Career Preparation

The History Department takes the matter of career preparation very seriously. Although studying history is fun and intellectually fulfilling for its own sake, students might be concerned that it will not lead to a good job.  However, it is possible to do what you love and also have a meaningful career. Students who pursue a history major develop skills of critical thinking and problem solving, careful analysis and interpretation of evidence, and clear and coherent writing and speaking. They also learn to conduct research, craft an argument, and support their argument with appropriate evidence.  These skills are essential to success in any career.

In addition, our faculty advisors can help history majors map out a program of study that builds bridges with other academic disciplines in order to effectively prepare for a career. For example, many of our students combine a History major with another field of study, such as Political Science, Philosophy, or English to prepare for Law School. Other students have taken advantage of the University’s Renaissance Program to major in History and take additional courses in Business Administration to prepare for work in the business world. 

The American Historical Association website has two excellent resources for students who want information about history-related careers. For more information about opportunities for students who graduate with an undergraduate history major, go to http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/careers/Index.htm.

There are even more career opportunities available to those who pursue graduate studies in history. Go to http://www.historians.org/pubs/careers/index.htm for information about the training needed for different types of history-related careers and for trends in the job market as well as profiles of people who are currently working in these professions.