Public History and Heritage MA

Alongside a dissertation and a work placement, you will study modules such as:

This module examines how history is used, contested and represented in contemporary society. Using local, national and international case studies, students will consider the philosophical, ethical and methodological issues that arise when historians intervene in public debate.

You will explore recent growth in the heritage industries, putting regional and national development into a global context. This module will identify current issues and developments in heritage practice and consider what impact this has had on popular understandings of the past.

This module will consider what skills are needed to conserve, manage and display collections and built heritage. It will explore how the role of curator has changed in the recent past and will equip students with practical skills (both analogue and digital) for a job as a modern curator.

You will examine what audience research, audience development and evaluation mean in the heritage and cultural industries and why these are important. This module will also explore how working more closely with audiences has redefined the role of heritage organisations through the concept of ‘co-production’.

We will look at the financial, legal and commercial context in which heritage practitioners work and how they manage challenges and constraints. This module will cover the varied management structures of producers of public history and heritage - local authorities, charitable trusts, businesses and private individuals – and help you develop the skills to navigate these as a heritage professional.