When viewed as an opportunity, rather than a hurdle in the public history curriculum, a thesis can provide the chance to devote oneself to a topic about which one is truly passionate. ~ Abby Curtin earned her MA in public history at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in She currently works at Cleveland Restoration Society History | Completed Theses & Dissertations in Public History. Christopher Halderman, M.A. ’20, “The Militarization of the Puget Sound: A Gateway to the Pacific, ; JT Menard, M.A. ’19, “Scottish Ale: Bert Grant and the Rise and Fall of the Yakima Btewing Malting Company – Thesis and Thesis Project All public history students must prepare a Master's thesis based on original primary research and complete a complimentary public history project. At the end of the first year, public history students will apply for candidacy on the basis of their thesis proposal as prepared in HIST (Historiography)
Making my thesis work for me | National Council on Public History
sense of placeeducationtraining. James A. Garfield National Historic Site, the nineteenth-century home of the dissertation public history President, is located in Mentor, Ohio. Photo credit: Andy Curtiss. Although some students including myself at times bemoan the thesis as impractical and suggest a public history project or portfolio as an alternative, I found my thesis experience to be integral to dissertation public history development as a public historian.
My research inspired me to reach out to scholars and professionals whose work paralleled my own. It has also opened new doors as I transition out of academia and into a career interpreting the past for public audiences, dissertation public history. My thesis research grew out of my experience volunteering and working as a seasonal interpretive ranger at James A, dissertation public history.
Garfield National Historic Sitethe late nineteenth-century Ohio home of the 20th President. I set out to write about the evolution of the historic landscape of the site, and I wanted to integrate my interest in historic site interpretation into my work, especially because a graduate course on this topic would not be offered during my two years at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis IUPUI.
The week-long workshop was an outstanding educational experience and opportunity for professional development. Staff and volunteers shared their hopes for future interpretation at the site, and I made note of the areas in which they wished to see more research on the Garfield family and their home. I returned to Indianapolis from the workshop excited and motivated.
Although the majority of my thesis was composed of three vignettes about the history of the Garfield farm, I devoted the last section of my thesis to a discussion of practical applications of my research and the potential for integration of digital technology into interpretation at the site. In my summer research, which was funded by a grant from the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, dissertation public history, I evaluated what visitors learn about the landscape of the Garfield site from outdoor wayside exhibits like the one pictured here.
Photo credit: Abby Curtin. In addition to having the support of staff and volunteers at the Garfield site throughout dissertation public history research, I was lucky to work with an academic advisor who not only challenged me to produce quality historical scholarship but also supported my desire to incorporate dissertation public history history into my work. Perhaps most surprising to me was the way in which my thesis served as an avenue through which to network with others in the field.
Dissertation public history a bit of luck and the willingness to reach out, ask questions, and talk about my research, I came into contact with a dissertation public history of public historians whose insights and scholarship guided or inspired my own work.
I used Twitter to connect with fellow history students with similar research projects and became addicted to reading blogs by other public historians with interest in cultural landscape studies. When I attended NCPH conferences in Ottawa and Monterey, I had the opportunity to engage with these individuals in person.
Keeping questions about interpretation and ideas about practical applications of my research at the center of my thesis work has also opened doors that form the building blocks of my professional career. In the spring ofI was awarded a grant from the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands to conduct interpretation research at James A. Garfield National Historic Site, dissertation public history. This funding has given me the opportunity to take my thesis research to the next level.
Dissertation public history spent this summer observing visitor behavior and interviewing guests at the historic site about how current exhibits and interpretive tools impact their understanding of the historic landscape, dissertation public history. Although I successfully defended my thesis in April, this grant project allowed me to engage my research in new ways.
In this regard, my thesis was the catalyst for my first post-grad school professional project. Researching and writing a thesis was no doubt difficult, but I found the process to be exciting, catalytic, and instrumental in my development as a public historian. It was especially rewarding to witness my thesis research propelling me towards new opportunities in the field. As I continue to build my career, I can hold up my thesis as an example of my ability to not only conduct thorough research and write dissertation public history critical historical interpretation but also express vision for new ways to present the stories of the past to public audiences.
I hope that students of public history will see writing a thesis as an opportunity for exploration rather than an impediment in their quest for an advanced degree in public history.
I found many opportunities to engage with public history professionals, think creatively, and present fresh perspectives on my topic while writing my thesis, and I know several classmates who are having similar experiences.
When viewed as an opportunity, rather than a hurdle in the public history curriculum, a thesis can provide the chance to devote oneself to a topic about which one is truly passionate. She currently works at Cleveland Restoration Society. Thanks for this post. My dissertation public history is to work on a project rather than a thesis, but I may—based on this post—talk to my grad director about the options.
Thanks for your comment, Barbara. I think the main takeaway from my experience was that no matter what the requirement, a thesis, dissertation public history, project, or portfolio, students should look at it not as a major obstacle, but an opportunity dissertation public history exploration.
Good luck with your project! Viewed as not only a dreaded task but an opportunity for life long learning! I am one wholeheartedly in thesis camp on the dissertation public history vs. project divide. Life is full of projects and a good public history degree program should have many of them in the curriculum. This is dissertation public history critical function of life within, but more importantly outside of, the academy.
It is often one stumbling block for students because we are so much on our own as we complete the project. All in all, I think you will find yourself much better prepared by having completed this crucial step in graduate school, thank going the project route, dissertation public history. Hi Bob! Dissertation public history for your comments. I wholeheartedly [in retrospect] agree. I look forward to seeing where my experience takes me in the future!
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Jul 13, · Search multiple thesis/dissertation databases. Most dissertations since are available online. Many theses in particular are not available online and are only held at the institution where the thesis was completed. Sometimes your only option is to obtain a thesis or dissertation through Interlibrary blogger.com: Ken Middleton In other Dissertation Public History words, when you come to us and say, “I need somebody to write my paper”, you can rest assured that we will assign the best possible person to work on your assignment public history project is thus intended as both a capstone requirement for the completion of an M.A. degree in history and the production of a public history project that will enhance the student’s employment odds. This project equals the traditional thesis in rigor and thus students will need to complete the required six hours in HIS
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