The degree would act as extra support to acquire a job. The following books are listed according to the section of the career resource library in which they are located. A history major need not mean commitment to a life in poverty. Fighting myths with data, perspectives on history, april 1, 2017. History is a broad subject, which is why most history majors choose or design a concentration. Popular careers for history majors the size of these categories reflect recent data of career paths chosen by history majors. Recent studies suggest that history majors fair well in salaries. Earning a history degree requires a large amount of writing and editing. At the very least, an individual usually needs to have a bachelors degree in art history before he can call himself an art historian. Federal government data show the variety of exciting career paths that history majors. A history degree doesnt narrow your opportunities after college. Take a moment to ponder those roles, as well as the projects, courses, or jobs that inspired you to experiment with them. Youll soon be on the fast track to landing a job that satisfies your personal, professional, and. They have studied abroad in turkey, germany, england, poland, south africa, australia and more.
A list of careers for history majors a person who has earned a degree in the study of history has a variety of career paths open to them in a number of fields of work. To learn more about how the acs data suggest that the picture for history majors is far brighter than critics of the humanities would have you believe, see this essay. Professional associations learn about job fields, find employers and discover companies and organizations you may want to target for opportunities. Career opportunities for history majors history western illinois. For further information on career opportunities, consult the american historical association guidebook to careers for history majors as well as the subject headings below. These critical thinking skills, by the way, are why history majors are strong candidates for law school or for careers in business, where the ability to analyze complex data is prized. Art history is the study of art created in the past by individuals from various cultures and parts of the world. Visit the major snapshots site to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major description of major. Below is a list of over 1,800 college majors profiled on mymajors. Fighting myths with data, perspectives on history 4 april 2017. Before graduation students should consider doing an internship. History majors are obviously wellprepared to write books related to history more on that below, but they are also equipped to write and edit in just about any field. History majors tend to get a bad rap, as their choice of study is typically.
We hope these ideas and quotes provide inspiration as you consider your future career path. History majors and minors acquire many skills that prepare them for careers upon graduation. Academic history careers can also lead on to writing or broadcasting careers, providing outlets for historians to share their expertise with public audiences andor readerships. Majors paperback lambert, stephen, degalan, julie on.
The american historical associations where historians work. The internets biggest and most exhaustive list of the best jobs for english majors and other humanities degrees ba, ma, and ph. Federal government data show the variety of exciting career paths that history majors follow. A person who loves history a lot will get several entrylevel jobs, but to get into sectors like law, business, geography, library science one need to have a bachelors degree. This booklet provides important information about studying hist. Undergraduate degrees allow for historyspecific career options while also laying the academic foundation for graduate pursuits. Christopher chan, a member of the adjunct history faculty at snhu, works as a public historian, where he spends much of his time researching agatha christie novels and writing articles and games for. Because of the valuable training in critical thinking, problemsolving, and communication skills history majors gain through your education, a great many of our graduates find employment in a range of nonhistorical business careers in book publishing, newspaper editing, technical writing, journalism as both foreign and domestic correspondents. To search for other related publications use coast, the university library online catalog. All history majors declare a minor to personalize their studies. Association does not adopt official views on any field of history and does not necessarily agree or.
The skills learned from studying history are transferable to a wide range of occupations, as you can see from data about the careers of majors nationally and at luther. This is not a new argument that history majors should learn more history. You can choose from ancient greece, modern africa, the reformation as it affected southern france, hitlers germany, women in 19thcentury china, inca history, or 20thcentury tibet. The book describes many different aspects of the career, such as expected salaries, how fast that segment of the jobmarket is growing, what level of education and other skills are needed for the job, etc. History majors can find themselves to be wellsuited for a host of creative jobs, too.
