Cultural Heritage Studies (Heritage and Public History)

Explore the many facets of cultural heritage from built environments and archaeological records to the heritage of art, film and literature. You'll graduate from this MA with the expertise for a successful career in the heritage and tourism sector, or for further study at PhD level. 

This specialism (Heritage and Public History) has a particular focus on the differences between academic and public history. It explores how history is communicated to a non-academic audience by various institutions. 

Optional modules will give you the opportunity to explore themes in History or other heritage related subjects.   

You'll gain essential experience through things like:

• field trips
• meeting industry practitioners
• the chance to apply for a work placement with one of our heritage partners. 

You'll have the opportunity to:

• develop specific research and practical skills relevant to cultural heritage 
• develop a critical awareness of the potential and limitations of key forms of evidence and approaches prepare for further research and/or professional practice
• gain the ability to apply detailed theoretical, ethical and legislative frameworks, knowledge and methodologies to an understanding of heritage
• develop a comprehensive understanding of a range of general approaches to heritage
• apply all the above skills and approaches to your chosen specialism; 

Our Cultural Heritage programmes are also available with the following pathways:

• Cultural Heritage: study the main issues and debates around the subject, including legal and ethical issues, and how heritage is managed and presented 
• Heritage and Museums: gain a behind-the-scenes insight into how museums communicate the past
• Heritage and the Arts: develop specialist practical skills in communicating in different genres and platforms in publishing, broadcasting, heritage management, and arts curation 

Whilst the course content varies depending on the pathway you study, modules covering essential aspects of the subject are common to all pathways.  

There is also plenty of flexibility within the pathways themselves, allowing you to build the skillset that best suits your chosen career path.

Course lead

Your course leader is Alistair Pike, Professor of Archaeological Sciences. His research interests cover several areas archaeological science, from the development of dating methods for bone beyond the range of radiocarbon to the use of isotopes in the reconstruction of human lifeways. Read Professor Pike's staff profile to find out more about his work.

Postgraduate entry requirements

You'll graduate from this MA with the expertise for a successful career in the heritage and tourism sector, or for further study at PhD level. 

With this pathway's particular focus on Museums, you'll be ideally suited for employment in areas like:

• government heritage bodies 
• private consultancy firms 
• museums and galleries