Online Master’s Degree in Public History – Archives Management Preserve the Past and Shape the Future with Expertise in Archival Practices

36
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Become a Guardian of History Through Liberty’s Online Master’s Degree in Public History – Archives Management!
If you’re passionate about preserving the past and communicating its relevance to future generations, then conferring Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Public History – Archives Management could be your next step. This program can help you recognize the importance of historical traditions, giving you the knowledge and tools to safeguard them while advancing public understanding of our shared history. You’ll dive deep into research methods, explore the rich context behind historical records, and work to develop the administrative skills for operating in archives, museums, historic sites, and beyond.
As a student in our public history – archives management master’s program, you can study how to manage and preserve historical materials while also gaining an understanding of how to communicate their significance in a way that resonates with today’s audiences. Whether you’re organizing collections, curating exhibits, or working in digital humanities, this degree can help you navigate the intersection of history and modern technology. As a Christian institution, Liberty emphasizes the value of historical narratives, encouraging you to consider the ways these stories shape both individual and societal futures.
Our online archives management degree is designed for students like you who see themselves in roles such as museum operations, cultural resource management, or archival work. With training in everything from metadata to oral history and digital content creation, you can prepare to pursue a variety of careers that may allow you to become a steward of history.






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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s MA in Public History – Archives Management Degree?
Choosing our online master’s in public history – archives management means pursuing your passion for history without sacrificing your personal or professional commitments. As a leader in distance education since 1985, we’ve designed this program to fit seamlessly into your busy life. With 100% online courses and no set login times or in-person intensives, you can balance your education alongside your family, career, and community commitments, all while meeting assignment deadlines.
At Liberty, we are committed to offering a flexible education that challenges you academically while supporting your growth. Our courses are offered in 8-week formats so that you can make steady progress toward your degree on your schedule. Plus, the majority of our tuition rates have remained consistent for 9 years, with the goal of making higher education more attainable.
As a student at Liberty, you can study under experienced faculty who are experts in public history and archival management, all within a Christian framework. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), so you can trust that your degree meets high academic standards and can help you work toward your career goals in fields like museum operations, archiving, or historic preservation.
What Will You Study in Our Master’s in Public History – Archives Management Degree?
In Liberty’s MA in Public History – Archives Management degree, you can gain a deep understanding of the methods and theories essential to preserving and communicating history. Your studies will focus on public history techniques, helping prepare you to manage archival collections, work with digital tools to preserve historical materials, and conduct research on local and global history. This program also emphasizes the importance of understanding history through a Christian lens, helping you explore the connections between faith, culture, and the shaping of societies.
Throughout the program, you can engage with diverse topics in history that underscore the value of stewardship and citizenship. You’ll also study practical skills in archival management, such as how to conserve historical materials, manage collections, and advocate for the preservation of our shared heritage. The program seeks to help prepare you to work in a variety of settings, from museums and libraries to historical societies and government archives, so you can steward history for future generations.
In addition to studying essential archival management skills, you’ll explore the use of digital tools and technology to preserve and share history in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. You can gain experience in managing historical collections, including techniques for acquisition, preservation, and the ethical challenges of curating historical artifacts and documents. By studying these skills, you can work to become equipped to help ensure the integrity and accessibility of records for public and scholarly use.
Your studies will also guide you through the complexities of public history, allowing you to analyze the narratives and events that have shaped societies over time. This program encourages you to think critically about the role of history in contemporary issues and how historical contexts influence current cultural, social, and political landscapes. With a focus on Christian perspectives, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on the ways faith has influenced historical movements and how these insights can be applied to modern archival practices. We aim to help equip you to take on leadership roles in archives, museums, and historical sites or even embark on research or teaching roles that further your passion for preserving history.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Archives technician
- Archivist
- Conservator
- Digital archivist
- Historian
- Museum technician and conservator
- Records manager
Featured Courses
- HIST 630 – Archival Practices
- HIST 631 – Collections Management
- HIST 632 – Conservation Techniques
- HIST 633 – Acquisitions and Advocacy
Course guides coming soon
Degree Information
- This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences.
- View the Graduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan (DCP)

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Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Graduate Full Time | $565/Credit |
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Graduate Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Public History – Archives Management Master’s Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

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Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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