Public History Program at Ghent University

In 2016-2017, Ghent University is the first Belgian university to offer a program in public history. Students in the History program can choose this optional program in their third bachelor's and master's program in history. The program consists of a cluster of courses with at its core two internships.

Read more about the goal of the public history program in the blog

3rd Bachelor
History and Society
Arts Policy and Museum studies
Observational and participatory internship

Master's
Research seminar public history
Participatory internship public history

Master's thesis?


3rd Bachelor

History and Society

Prof. dr. Berber Bevernage
5 ECTS, first semester
This theoretical cours analyzes the different relationships in which humans engage with the past.
 

Arts policy and Museum studies

Prof. dr. Manfred Sellinck
5 ECTS, second semester
This course offers an introduction to the history of (art) collections and museal approaches and to the context of the Flemisch cultural heritage policy. 
 

Observational and participatory internship (Bachelor's)

Prof. dr. Bruno De Wever and Fien Danniau
5 ECTS, second semester
History students are given an introduction into the broad field of public historical practices in an institution, organization or arena that engages in relationships with the past. These can be classical heritage institutions, but just as well a press medium, a policy player, a public service, a tourist or sociocultural organization. Besides an observational part, the internship also consists of a participatory part for which students have to perform a well-defined task in close cooperation with the mentor at the institution and the supervisor at Ghent University. Read more about the bachelor's internship
 
 

Master

Research seminar public history

Prof. dr. Bruno De Wever and prof. dr. Gita Deneckere
5 ECTS, first semester
The Research seminar public history analyzes practices in public history from both a theoretical and a concrete perspective with experts from the field. Every year a central theme is put under scrutiny, such as 'History and Entertainment' (2013-14), 'The Commemoration Hype' (2014-15), 'The Palace of Memory' (2015-16) or 'Curators of the Past' (2016-17). 
 

Participatory intership public history (Master's)

Prof. dr. Bruno De Wever and Fien Danniau
5 ECTS, second semester
Again, as for the first internship, students complete a 120-hour internship at an institution or organization that is active in the broadly defined cultural heritage world. With the guidance of a professional, students develop an activity or product in the field of public history. This internship can take place at the same institution as the bachelor's internship, but this is not obligatory.

 

Master's thesis?

30 ECTS, entire year
The master's thesis is not a part of the public history program, but congruence with the personal program is of course encouraged. Obviously, an internship institution can provide inspiration for a subject for a master's thesis. Possibilities are a subject or archival collection brought to the attention of the student by the internship institution; a subject corresponding on a content level with the public historical work in which the student participates; or a historical practice or arena into which the student wants to delve.

Have a look at the master's theses in meta- and public history at Ghent University (2009 to present)