Arkansas State University - Powering Minds

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program

Doctor of Philosophy In Heritage Studies

 

 

Are YOU interested taking your career

to the top level in public heritage programs? 

Do YOU want to hear more?

Read these testimonials from students who have personally experienced our program.

 

"As a successful commercial filmmaker and journeyman screenwriter with 44 years experience in the U.S. and Canada, I value the passion and professionalism one finds among the faculty, staff, and fellow students in the ASU Heritage Studies program. Every class and research opportunity has been educationally enriching, intellectually challenging, and creatively stimulating.

Heritage Studies' interdisciplinary emphasis on Cultural and Heritage is the main reason my company has been supportive of this post- graduate educational excursion. We believe that the opportunities focused upon by Heritage Studies can have a significant, positive impact upon our state's tourism industry and upon economic development initiatives throughout the state--especially in the Arkansas Delta.

As a businessman, I commend ASU Heritage Studies' impressive ROI (Return on Investment)--both in its financial cost and in the even more valuable commodity: time. The program was well-conceived and profits from efficient, imaginative management.

Finally, although Heritage Studies offers the rigorous academic discipline one would expect from the caliber and credentials of its faculty, the program is not afraid of "lively" writing or a sense of humor.

  Gary Jones, President of Jones Productions Inc. and Graduate Student    

 

 

 

Sherry Gray, Graduate Student 

"My personal experience in the program has been a very rewarding experience for me. the faculty are all well qualified to teach their courses and helpful when needed. The Heritage Studies staff is wonderful and watches out for us every step of the way. I made some very good friends in the program. The events I have attended were interesting and informative. I enjoyed them and felt they were relevant and well planned. The courses offered kept getting better and of a wider variety. The courses were appropriate for the program and the instructors were highly organized and professional. I am currently teaching at Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, Arkansas. I plan to continue with my career and pursue my interests in textile restoration work on quilts."

 

bullet

 Lisa Perry, Graduate Student

"I am a 40-something career-changing professional. I came to this program after working for several years as a mechanical engineer and as an IT professional. My undergraduate degrees are in Mining Technology and Management, and my MA degree is in Humanities with an emphasis on African American History and Civil Rights.

 

When I started this program in the Fall of 2005, I was looking for a program that would provide me with the skills I needed to succeed in a career that appreciated my passion for advocacy as much as my technical skills. The Heritage Studies program provides those skills along with the opportunity to expand on my research skills and to research materials that are important to my interests. The classes cover a wide range of materials, but allow for flexibility to follow individual interests. Small classes ensure the ability to get to know faculty and to engage in in-depth discussions of ideas, concepts, and materials. The students in the program are generally engaged and willing to provide insights into their areas of expertise. They come from diverse backgrounds and can contribute a wide range of perspectives to class discussions.

 

As with any program, job, or school, one can find problems if he/she is determined to look for them. Since I am interested in getting the most from the program and in learning everything I can from our faculty, I have no reason to look for something that does not further that interest.

 

The faculty members are committed to helping students who are dedicated to the program to succeed, and the staff just can’t be beat. There isn’t a day that goes by that I am not appreciative of the extra mile they are willing to go to help students. If you can gauge the quality of a program or of a school by the level of engagement from everyone involved, then you will not find a better place to be than the Heritage Studies Program at Arkansas State University."

 

 

Dr. Sherry Laymon, 2005 Graduate of Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program

"The ASU Heritage Studies faculty and staff are, quite frankly, some of the most professional and best connected people in their fields who can be found on any university campus in America. Furthermore, they genuinely desire to see their students succeed academically and professionally. They readily assist with advice, research, suggestions, and try to m ake reasonable accommodations when hardships arise. The office manager is very efficient in handling the needs and requests for all Heritage Studies students. The program has grown exponentially since its inception in 2001, and the students enjoy a wide range of classes. The course of study encompasses many interdisciplinary fields and students are enriched by the complementary nature of the academic content. The semester schedule accommodates most students' schedules. The class room experiences involve exchanges from professional students and professors from various backgrounds and professions, which creates a rich, intellectual setting for knowledge to abound. The public events are scheduled to accommodate the most people possible. The social gatherings give the students and faculty an occasion to visit with each other. The guest lectures are high profile individuals who are good contacts.  The Heritage Studies program at ASU is conveniently located in the heart of its laboratory of study, the Mississippi River Delta. Many heritage sites are nearby that offer opportunities for internships, practicums, graduate assistantships, research opportunities and dissertation topics to students, including the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum, Lakeport Plantation, Southern Tenant Farmers' Union, Civil Rights Museum, ASU Archives, Center for Southern Folklore, Crowley's Ridge Nature Center and numerous museums in the Arkansas Delta. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared academically and professional for employment in the heritage field of their choice."