Public History, Area of Concentration in Arts & Sciences (AA)
Award: Associate of Arts Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Professor James Karmel, 443-412-2105, jkarmel@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
This concentration will provide History majors with an introductory learning experience in Public History. The concentration will allow History majors to engage in the broader interpretation of History for public audiences. This concentration can be used for transfer purposes to four-year colleges and universities to support credentials for students seeking immediate employment or volunteer engagement in Public History. The Public History concentration will supplement the History program’s focus on preparing students to understand their political, social, economic, intellectual, scientific and artistic heritage in historical context.
Program Goals
Upon completion of the public history concentration , students will be able to:
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of the historical discipline, United States history, and world history.
- Conduct research to find and critically examine varied historical material, including primary and secondary sources.
- Develop coherent and analytical papers, presentations, digital projects and other products using historical sources.
- Perform successfully in a baccalaureate program.
- Express awareness of the Public History field regarding employment and educational options.
- Create and critically evaluate Public History projects.
Transfer Information
Students should be aware that each transfer institution has unique curricular requirements. To facilitate transfer, students should consult with an academic advisor early in their studies at HCC and before selecting elective courses.
Employment Information
The Public History concentration prepares students to be historians who specifically work in jobs that develop and interpret the past for public audiences. These jobs are usually found outside of education in settings, such as: historical consulting firms, museums, historical sites, government agencies, living history projects, theatre companies, digital media operations, film and television production companies, and local historical societies. With the amount of history being written down, recorded, and created increasing every day, the need for historians to collect, curate and spread this information grows with it. See also the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report for historians.
Degree Requirements
Recommended Course Sequence
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| History of Western Civilization I (GB) (D) | ||
| History of the United States I (GB) (GAH) (D) | ||
| World History I (GB) (D) | ||
| Biological/Physical Lab Science Elective (GL) | 4 | |
| Mathematics Elective (GM) 2 | 3 | |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 109 | English Composition: Research Writing | 3 |
| CMST 101 | Speech Fundamentals (GI) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| History of Western Civilization II (GB) (D) | ||
| History of the United States II (GB) (GAH) (D) | ||
| World History II (GB) (D) | ||
| HIST 216 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| Biological/Physical Science Elective (GS) 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 3 | |
| History Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB) | 3 | |
| Public History Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 3 | |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| History Elective | 3 | |
| Public History Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
Must complete sequence HIST 101 History of Western Civilization I (GB) (D) - HIST 102 History of Western Civilization II (GB) (D) or HIST 103 History of the United States I (GB) (GAH) (D) - HIST 104 History of the United States II (GB) (GAH) (D) or HIST 109 World History I (GB) (D) - HIST 110 World History II (GB) (D).
- 2
A four credit course in mathematics (GM) may be substituted.
- 3
A four credit Biological/Physical Science Lab (GL) may be substituted.
- 4
HIST 283 Internship in Public History, is strongly recommended for this Public History Elective.
Public History Elective
Select two of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 211 | The Archaeology of Maryland | 3 |
| BA 103 | Public Relations | 3 |
| BA 108 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BA 109 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 203 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| CADD 101 | Introduction to CADD | 3 |
| CIS 217 | Introduction to Web Programming 1 | 3 |
| ENG 205 | American Literature: Colonial Through the Civil War (GAH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 206 | American Literature: Late 19th and 20th Centuries (GAH) (D) | 3 |
| HIST 283 | Internship in Public History | 3 |
| MC 103 | TV Studio Production | 3 |
| MC 201 | Writing for the Electronic Media | 3 |
| PS 101 | American National Government (GB) | 3 |
| SOC 201 | Marriage and the Family (GB) (D) | 3 |
| THEA 104 | Stagecraft I | 3 |
| VPA 201 | Visual and Performing Arts Survey (GAH) (D) | 3 |
- 1
Prerequisites for CIS 217 Introduction to Web Programming: CIS 115 Fundamentals of Programming and CIS 136 Introduction to Internet Technologies or permission of instructor.
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)
Part-Time Progression Plan
The part-time progression plan for programs of study has been developed as a helpful example for students to guide their academic journey. This plan outlines a likely sequence of courses and milestones over three years to help students visualize their academic path. It is important to note that this progression plan is based solely on the core requirements outlined in the approved program of study and does not include any additional requirements. Each student’s experience may vary based on their specific interests, course availability, and academic history. Therefore, students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor.
