by Dr. Jeffrey P. Shepherd, University of Texas El Paso

Using This Syllabus: This syllabus, developed for a course offered at the University of Texas, El Paso in Spring 2017, is a graduate seminar combining training in public history with a range of assignments designed around the AHA's five Career Diversity skills. 

Purpose of This Course: By asking students to imagine themselves as part of a Historical and Cultural Resources "firm" modeled on real world research businesses. It explores the terrain of public history work through the lens of both academic and corporate perspectives, with a strong emphasis on developing the five skills associated with the AHA's Career Diversity initiative. 

 Skills This Course Addresses: Quantitative Literacy, Communication, Collaboration, Intellectual Self-Confidence, Digital Literacy

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This graduate course will take a "hands-on" and experiential approach to learning about Public History and recent initiatives in Career Diversity. Career Diversity reflects the growing efforts of the American Historical Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities to introduce history graduate students to careers beyond teaching. It has some overlap with Public History, but does not solely focus on history related careers. Although we will read one book, and several articles providing an overview of the literature, the course is designed to offer students direct experiences with several institutions, agencies, organizations, and community groups in Las Cruces, El Paso, and the immediate region.

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