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

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  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.

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  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

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.