
Public Humanities
Interdisciplinary Studies
Why Major in Public Humanities at Allegheny College
Public Humanities makes specialized knowledge accessible to diverse public audiences.
The public humanities major and minor takes an intersectional approach unique for the undergraduate level, to educate students for a life, not just a job. This program engages diverse audiences in dynamic conversations about democracy, art, history, technology, well-being, sustainability, sovereignty, cultural heritage and social change. Students pursuing the Public Humanities prepare for careers in non-profit organizations, social activism, digital content creation, urban design, museums, archives, library science, public arts administration, historic preservation and national park services.
Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Public Humanities with:
Division
- Interdisciplinary Studies
Program Type
- Major
- Minor
Number of Credits
44 for major24 for minorYour Four-Year Journey
Year 1: Understanding
Your first year experience is designed to prepare your mind for everything that follows. The courses you take will prepare you to think critically, communicate creatively, and question everything.
Year 2: New Approaches
As a sophomore, you’ll declare your major and select your mentor. But that’s just the start of it. You’ll also be asked to choose a minor from an alternate discipline to keep your perspectives fresh and your mind wide open.
Year 3: Delving Deeper
As you delve deeper and take on a Junior Seminar, you’ll develop an even more eloquent understanding of your chosen fields. And you’ll begin to focus on improving your research skills and rhetorical ability in preparation for your Senior Comp.
Year 4: The Comp
One of the accomplishments our alumni are most proud of is their Senior Comp. Every Allegheny student must research, propose, create, and defend an original creative or critical project. You’ll be paired with a mentor throughout the project, and the experience will prepare you well for any step you take after graduation.
Faculty and Staff
Associate Professor
Department Chair of History and Philosophy
Ph.D., M.A., Stanford University; B.A., University of Chicago
Email: khaywood@allegheny.edu
Phone: 814-332-4306
Email: dbyrnes@allegheny.edu
Phone: 814-332-5347
Featured News

Celebrating 80+ Years of Dance Orchesis
Orchesis, a student-run organization that welcomes anyone to dance, holds yearly shows in the fall where all dancers, choreographers, and lighting and sound technicians are recognized for their hard work and creativity. The group contributes each year to an inclusive and vibrant campus.
Program Contact
Paula Burleigh
Assistant Professor of Art History; Program Coordinator, Public Humanities; Affiliated Faculty, Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program