Public & Oral History Program

CSUSB is proud to offer to its undergraduate students an introduction to the dynamic field of history as practiced by professionals outside of the classroom. View the Public and Oral History Brochure (pdf version).

The Program:

The program is designed to give students a broad overview to the practice of Public and Oral History, followed by specialized courses and opportunities for internships. Students are required to take Introduction to Public History, Introduction to Oral History, and Exhibit Design. Then students may choose three more elective courses in Archives and Museums, Oral History and Historic Preservation. Students are required to complete at least one professional internship.

As History majors, students also receive broad training in the academic discipline of history and can gain valuable experience working on or publishing in the History Department's undergraduate journal.

Archives and Museums:

Courses in Exhibit Design, Archive and Museum Management, and Archival Practices prepare students for careers in the dynamic field of Archives and Museums. Students not only learn broad theoretical background necessary to understand the intellectual roots of the preservation of historical materials in archives and the presentation of history to the public in museums, students also gain hands-on experience designing their own exhibits, processing collections, and working in a museum and/or archive. The program has successfully placed students in permanent positions after completing this program in prestigious places like the Nixon Presidential Library and locally important places like the San Bernardino County Museum.

Oral History and Community Partnerships

CSUSB is located at the foothills of the birthplace of the National Oral History Association. The program partners with the community in recording and preserving the histories of people and organizations within the San Bernardino and Inland Empire region. Students receive a solid training in the theories and best practices in oral history and are immersed in ongoing projects in partnership with community organizations.

Historic Preservation:

Students will also be able to get an introduction to historic preservation. Students will learn how to evaluate historic buildings and landscapes and gain an understanding of the relationship between historic preservation, economic development, and the health and history of local communities.

Internships:

The Public and Oral History Program at CSUSB has placed students in over 100 internship positions since the program was formed in 2002. Most internships are unpaid. The students who have been funded earned between $8.00 and $20.00 per hour, with the average intern earning approximately $12.00 per hour. Below is a list of places where CSUSB students have been placed as interns representing the History Department’s Public and Oral History Program. It demonstrates the variety of opportunities that are available to our students.

For further information on internships, click on one of the links below:

For more information, contact:

Dr. Cherstin M. Lyon, (clyon@csusb.edu), Program Coordinator
Dr. Thomas E. Long, (tlong@csusb.edu) Archives, Museums and Internships
Dr. Joyce Hanson, (jahanson@csusb.edu) Community Partnerships
Public and Oral History Office, SB 357
Phone: (909) 537-7555; Fax (909) 537-7645