside of the History Department

What to Expect

In this program, you will learn the practical application, scope, methodologies and procedures of public history. Your courses will lay the theoretical foundation and your off-campus internships will give you the hands-on experience and create opportunities for employment.

A Variety of Workplace Environments

If you are passionate about history and want to share your knowledge with others, public history is a wise career choice. The numerous and varied applications of public history encompass:

RIC History student Aisha Pierre at RIC State House
  • historical sites and historical archeology
  • archival collections and museum artifacts
  • historical society collections
  • federal and state park service
  • landmark preservation
  • government and private sector document preservation 

A properly trained public historian possesses personal and professional assets that will help them negotiate an impressive array of career choices and callings.

Course Requirements and Descriptions

C.U.S. Course Requirements

Minor Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Rhode Island College entrance

Contact Us

Department of History

History is a multidimensional field that historians and students have approached in a multitude of ways. At its core, history tackles fundamental questions of human society.