HIST 3807A: Practicum in History (Fall 2024)
HIST 3807B: Practicum in History (Winter 2025)
Instructor: Professor John Walsh
Introduction: HIST 3807 involves eligible* third- and fourth-year students devoting one full workday / week (or its equivalent) working in the city as a historian. Since this is an individualized experience, HIST 3807 complements the more group-oriented work experience offered in HIST 3815 and students may take both courses. In the last ten years, students have: conducted research on museum collections for curators to help them prepare exhibits; conducted research on specific topics for various non-profit organizations, usually at Library and Archives Canada or the City of Ottawa Archives; helped assess and catalogue unprocessed archival materials; prepared educational materials intended for elementary, intermediate, and high school students; or did a number of different things in which they applied the historian’s skills of conducting research, analysis of data, and the communication of results. Students have worked for, among others, Canada War Museum, Library and Archives Canada, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Bytown Museum, Archives and Research Collections here at Carleton, the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Skate Canada, the National Capital Commission, The Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa, Partnership Africa Canada, and the City of Ottawa (Heritage Conservation Division).
While we are unsure about what work will be available to practicum students in any given year, every effort will be made to match students with an employer that can provide a meaningful experience that complements a student’s interests, career goals, and experiences and skills. Finding and making these matches requires time, and so students interested in the practicum must reach out to the course instructor as soon as possible, even before the formal registration period begins.
While this work is unpaid, it is for a 0.5 credit at the third year. And it also gives you a unique experience in applying your academic skills and thus enriching your resume. For any student considering a career in public history, HIST 3807 and HIST 3815 should be high priorities, and for those in the Public History Concentration at least one of these courses is a requirement, but this course should also be a priority for all History students thinking about life after their undergraduate studies and how they can position themselves in the workforce.
Eligibility: this course is restricted to General or Honours history students with third- or fourth- year standing and a CGPA of 9.00 or better in history courses. Students must have permission to enroll. If you are in the Public History Concentration and your CGPA is below 9.00, however, you may still be eligible for HIST 3807. Please contact the instructor.
To express interest in doing a practicum and to get permission to register, please contact the course instructor directly via email. In this email, provide the following:
1) a statement of interest about why you wish to take the practicum
2) a preference for what kinds of work and / or workplace environments you wish to experience; if you do not have a preference, please just say so
3) a short resume that provides details about your work (paid and unpaid) experience, your academic background, and your workplace skills (language, software, etc.).
While we try to match students to their preferred area of interests and experience, students must keep an open mind about the placements. Please note, too, that the course can only accommodate as many students for whom we can find placements, and students in the Public History Concentration will get preference if placements are limited.
Class Format: There are no class meetings. Students spend one day / week working for their employer (in traditional daytime work hours only). While usually that work is done on site, it is possible that some work will be done remotely, but still following the employer’s work schedule. Ideally, therefore, the weekly hours are not split over multiple days, but occasionally we can accommodate students’ schedules to split the practicum work over 2 different days.
Aims and Goals: Students gain experience in how historians apply their skills and knowledge to work done outside the discipline. As such it provides a rare opportunity for reflection about what being a “historian” means beyond the academic definition of that term. Students also learn about the dynamics, opportunities, and challenges of working in professional workplace environments.
Assessment: A final grade is calculated based on both the student’s workplace reflections (done monthly) but mostly on the employer’s final report. The workplace reflections are kept at the course website in Brightspace, and is only visible to the course instructor and the student.
Questions? Please email me at: john(dot)walsh(at)carleton.ca