Study History Where It Happens

In Washington, DC, history is being made every day. The unparalleled professional and intellectual opportunities offered by the nation's capital make AU the ideal place to study public history. Students have access to renowned museums and archives — such as the Smithsonian, the National Archives, and the Library of Congress — where they can further their research, explore career options, and make a unique impact on the field.

In public history practicum, students engage in hands-on learning and assist in the development of interpretive programming and exhibits for high-profile institutions such as the National Park Service, the Historical Society of Washington, National Public Radio, and the White House Historical Association. As part of the Washington, DC Consortium, American University's students are able to take courses at colleges and universities throughout the DC metropolitan area, providing the opportunity to work with a variety of faculty in diverse programs and fields of study.

Students get a head start on their careers by interning at one of the city's many museums, archives, or historic sites. Local partnerships help students find internships with the area's most important institutions and employers. Whether students are interested in working at government institutions or a small nonprofits, DC has something for you. We also offer yearly fellowship opportunities with with a variety of partner institutions.

Learn from Our History-Making Faculty

At AU, students work closely with experienced scholars whose work blurs the lines between the academic and the public. Students learn from respected professors of AU's Public History program, faculty across the History department, and Public Historians in Residence who are practitioners in the field. Our faculty’s variety of research interests and areas of expertise offers students a wide field of research options.

Explore the Possibilities

AU Public History graduates work for museums, archives, historical societies, and related institutions. With a strong curriculum, prime location, and connections with professional organizations across the United States, graduates are well prepared to begin highly rewarding careers. In the DC area, AU alumni work at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and President Lincoln’s College. Graduates find positions nationwide in reputable institutions such as the Southern Oral History Program, the Nantucket Preservation Trust, and the Rhode Island Historical Society.

In and around DC

• American Historical Association, Deputy Director
• Anacostia Community Museum, Program Coordinator
• Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, Communications and Advocacy Director
• DC Oral History Collaborative, Consulting Oral Historian and Project Manager
• HumanitiesDC, Curator of Digital Collections
• National Archives and Records Administration, Archives Technician
• National Museum of African American History and Culture, Curatorial Assistant at the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts
• NPR, Historian and Grantwriter for Research, Archives, and Data Strategy
• National Trust for Historic Preservation, Associate Director of Publications and Programs
• White House Historical Association, Education Manager

Around the Country

• Atlanta History Center (Atlanta, GA), Exhibition Project Manager
• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum (Bainbridge Island, WA), Executive Director
• Maryland Historical Society (Baltimore, MD), Digital Education Manager
• Owls Head Transportation Museum (Owls Head, ME), Curator
• Thinc Design (New York, NY), Interpretive Planner
• University at Albany Archives and Special Collections (Albany, NY), Supervisory Archivist