What made you study at UL?
I was unsure what to do after my undergrad, and when I saw the public history course I thought it would be broad enough that I could explore the world of historical dissemination without tying myself down to specifically museum/conservation work, etc.
What did you learn on the course?
The element which sticks out to me the most, was learning all about how history can be presented to the public through the new media. The theory of public history was very interesting, however, it was learning how to be a ‘good’ public historian which I felt the most valuable.
What is unique about the programme?
Oh, definitely the online element. It allows unprecedented amount of flexibility, but also requires severe dedication and commitment.
It allows unprecedented amount of flexibility, but also requires severe dedication and commitment
Can you take us through a typical week on the MA programme?
From what I can recall, each semester there were three main modules, each going online on a dedicated day, for example, Monday/Wednesday/Friday. The podcast and slideshow would go live and then by that evening classmates would have started to discuss the material in the online forum.
Can you describe how the Public History Internship you completed during your programme of study benefitted you in your current career?
The internship had essentially put everything I had learned into practice and illustrated the benefits of developing public history in replacing the traditional theoretical approach to history. Any time I am involved in museums now, it is my experience with Tipperary County Museum which I draw on rather than what I read in the books before
Can you tell us about your own personal experience of the course, the benefits/challenges, etc?
As a whole, I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I thrived on the more creative and modern style of assignment, such as creating podcasts and timelines, etc. However, I found the theory a little more difficult. Saying that, there was constant, almost 24/7 help available through the online forum as well as from our lecturers.
Would you recommend the MA to others?
I would definitely recommend the course to people who want to get involved in the more practical side of presenting history to the public. The course allowed for a lot of free thinking and creativity, especially in the digital humanities module.
I would definitely recommend the course to people who want to get involved in the more practical side of presenting history to the public
To learn more about the MA in Public History and Cultural Heritage. Please click here.
