Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences - Careers

Career Options for History Majors

Home
Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences - Careers
Career Options for History Majors

The following represent the critical thinking, the organization and analysis of ideas, and the communication skills that history majors develop through their liberal arts education.

Communication:	Research:
Explaining ideas Describing/Evaluating issues, problems, events Observing/comparing people,data,things Compiling research reports Interpreting events/ideas Summarizing Writing/presenting information clearly	Analyzing ideas/information Organizing materials/ideas Compiling and evaluating information Comparing/contrasting ideas and info Adapting ideas Understanding/interpreting present/past Examining evidence Interviewing
Project Development:	Understanding Society:
Developing/generating ideas and projects Planning Organizing materials/information Seeing relationships between factors Decision making	Analyzing impact of problems on society Knowledge of how societies cope with change Explaining present by referring to past Developing a world view

*Thanks to University of Kansas

PREPARATION STRATEGIES

Obtain related hands-on experience in field of interest through summer work, part-time employment, or internships.
Participate in on-campus organizations and volunteer at community organizations concerned with specific field of interest.
Consider obtaining a complementary minor for history major such as technical writing or entrepreneurship to boost your marketability.

MAJORS MAY FIND OPPORTUNITIES IN AREAS SUCH AS THESE

Government
Politics
Journalism
Retailing

Sales
Education
Nonprofit Organizations
Preservation and Restoration

Genealogy
Corporate archives
Banking
Clergy
Law: Paralegal/Attorney

TYPICAL EMPLOYERS MAY INCLUDE

Federal Agencies
State agencies
Municipal archives
Staff: legislator, governor, mayor
Public interest advocacy groups
Political campaigns
TV/radio broadcast/print services
Newspapers Drug and department stores
Public and private schools
Colleges and universities
History museums

Historic sites
History associations and societies
Cultural heritage organizations
Historical projects Research and service institutions
Corp. historical/archival services
Savings and Loans Associations
Credit Unions
Commercial and Regional Banks
Religious Associations
Human Services Agencies
Gov’t, private, public law concerns

JOBS DIRECTLY RELATED TO HISTORY DEGREE*

ARCHIVIST:

Information Management and Social Research
~ Acquires and Selects
~ Arranges and Stores
~ Preserves and Retrieves records not in current use but deemed to be of historical value

LIBRARIAN:

Information Management and Social Research
~ Acquires
~ Organizes
~ Exploits information / materials within library system

MUSEUM CURATOR:

Heritage Management and Museum Work
~ Cares for
~ Improves collection including exhibitions, catalogues, and acquisitions

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER:

Teaching in Schools or Colleges
~ Teach history to 11 - 18-year-olds

JOBS INDIRECTLY RELATED TO HISTORY DEGREE*

SOLICITOR:

Legal Profession
~ Advises individuals and organizations on legal aspects of personal and business problems.

CIVIL SERVICE/ADMINISTRATION TRAINEES:

Administration and Public Sector Management
~ Help formulate or implement policy

JOURNALIST:

Journalism and Writing
~ Gathers information
~ Presents news and features to public

MARKETING AND SELLING:

Marketing and Market Research, Sales and Purchasing
~ Manage marketing of product or service from research and development through to launch, which can include promotion, advertising, eventual withdrawal from market.

*Thanks to Edinburgh University.

WEB SITES OF INTEREST