Experiential Learning
Learn history by doing history
History is not only something you study. It is something you practice. At the University at Buffalo, experiential learning moves history beyond the classroom through internships, research, digital projects and study abroad. You will work with real archives, real communities and real historical questions while building skills that prepare you for careers, graduate study and public engagement.
Experiential learning helps you turn historical thinking into practical experience. It is where research meets community work and where academic skills become professional strengths.
At UB, experiential learning helps you:
- Build research, writing and communication skills
- Strengthen your resume with meaningful experience
- Work closely with faculty mentors
- Explore career paths in museums, law, education, public service and beyond
- Connect local history to global conversations
This is how you move from learning about the past to shaping the future.
Funding your experience
The Department of History and the College of Arts and Sciences offer funding to support experiential learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to explore funding support through:
There is no single path in history. Some students pursue internships. Others focus on research or digital humanities. Many combine multiple experiences during their time at UB.
Most students begin with one question: What do I want to try next?
Here are some ways to do that:
HIS 496: Public History Internships
Public history asks a simple question: How is history put to work in the world?
Through internships with museums, archives, historical societies and preservation organizations, history majors apply classroom learning to hands-on projects that serve real communities. Students may work with collections, exhibitions, oral histories or digital archives while gaining experience in public history.
Internships take place in rural, suburban and urban settings, locally or beyond Western New York. Many students use these experiences to explore careers in museums, archives and cultural institutions or to prepare for competitive national internships.
What you might do
- Catalog artifacts or archival materials
- Transcribe oral histories or historical documents
- Assist with exhibitions or public programs
- Conduct preservation research or historical surveys
- Create digital collections or inventories
Internship structure
Internships are arranged by the student in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies and completed for credit through HIS 496.
General expectations include:
- Eight to 10 hours per week during the semester or summer
- A 7–10 page reflective paper connecting the internship to coursework and career goals
- A supervisor evaluation submitted to the department
- Three academic credits with a letter grade
Note: HIS 496 does not replace the seminar requirement for the history major.
Finding an internship
Students must arrange the internship themselves. Students identify internship sites in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Internships must have a clear connection to historical work and may take place locally or outside Western New York.
Once a site is approved, the Director authorizes registration for HIS 496.
HIS 498: Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research allows you to work with faculty on active scholarly projects or develop your own research question. This option is open beyond the departmental honors program and allows students to explore a topic in depth while developing research and writing skills. Students should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to identify appropriate faculty mentors and project ideas. You may:
- Analyze primary sources and archival materials
- Contribute to ongoing faculty research
- Present findings at conferences
- Prepare for honors theses or graduate study
HIS 498 is ideal for students considering graduate school or research-driven careers.
Want in?
Here are a few resources to help you get started.
Project Portal
Start a project to build skills and gain real-world experience for your career. The Experiential Learning Network's Project Portal is the easiest place to get started! Once you start a project, you can also pursue an ELN Digital Badge to display your accomplishments to future employers and graduate schools.
HIS 499: Independent Study
If you want to explore a topic in depth, you can pursue faculty-mentored research through Independent Research or the History Honors Thesis.
This option is open beyond the departmental Honors Program and allows you to:
- Develop a focused research question
- Work closely with a faculty mentor
- Strengthen research and writing skills
- Prepare for honors, graduate study or professional pathways
Students should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to identify appropriate mentors and project ideas.
Study Abroad
History pairs naturally with study abroad. To support global learning, the Department of History offers annual scholarships for students enrolled in accredited study abroad programs. The Director of Undergraduate Studies works with students to select courses that align with their interests and degree requirements.
Study abroad scholarships
The Milton Plesur and Schoellkopf Awards support history majors studying abroad during summer, winter intersession, a semester or a full academic year.
Experiential learning connects the past to the present while preparing you for what comes next. Whether you want to intern, conduct research, work on a digital project or study abroad, the Department of History can help you design your path.
