Skip to main content

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University
Advanced search
Information For...
  • Current Students
  • Parents & Family
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
Quick Links
  • Give
  • Maps
  • Employment
  • Library
  • AppalNet
  • AsULearn
  • A-Z
Main Menu
  • Why Choose App?
  • Visit
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Campus Life
  • About
  • Home
  • Academics
  • Undergraduate Programs

History (BS) - Applied and Public History

About

Appalachian State University’s History (BS) - Applied and Public History degree helps make history more accessible to the public. It is ideal for students who want careers working with archives, museums, national parks and landmarks. The degree can be used to pursue teaching as well. Students also have the opportunity to tailor their education to a specific interest by taking 24 credit hours in any department with courses related to public history, such as art history, history of furnishing, business and management, or public administration courses.

History is a highly versatile major. Appalachian’s history students develop valuable analytical skills that they take with them into many careers, and their experience in evaluating ideas and information, examining and interpreting evidence and developing a world view helps them become expert decision-makers. They’re also cool people to talk with because they can speak on many different topics.

Classes in Appalachian’s Department of History are taught by well-published professional historians who are dedicated to preparing students for life and careers in the 21st century. They welcome students who desire opportunities to conduct research with them and attend or present at conferences.

After Graduation

Employment: Students are employed at places such as RPG Solutions in Raleigh, Watauga County Library, Iredell Museums, Kentucky Historical Society, Pamplin Historical Park and National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.

Graduate School: Students have gone on to University of New Mexico, University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, Colorado State University and other schools.

Career Exploration Website

People

  • Alumna Profile: Hannah (Benge) Parks ’14
    Alumna Profile: Hannah (Benge) Parks ’14

    Appalachian “never felt like a class to me… It was always an opportunity to learn something new,” says Hannah (Benge) Parks, marketing and program coordinator at Iredell Museums in Statesville.

  • Faculty Profile: Dr. Andrea Burns
    Faculty Profile: Dr. Andrea Burns

    Public history students can take advantage of several benefits that will help them land and/or thrive in jobs – from small classes to Dr. Andrea Burns Burns’s award-winning research that informs her teaching.

    Meet more faculty

Courses

  • Program of Study
    Program of Study
  • Four Year Guide
    Four Year Guide
  • NCCC Transfer Four Year Guide
    NCCC Transfer Four Year Guide

Related Programs

  • History (BA)
  • History (BS) - Multidisciplinary
  • History/Social Studies Education (BS)

Minors

A minor is optional. Many students choose Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science or another discipline within the humanities.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

History Club – This student club stimulates interest in history, promotes a closer association of students and faculty, and provides a common meeting ground for all those interested in history.

Phi Alpha Theta – An honors society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

The Department of History offers three regularly scheduled faculty-led, short-term summer study abroad programs:

  • Ireland/Spain - “Religious and Ethnic Conflict in Western Europe: Ireland and Spain,” every other year
  • Germany, Poland or Israel - “The Holocaust: History, Memory and the Politics of Representation,” every other year with support from the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies
  • United Kingdom - “Postindustrial Wales,” on demand

Admission Requirements

There are no admission requirements beyond admission to Appalachian State University.

apply

Apply

visit

Visit

connect

Connect

programs

Degrees

Want to learn more?

Register for Info Session
Costs and Aid

Why Appalachian?

  • Internship sites include local, easily accessible locations such as Watauga Public Library, as well the National Archives in Maryland and local historical preservation societies across the U.S.
  • The campus library’s W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection and British Studies collection are valuable resources for history majors.
  • The Department of History offers a broad curriculum in local, national, regional and world history which encourages history majors to develop a comparative approach to human problems.
  • A web-based, undergraduate journal of historical research, called History Matters, is published annually by the Department of History. It is edited by undergraduates with the help of a faculty board.
  • Classes in the Department of History are small and faculty members give individualized attention to students.
  • The department has more than 30 tenured faculty members.

Location

Boone and Hickory

Careers

  • Archivist
  • Biographer
  • Editor
  • Genealogist
  • Historian
  • Historic Preservation Specialist
  • Historic Site Tour Guide
  • Historical Society Staff Member
  • Media Consultant
  • Museum Curator
  • Museum Technicians & Specialist
  • Research Assistant
  • Writer/Author

View more career possibilities

Contacts

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of History

Dr. Andrea Burns
Faculty member
burnsaa@appstate.edu

Amy Hudnall
Faculty member and advisor
hudnallac@appstate.edu

  • Department of History

    The Department of History offers a broad curriculum in local, national, regional and world history at both the undergraduate and graduate level, which encourages history majors to develop a comparative approach to human problems. The study of history is an essential part of a liberal arts education and offers valuable preparation for many careers, such as law, journalism, public history, public service and business, as well as in teaching and the advanced discipline of history.

  • College of Arts and Sciences

    Appalachian’s Largest College

    The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college spanning the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The college is dedicated to providing instruction and research essential to the university's mission and seeks to cultivate the habits of inquiry, learning and service among all its constituents.

    By the Numbers

    • 1/3 of the degrees awarded at Appalachian
    • More than 70% of general education courses are taught in the college
    • 93 majors offered
    • 53 minors offered
    • 6,411 undergraduate majors
    • More than 460 full-time faculty members
    • 41,203 living alumni
    • $8,754,800 awarded to the college in external grants during the 2020–21 academic year
    • $236,914 awarded to students through 6 collegewide scholarships and 98 departmental scholarships for the 2020–21 academic year

    Graduate Programs

    Accelerated Master’s program opportunities are available in pursuing a master's degree in 12 selected areas: Appalachian Studies, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, English, Geography and Planning, History, Mathematics, Romance Languages (French/Spanish), Political Science, Psychology (Experimental Science) and Public Administration. Other master’s degrees, graduate certificates and specialist degrees are listed on Appalachian’s School of Graduate Studies website.

    Top Employment Sectors

    • Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools
    • Federal, State and Local Government
    • Justice, Public Order and Safety Activities
    • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
    • Legal Services
    • Health Care
    • Biotech/Engineering
    • Elementary and Secondary Schools
    • Nonprofit Organizations

Appalachian Cares

It's up to me|us

Appalachian Cares is a place to find resources and support available for our students faculty and staff regarding student health and safety.

  • App State at Hickory
  • Accessibility
  • Bookstore
  • Contact Us
  • Emergency
  • Employment
  • Equal Opportunity Policy
  • Maps
  • Pay Bills
  • Policy Manual
  • Title IX

Connect

Facebook logo Twitter logo Youtube logo Insatgram logo

Connect with Appalachian's social media accounts from university programs, departments and administrative units..

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University

287 Rivers St., Boone, NC 28608 | 828-262-2000 | Copyright 2023 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer | Privacy | Website manager: waterworthae (wycoffdn) | Website feedback