Part-Time General Education Electives
To earn an Associate degree, students must complete at least 60 college-level credits, including a required number of General Education (Gen Ed) credits:
- AA, AS, and AAT degrees require 28–36 General Education credits as part of the 60 total. This includes a minimum of:
- 6 credits of Arts/Humanities (GAH)
- 6 credits of Behavioral/Social Sciences (GB)
- 3 credits of English Composition (GE) - satisfied by ENG 101 English Composition (GE)
- 4 credits of Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
- 3 credits of Mathematics (GM)
- 3 credits of Biological/Physical Science (GS)
- AAS degrees require at least 18 General Education credits, including one course from each of the following categories: GAH, GB, GE, GL, and GM.
General Education courses must be selected from the college’s approved list and may be further specified by individual degree programs. Unless a General Education course is specifically required by a program, the elective General Education courses listed in the recommended sequence are intended as suggestions, not mandatory selections.
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)
Recommended Part-Time Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| Select one Early History Course: 1 | 3 | |
| History of Western Civilization I (GB) | ||
| History of the United States I (GB) (GAH) | ||
| World History I (GB) | ||
| Mathematics Elective (GM): | 3-4 | |
| College Algebra (GM) | ||
| Contemporary Mathematics (GM) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics (GM) | ||
| Credits | 9-10 | |
| Winter | ||
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB): | 3 | |
| General Psychology (GB) | ||
| Social Problems (GB) | ||
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 216 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| Select a Second Course in History Sequence: 1 | 3 | |
| History of Western Civilization II (GB) | ||
| History of the United States II (GB) (GAH) | ||
| World History II (GB) | ||
| Biological/Physical Science (GS): | 3 | |
| Basic Forensic Science (GS) | ||
| Physical Science I (GS) | ||
| Human Genetics (GS) | ||
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| CMST 101 | Speech Fundamentals (GI) | 3 |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 109 | English Composition: Research Writing | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH): | 3 | |
| Global Art and Culture, Paleolithic - 1400 CE (GAH) | ||
| American Women Writers (GAH) | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy (GAH) | ||
| Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL): | 4 | |
| Fundamentals of Biology (GL) | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy (GS) and Sky and Telescope Laboratory (GL) |
||
| Earth Science (GS) and Earth Science Laboratory (GL) |
||
| Credits | 10 | |
| Winter | ||
| Public History Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| History Elective | 3 | |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB): | 3 | |
| General Psychology (GB) or Introduction to Sociology (GB) |
||
| American National Government (GB) | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (GB) | ||
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH): | 3 | |
| Global Art and Culture, Paleolithic - 1400 CE (GAH) | ||
| American Women Writers (GAH) | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy (GAH) | ||
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH): | 3 | |
| Global Art and Culture, 1400 CE - 21st Century (GAH) | ||
| History of Film (GAH) | ||
| Elementary Spanish I (GAH) | ||
| Elementary French I (GAH) | ||
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Public History Elective 2, 3 | 3 | |
| History Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 60-61 | |
- 1
Students must complete a sequence of HIST 101 History of Western Civilization I (GB) and HIST 102 History of Western Civilization II (GB), or HIST 103 History of the United States I (GB) (GAH) and HIST 104 History of the United States II (GB) (GAH), or HIST 109 World History I (GB) and HIST 110 World History II (GB).
- 2
Choose from the Public History Elective course list.
- 3
HIST 283 Internship in Public History is strongly recommended for this Public History Elective.
Public History Elective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 211 | The Archaeology of Maryland | 3 |
| BA 103 | Public Relations | 3 |
| BA 108 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BA 109 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 203 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| CADD 101 | Introduction to CADD | 3 |
| CIS 217 | Introduction to Web Programming | 3 |
| ENG 205 | American Literature: Colonial Through the Civil War (GAH) | 3 |
| ENG 206 | American Literature: Late 19th and 20th Centuries (GAH) | 3 |
| HIST 283 | Internship in Public History | 3 |
| MC 103 | TV Studio Production | 3 |
| MC 201 | Writing for the Electronic Media | 3 |
| PS 101 | American National Government (GB) | 3 |
| SOC 201 | Marriage and the Family (GB) | 3 |
| THEA 104 | Stagecraft I | 3 |
| VPA 201 | Visual and Performing Arts Survey (GAH) | 3 |