Program(s) Available: Minor
If you are interested in historic preservation, cultural resource management, museums, libraries or archives, a minor in public history and museum studies may be for you!
A minor in public history and museum studies exposes students to photo editing software, historic preservation and the national registry, oral history transcription, exhibit design, and collection policies. With this minor, students are prepared for entry-level work in these fields and receive a strong theoretical grounding in public history and museum studies concepts, along with hands-on experience, that prepares them well for graduate school.
Not sure which major to pair with this minor? Majors in history, political science, public administration, business management, art and music are just a few of the possibilities. To learn more, view our Academic Catalog.
Mon, Feb. 24, 2025
(criminology, political science, and pre-law)
Mon, Feb. 24, 2025
(history, geography and EDM)
Dr. Elyssa Ford
Valk 53
660.562.1213
ebford@sys-filter.com
Career ready
Vanessa Purcell
Watch senior history major Vanessa Purcell discuss historic preservation
A central tenant of the minor in public history and museum studies is combining a theoretical grounding in the various fields under public history and museum studies with real-world, profession-based learning. Students in this program complete hands-on projects in class but they also work closely with community partners to undertake professional projects that are made available to the public.
A unique component of Northwest's public history and museum studies program is our state-of-the-art Public History Lab at Northwest. This lab consists of two dry mount presses and a large format printer where students create professional museum exhibits. Few graduate programs have access like this, and students early in our program get to work in this facility.
The Northwest campus includes a number of small museums, including the Jean Jennings Bartik Computing Museum, the Warren Stucki Museum of Broadcasting, an art gallery and rotating exhibit space, several science museums, and more. These locations provide students the ability to complete internships and find paid employment on campus.
Public history and museum studies classes regularly partner with the Nodaway County Historical Society and the Maryville Public Library providing students real world project experience. Students have also worked with Maryville Public Safety, Maryville Parks & Recreation, and other institutions in the region on research, archival, and exhibit projects.
Our students have created websites, lesson plans, oral history projects, and National Register of Historic Places nominations for community partners.
