Course summary

The MA in Public History and Heritage is a flexible programme designed to offer academic training, for those The Extended MA in Public History and Heritage is a flexible 2-year programme designed to offer academic training, for those interested in research careers, and the relevant employability skills needed for a range of careers in the heritage sector. A range of stimulating modules cover topics such as museum studies, conflict heritage, Egyptology, ancient civilisations, medieval studies, and contemporary history. Throughout your studies, you are encouraged to build your analytical and methodological awareness of key concepts, and approaches to communicating the past to different public audiences. You will also learn more about the history of heritage, and the lively role of public history and heritage within global debates. You will draw on the expertise of internationally recognised scholars and gain practical, hands-on experience through a work placement programme. The organisations we work with include the National Trust, Cadw, the Canal and River Trust, and museums, archives, and galleries across South Wales. You could also work with charities, local heritage projects, and research institutions. In the second part of the course, you have the choice of completing a 60-credit practice-based dissertation project or a 60-credit written dissertation project. The programme will then complete with a semester spent studying abroad, as the Extended MA is delivered in partnership with Appalachian State University. You will study on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. The campus has a botanical garden and several historic buildings including Singleton Abbey, a Grade II 19th century mansion. The programme works closely with the University’s archives and collections including the world-renowned Egypt Centre, the South Wales Miners’ Library, the University art collections, and the Richard Burton Archives. The programme is delivered within the School of Culture and Communication, home to the Graduate Centre which is designed to promote individual and collaborative research activity of an international standard, providing a supportive environment for students pursuing postgraduate research and taught master’s study. We also offer postgraduate training to enhance academic and professional development, and facilitate seminar programmes, workshops, and international conferences through our research centres; CHART (the Centre for Heritage Research and Training), OLCAP (the Research Group for Object and Landscape Centred Approaches to the Past), and KYKNOS (the Centre for Research on the Narrative Literatures of the Ancient World). While studying abroad, there will be opportunities for you to take both theoretical and practical options from Appalachian State University's humanities programme, and to explore the similarities and differences in local heritage. Appalachia has distinctive mining and music traditions that draw direct comparisons with Wales, or you may prefer to explore the practice of public history in the USA, and the ways its history and heritage are represented. You’ll be joining a leading department, with renowned research and expertise: • 100% of our research impact is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)