The Public History program at UC Riverside is one of the oldest and most established in the country. We offer both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees and a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes both the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline as well as training in the latest methodologies and practices.

The Public History program opens doors for its graduates to work in museums, archives, and libraries as well as at a variety of historic sites and other organizations. The program also prepares students for positions of leadership in the fields of heritage conservation in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Our program has built strong partnerships with regional institutions, from museums to land conservancies and planning organizations, and is involved in international collaborations. Through innovative public projects and programming with an emphasis on the relevancy of the humanities to socially pressing issues today, we offer our students a unique experience, combining hands-on work in the public history with rigorous academic training.

Public History faculty and affiliated faculty

Megan Asaka: urban and oral history
David Biggs: environmental studies and GIS
Catherine Gudis: exhibitions, preservation, and place-based projects
Jennifer Hughes: material culture
Juliette Levy: digital humanities and digital history
Molly McGarry: museum studies and visual culture
Dana Simmons: science and technology studies
Clifford Trafzer: oral history 
Devra Weber: oral history