HYM5170

Public history placement

Brigid Hains

12 points -One 2-hour seminar each week for 4 weeks (held in the evening) -Placement to be negotiated -First semester -City location -Prohibitions: Only available in the MA in public history

Objectives Upon successful completion of this course students will be expected to have developed a network of professional contacts in public history and negotiated (in consultation with the subject co-ordinator) a period of work experience. Students will be expected to develop their understanding of the practical and ethical challenges of working as a public historian, and to develop high levels of presentation and communication skills.

Synopsis This subject incorporates a period of work experience in the public history field. Students will be assisted by the co-ordinator in organising about eighty hours of work placement, which may be taken in a museum, heritage organisation, as an assistant to a freelance historian or similar. A short series of seminars will introduce students to the idea of public history, and the diverse opportunities for employment in the field. Students will pursue a practical project during the placement which will result in a substantial report or other piece of written work. In a final seminar students will be invited to reflect on the outcomes of the work placement.

Assessment Reflective essay (1500 words): 15% -Oral presentation: 10% -Placement project (6000 words): 75%

Recommended texts

Davison G and McConville C A heritage handbook Allen and Unwin 1991
Griffiths T Hunters and collectors OUP, 1996
Lowenthal D The past is a foreign country CUP, 1985
Rickard J and Spearritt P (eds) Packaging the past MUP, 1991
Samuel R Theatres of memory Verso, 1994

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