This booklet provides important information about studying history at colleges and universities across the united states. Each year, about 27,000 baccalaureate degrees are conferred to history majors. Some of these fields require a masters degree, but an associate or bachelors in social science may lead to entrylevel positions in areas like museum studies, education, data analysis, and research. History majors offer employers a broad range of skills. All are useful regardless of your aspirations, but these attributes are essential in many occupations. A common misperception about majoring in history is that it isnt a practical major in terms of getting a job after graduation. The art historian seeks to interpret and understand works of art of many types, ranging from the monumental to small scale, by learning about artists lives and their societies. Earning a bachelors degree in history will provide a lot of career choices. Careers for history majors american historical association 97808722948. Jobs for history majors careers with a history degree.
Careers for history majors american historical association by julia brookins editor, sarah fenton editor 2. A lot of people criticize history majors because they cant see a clear career path for historians after graduation. History majors seem to fare well on the test too, according to an analysis of 20 data by pepperdine university school of law professor derek t. Unlike some other art careers, starting a career as an art historian often requires several years of postsecondary schooling. To work as an editor, youll likely need extensive experience writing for yourself or for others. History majors have found rewarding careers in research and writing, business, public history, teaching, journalism, banking, and government service. Many seemingly unlikely professionals started with a degree in history, from federal. A list of careers for history majors languagecourse.
The jobs for history majors cover a variety of careers and industries, meaning that the average salary for history graduates varies widely. In addition to gaining indepth knowledge about the past, you will acquire the soft skills that many employers value. An individual studies a particular place or person and conveys their research to the public in the form of a book. This is the best book on preparation for graduate study. In addition to your own major, explore resources under other majors of interest to suit your career curiosity. Social science careers include opportunities in psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and history. The benefits of studying history go far beyond what you read about in history books, and the skills you. Undergraduate preparation in history provides the kind of broad education and ability to think that leads to success in many fields. Traditional careers for history majors, salary and job growth. An interactive database of history phd career outcomes. The main character traits you should have for careers in academia are a deep curiosity about the world, a desire for facts and a belief that history can inform the. Although associate degrees in history are available, it is uncommon for the professional historian to hold less than a bachelors degree.
By the way, after youre done this list i recommend my other post. Careers for history majors and minors what are the skills one learns as an historian. Supplement your handshake search with sites that provide even more opportunities. In many cases, they will act as a manager for a writing team. Students are encouraged to find and apply for internships or study abroad opportunities. Instead, the history major opens a world of possibilities for your future. The department of history encourages students to combine their major with courses in prelaw, statistics, computer science, accounting and. Most majors do not line up with a particular career field, and those that do limit a person to that field. Search by selecting a category or use search box below. History majors tend to get a bad rap, as their choice of study is typically deemed a useless degree. Search for majors by selecting a category and refining your search or use search box below.
Careers for history majors edited by julia brookins and sarah fenton. These truths for history majors learning innovation. Once you have analyzed the evidence and explained in detail where you think the authors argument is con. Therefore, history majors are often prime candidates for jobs that involve the written word. Usually, however, the argument is made by those who dont believe in the value of the history major.
Many select another minor or a second major based on their longterm goals. Career pages include description, activities, education requirements, colleges offering related programs, skills, knowledge, work styles, work values, and salary information. But the reality is that a bachelors degree in history can open the doors to a variety of fields, many of which have high employment rates and salaries. Wcu history graduates have found employment in a broad range of professions and occupations, including. A major in history is an excellent foundation for graduate study in history, law, the humanities and social sciences. Browse major and career profiles using the categories below, or use the tools on the right to search by keyword or interest. A history graduate is prepared for all sorts of employment positions that involve reading, conducting research, writing summaries of their research findings, and interpreting. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. On current career prospects for history majors, see. History is a dynamic course of study that will help you become an inventive and capable thinker, researcher, writer, and communicator. Major and career search browse major and career profiles using the categories below, or use the tools on the right to search by keyword or interest. Overall, this book is a great resource for people looking to use their history degrees to make a living. Major pages include description, courses, careers, salary, related majors and colleges offering major.
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