30
Credit Master of Arts
12-18
Credit-Hour Certificates

Degree

  • Master of Arts https://www.stmarytx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/public-history-professor-students-outside-e1755901024311.jpg

Format

  • In-Person
  • Online

Department

Program Director

Master’s in Public History at St. Mary’s

The Master of Arts in Public History at St. Mary’s University celebrates the rich heritage of San Antonio and the surrounding region. The program immerses students in the study of local history, heritage tourism and digital methodologies of public humanities work.

Public History graduate students contribute to projects at the local, state and national levels through class projects, internships and graduate assistantships. The program prepares students for professional employment by providing opportunities to produce a diverse portfolio of public history work.

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Program of Study

The Public History graduate program builds on the Department of History’s robust track record of interpreting history in real-world settings.

This program specializes in preparing graduates to be skilled at using digital tools and media to curate public history experiences in a variety of professional environments.

Student points to a historic photo of St. Mary's University.
Female student working on a research project.
History students sitting at a table talking.
Teresa Van Hoy history professor
Student points to a historic photo of St. Mary's University.
Group photo of St. Mary's public history students
A female student observes pieces of history. In front of her an old desk can be seen with dated office iems.
Historic photos of St. Mary's University.
The Alamo
A male student in the Blume Library works on his laptop.
A board in the Marianist Archives talks about how St. Louis College evolved into St. Mary's University.
$65,038
Median annual earnings for Historians
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+10.57%
Increase in employment demand over the next 10 years for Historians
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2 Formats
Choose between online or in-person class formats

What can I do with a Master’s in Public History?

With a Master’s Degree in Public History, students can work in a variety of fields including heritage tourism, museums, archives, parks and recreation, digital storytelling, education, historical preservation and tourism. Students gain skills in a variety of fields, including research, historical interpretation, storytelling, curation, collaboration and more. Our alumni have put these skills to use in their careers in places like the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum, Casa Navarro and the Texas Historical Commission. Others have continued on to Ph.D. programs in History and Public History or to specialized degrees in archives and library sciences.

  • Projects and Partnerships

    Students collaborate on projects and partnerships with local, state and national institutions such as:

    • Archdiocese of San Antonio
    • Bullock Texas State History Museum
    • City of San Antonio, Office of
    • Historic Preservation
    • Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
    • Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
    • Fort Sam Houston
    • Museums in the Rio Grande Valley,
    • Chicago and Springfield, Illinois
    • San Antonio African American
    • Community Archive and Museum
    • Texas World War I
    • Centennial Committee
    Public History Projects

  • Internship and Career Opportunities

    Students also practice this hands-on work through internships and capstone projects in the community. Internships and capstone project partners have included:

    • The Alamo
    • Bexar County Information Technology
    • Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
    • The National Archives
    • Power of Preservation
    • San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum
    • San Antonio Museum of Art
    • San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
    • The Smithsonian’s Museum of American History
    • UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures
Valeria Ramirez-Villejas, a B.A. in History graduate at St. Mary's, is currently earning her M.A. in Public History through the University's Combined Degree Program.

For me, archiving is interesting because I get to touch these really old materials, either for the school or for a different collection. It’s really interesting to get to touch a part of history that you weren’t there for.”

Valerie Vallejo (B.A. ’25)

M.A. in Public History student

Fellowships and Assistantships

The Department of History offers assistantships and fellowships to qualified and interested students studying Public History. Each assistantship or fellowship is accompanied by a stipend and a commitment to work at least 10 hours a week in addition to academic course work.  Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours in the graduate Public History program in order to qualify.

Most assistantships allow students to engage in Public History methods with a faculty member to further their understanding and appreciation of their course work. Successful candidates gain fluency in Public History methods, project management skills, communication skills and data collection tactics. If you have any questions about the assistantship options, please contact Lindsey Wieck at lwieck@stmarytx.edu.

About Public History Assistantships

Placements include any of the active Public History Projects currently ongoing within the Department of History or within the Blume Library at St. Mary’s.

Public History Assistantships

About School of Law Public History Fellows

This program supports the ongoing efforts of the School of Law to collect, prepare and showcase the stories of the School of Law, law students and our alumni who have made an impact on our local communities.

In researching the history of the School of Law, students further develop their understanding of Public History, historical interpretation and multimedia communication.

School of Law Public History Fellows

  • Apply for Fellowship or Assistantship

    To apply for a Public History Assistantship or to be a School of Law Public History Fellow, follow the steps below.

    1. Complete and submit the Graduate Application for Admission
      • As a Public History student, indicate your interest in pursuing a graduate assistantship on the application form
    2. Participate in an interview
      • Prepare for a telephone, video call or in-person interview with the Public History program director and/or other faculty members
    Graduate Application for Admission

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Graduate and Military Discounts

St. Mary’s offers various scholarships, grants and assistantships for graduate students. Military and their dependents, as well as Department of Defense employees, may be eligible for a tuition discount.

Financial Aid

Merit-based Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships for new students in the program are offered by the Public History program. All accepted applicants are considered for these scholarships.

Merit-based Scholarships

Admission Requirements and Process

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Admission is granted to those with a high promise of success in graduate study. Applicant must complete the following to be considered for admission.

  1. Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university
  2. Meet the minimum criteria
  3. Submit a St. Mary’s Admission Application

To discuss specific admission procedures and requirements for the Public History program, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 210-436-3101 or graduate@stmarytx.edu.

  • Contact Us

    To learn more about the Master of Arts in Public History at St. Mary’s University, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@stmarytx.edu or 210-436-3126.

    Graduate Admission

Faculty

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