EARN YOUR CERTIFICATE IN ARCHIVES, HISTORICAL SITE INTERPRETATION, AND MUSEUMS

*Current students, please refer to the DegreeWorks Dashboard in MyBHSU to confirm your certificate requirements.

Get a Certificate in Archives

The Black Hills region is rich with careers in applied history, including historical archives. The field is rapidly professionalizing, and specialized training is becoming the norm.

BHSU offers a twelve-credit certificate in archives, a field which the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts will grow in the next decade. This certificate gives students an edge in obtaining internships, jobs, and being accepted into competitive graduate programs. It is ideal for history majors who hope to work in archive-related careers. It is also valuable for non-students who are currently working or volunteering in archives, or are thinking about doing so.

Course requirements for the Archives Certificate:

• HIST 240 Introduction to Public History and Cultural Resources (3 credits)
• LIBM 404 Reference Resources (3 credits)
• LIBM 408 Collection Development (2 credits)
• HIST 494 Internship (at least 4 credits)

Questions? Please email Professor Kelly Kirk at Kelly.Kirk@bhsu.edu.  

Get a Certificate in Historical Site Interpretation

The Black Hills area is rich in historical sites, ranging from National Historic Landmarks to state and national parks to privately owned sites. Many historical locations provide interpretative programming, including tours, signs, displays, and written documents, to help the public better understand and appreciate their experiences: in other words, historical site interpretation.

BHSU is now offering a certificate in historical site interpretation, which will provide an advantage to students in getting internships, jobs, and placement in graduate programs. It is ideal for history majors who hope to work in historical interpretation, but other majors can benefit, including American Indian Studies, Mass Communications, and Outdoor Education.

This certificate is not limited to university students. Any individual who is currently working or volunteering at historical sites, or is thinking about doing so, can benefit.

Course requirements for the Historical Site Interpretation Certificate:

• HIST 240 Introduction to Public History and Cultural Resources (3 credits)
• OE 350 Environmental Interpretation (3 credits)
• OE 376 Interpretive Media (3 credits)
• HIST 494 Internship (at least 3 credits)

Questions? Please email Professor Kelly Kirk at Kelly.Kirk@bhsu.edu.  

Get a Certificate in Museums

The Black Hills area is rich in historical organizations, including museums. Historical interest drives much of the region’s and state’s tourism industry. Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that museums employed 22,800 curators, conservators, and museum technicians in 2008, and that number is expected to rise by 24% by the year 2018.

BHSU is now offering a certificate in museums, allowing students to be competitive for museum occupations. This field is rapidly professionalizing, and field-specific training is becoming the norm. The certificate in museums assists students in getting internships, jobs, and placement in competitive graduate programs. It is ideal for history majors who hope to work in the field of museums. Other majors that might have an interest in a museum certificate include American Indian Studies, Mass Communications, and Outdoor Education.

The museum certificate is not limited to university students. Any individual who is currently working or volunteering in museums, or thinking about doing so, can benefit from this training.

Course requirements for the Museum Certificate:

• HIST 240 Introduction to Public History and Cultural Resources (3 credits)
• GEOL 472 Museum Conservation and Curation & 472L Lab, at SDSM&T (3 credits)
• GEOL 473 Museum Preparation Techniques and Exhibit Design & 473L Lab, at SDSM&T (3 credits)
• HIST 494 Internship (at least 3 credits)

Questions? Please email Professor Kelly Kirk at Kelly.Kirk@bhsu.edu.