Public Humanities, Certificate

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Program Details

Location
Akron Campus
Level
graduate
Academic Pathway
certificate
Degree/Program Type
Certificate Program
Format
In-person
Course Info
Curriculum Guide
College
Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences (BCAS)
School/Department
Department of History

Program Contact

Dr. Jodi Kearns

Director, Institute for Human Science & Culture

330-972-7952 Send an Email

Overview

Connect scholarship with communities through hands-on public engagement. The Public Humanities graduate certificate prepares you to share research beyond the classroom while building practical skills in digital humanities, public history, museums, heritage preservation and community arts. Through interdisciplinary coursework and a capstone project, you'll gain real-world experience presenting ideas to public audiences and working across cultural, educational and nonprofit settings. The certificate can be completed alongside several graduate degree programs, including History, English and Arts Administration, helping you expand your expertise and career opportunities.

Admissions Requirements

Students must meet the general admissions requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at The University of Akron.

Career Outcomes

The Public Humanities graduate certificate prepares you to engage audiences, preserve cultural heritage and bring humanities research to life in public settings. Graduates build skills valued by museums, cultural organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions and government agencies. Career paths may include:

  • Public historian

  • Museum educator

  • Museum or cultural program coordinator

  • Community engagement specialist

  • Heritage preservation specialist

  • Digital humanities specialist

  • Exhibit developer

  • Arts administrator

  • Nonprofit program manager

  • Historic site interpreter

  • Cultural outreach coordinator

  • Communications and public engagement professional

The certificate also strengthens graduate study by adding practical public engagement experience that complements degrees in History, English, Arts Administration and related humanities disciplines.