Masters
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall, Spring
On-Campus
About the Public History Master's Program at Loyola
Public historians are fundamental to shaping our understanding of the past—and our approach to the present. If you have a passion for history and examining events from a variety of perspectives, Loyola University Chicago's distinguished MA in Public History prepares you to contribute to our shared knowledge of the history that informs our today.
Program Structure
The MA in Public History can be pursued full time or part time. Classes are held weekday evenings at Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on Chicago's North Side, a leading site for public history.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Master's in Public History Degree?
At Loyola, you will join one of only two public history master's programs offered at a private institution. Rooted in Jesuit values and continuing Loyola's tradition of educational excellence, our master's in public history program prepares you for a career as a successful historian who creates a stronger understanding of the past.
- Incorporating diverse perspectives
- A faculty of practicing historians
- Located in the history-rich city of Chicago
- Real-world practice in research and public history
- A respected Jesuit institution
- Practical skills applicable to numerous contexts
Examine history from a variety of viewpoints. Our curriculum includes national, global, and multicultural perspectives to enrich your understanding of historical events, issues, and theories. Loyola's public history master's program draws on women's studies and gender studies, Asian studies, urban studies, African American studies, and other disciplines that contribute to a deeper understanding of public history.
Learn from professors with practical experience as public historians. Our faculty have worked as curators, researchers, digital researchers, and oral historians for such organizations as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. District Court, the History Channel, U.S. Forest Service, and numerous local and regional museums, businesses, foundations, and historical societies.
Study in Chicago, a city with a long and rich history. With numerous museums, historical preservation societies, and public history organizations, Chicago offers a wealth of opportunities for graduate students and aspiring historians like you.
Apply what you have learned before you graduate. To earn your degree, you will complete a graduate research seminar and a public history internship. These requirements ensure you gain practical experience in areas such as scholarship, curatorial work, and exhibit design.
Study at an institution with an established history of producing successful, ethical public historians. Our educational approach is rooted in the Jesuit method, which includes a passion for excellence, ethical and spiritual development, and care for the whole person. These Jesuit values contribute to helping you develop into an exceptional historian.
Learn skills you can use in a variety of careers, whether as an archivist, history instructor, or government consultant. In addition to the theoretical and technical skills required for jobs as a historian, you will gain skills applicable to a wide variety of contexts, including critical thinking, research, attention to detail, and communication.
History Department
The discipline of history has expanded in scope, theory and methodology in recent decades. Find stories showcasing current students and graduates from the History: Public History MA program and learn more about why Loyola is right for you.
Department WebsiteDepartment News and StoriesMeet the Faculty
Learn from professors with practical experience as public historians. Our faculty have worked as curators, consultants, digital researchers, and oral historians for such organizations as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. District Court, the History Channel, U.S. Forest Service, and numerous local and regional museums, businesses, foundations and historical societies.
FacultyPublic History: Career Connections
Graduates of Loyola's MA in Public History program work as historians, archivists, exhibit designers, and researchers. They work in a variety of settings, including in history museums, state historic preservations, museum agencies, public history consulting firms, the National Archives, and the National Park Service.
Specific job options include:
- Museum curator
- Museum educator
- Exhibit developer
- Archivist
- Public historian
- Historian
- Historic preservation specialist
- Oral historian
- Museum manager
- Lecturer/college instructor
- Researcher
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook and the American Historical Association are good places to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers as a historian.
Loyola Stories
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the History: Public History MA program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide History: Public History MA learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogMA in Public History Results and Skills
In the public history MA program, you will gain practice using public history methods to share interpretations of history, preserve and present artifacts, conduct research, and produce original scholarship. The MA in Public History prepares you for jobs as a historian, archivist, researcher, and other roles by helping you develop skills such as:
- Digital preservation
- Exhibit design
- Curation
- Research and analysis
- Record management
- Museum management
- Archival skills
- Cultural sensitivity
- Collection management
- Documentation
- Written communication
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the History: Public History MA totals $36115.00, or 31 credit hours at a cost of $1,165.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe Graduate School offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the History: Public History MA are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall: May 1
Spring: Rolling admission
Please note that decisions are delivered within 2 weeks of complete application submission.
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the History: Public History MA include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
3 Letters of Recommendation
3.0 Minimum GPA
Statement of Purpose
Writing Sample
Prerequisite Course Requirements
Normally, students should have 18 hours of undergraduate coursework in history.
Statement of Purpose Details
Please write a brief statement describing your academic and research interests as well as your professional goals. Please note there is a writing sample requirement that needs to be completed in addition to this section.
Writing Sample Details
Please submit a Master's Essay, Master's Thesis, or a substantial research paper written for a history course.
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the History: Public History MA program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
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