Frequently Asked Questions
The renowned Fales Collection at NYU documents the downtown art, performance and literary scenes from the late twentieth century to the present. Image courtesy New York University Archives
Why pursue an M.A. degree in Archives and Public History at New York University?
Public historians and archivists operate in a global and technological environment that is rapidly changing. They require a broad education that will provide the intellectual engagement, conceptual tools, and practical skills necessary to engage diverse and demanding twenty-first century audiences. New York University provides graduates with the solid theoretical grounding, the exposure to contemporary trends, and the collaboration with broader communities necessary for future success. Students have access to world-class library resources, top professionals in the field, and an impressive array of leading public history and archival institutions throughout the metropolitan area. Internships are integrated with coursework throughout the program, contributing to a highly professional and constructive learning environment.
What are the strengths of the program?
NYU’s archives and public history alumni have compiled an impressive record of professional leadership and accomplishment over the past three decades. Some students have earned Ph.D.s and work as academics, but most have crafted innovative careers within the archival and public history communities. Our curriculum itself, which undergoes regular and rigorous review, provides students with a solid theoretical grounding in such topics as memory, heritage, commemoration, historic preservation, and the role of the archive in humanities scholarship. Courses also emphasize contemporary standards and engagement with new technologies, as public historians and archivists continually use new methods and techniques to engage non-traditional audiences. The program also has a commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and collaborates with various related programs at NYU.
What special resources offer students an enriched experience?
The program takes full advantage of the outstanding archival and public history institutions and resources throughout the New York metropolitan area. Students intern at diverse and vibrant external venues, ranging from the Tenement House Museum to the Brooklyn Historical Society to City Lore/Place Matters to Rolling Stone magazine, In addition, NYU’s Bobst Library contains nationally significant archival and manuscript collections, including: the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives; the Tamiment Library collections concerning radicalism and Leftist movements; and the Fales Library’s innovative “Downtown Collection” that documents late-twentieth-century avant garde artists, musicians, and performing artists in New York City. Bobst has also emerged as a national leader in digital curatorship, and students have the opportunity to engage fully with new media.
Who teaches the courses?
Peter J. Wosh, the Director of the Program, teaches most core courses. He has three decades of experience administering institutional and academic archives, as well as conducting public history projects, and is also a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists. Other faculty members include full-time historians and archivists at New York University, as well as archival and public history professionals who currently work in the field. Students also have the opportunity to sample courses in such related NYU programs as Museum Studies and the Moving Image Archives Program in the Tisch School of the Arts.
Who are the students?
Most students arrive at the program with undergraduate or graduate history degrees, but a growing percentage of our applicants have been trained in other academic disciplines. American studies, performance studies, anthropology, journalism, and English appear especially well-represented. Many students matriculate directly after completing their undergraduate degrees, but a significant number have been working in the field. Others are accomplished professionals with distinguished records who have decided to pursue a second career. We also attract some international students. Approximately 15 students enter the program each year.
Can I pursue this program as a part-time student?
The program has always been attractive to part-time students. Many matriculants gain valuable professional experience by working in the field as they move through the program. Core courses accommodate the needs of part-timers by meeting in the evenings, typically during the 5:00-7:30 time slot. Some electives are offered in the afternoon. All courses meet once a week, though the Internship Seminar requires students to complete a practicum at an archival or public history institution by working 120 hours over the course of the semester.
Does the program offer financial aid?
A limited number of graduate assistantships are offered within the archives concentration, in conjunction with Bobst Library. All program applicants are automatically considered for these assistantships. The Graduate School’s Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages students to apply for external grants and provides matching tuition points (from 50 to 100 percent) to eligible recipients of external awards from recognized, academic sources of funding outside NYU. For applications and specific details about TIP eligibility criteria, please visit www.nyu.edu/gsas/Admissions/tipform.html. New York University offers several loan programs to students. Information is available at www.nyu.edu/financial.aid or at the Office of Financial Aid, 212-998-4444.
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