How to Use a History Degree

By Genevieve Carlton

Published on June 24, 2021

How to Use a History Degree

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History majors strengthen their analytical, research, and critical thinking abilities while studying the past. History blends the humanities and social sciences, offering a strong liberal arts foundation for careers in diverse fields.

During a history degree, students larn nigh topics like the bear on of the Black Expiry on European society, 20th-century international relations, and America's Civil War. Many history programs offer specializations in areas similar ancient history, U.S. history, and public history.

With a history caste, professionals tin pursue careers in areas like education, management, sales, administration, and police. According to the American Historical Association, nigh history majors work in one of these areas. A history caste also leads to opportunities in public relations, library sciences, museums, and the nonprofit sector.

This article introduces the diversity of history degree jobs bachelor to people with an undergraduate or graduate caste in history.

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FAQ

What can y'all do with a history degree?

Graduates with a history degree can pursue careers in education, library scientific discipline, museums, the nonprofit sector, business, and the public sector. The degree also leads to opportunities in the legal field and communications.

Is history a useless major?

A history degree emphasizes analytical, research, critical thinking, and writing skills. History majors also strengthen their persuasive reasoning and creative thinking abilities. These skills can transfer to diverse careers.

What are the highest-paying jobs for history degree graduates?

Many history majors pursue careers as lawyers, managers, and administrators, according to the American Historical Association. These roles may offering half dozen-figure salaries.

Do history majors make good money?

Professionals with a available'due south degree in history earn an average bacon of over $67,000 per year, according to PayScale data from April 2021. Many history majors also nourish graduate school, which leads to higher-paying careers.

By closely reading primary sources, evaluating secondary sources, and interpreting historical materials, history majors gain valuable skills for a variety of career paths. For instance, history learners strengthen their persuasive writing, advice, and logical reasoning skills.

Graduates with a history degree can pursue careers in the nonprofit sector, at libraries, in government agencies, and in educational activity. They can too find opportunities in law and direction.

History Specializations


History specializations offering focused coursework in a particular area. A specialization can lead to a certain career path later graduation, such as U.S. history instructor or public historian.

Many history departments offer specializations based on a geographic area, time flow, or theme. For case, students tin can specialize in U.S. history, European history, African history, or East Asian history. They can also focus on ancient history, medieval history, early modernistic history, or modernistic history. Thematic specializations include public history, women's history, military history, environmental history, and the history of science.

U.S. History

A U.Southward. history specialization focuses on American history from the colonial era to present. Many U.South. history majors farther specialize in areas such equally the Revolutionary State of war, the Civil War, 20th-century diplomacy, or U.S. social history. Undergraduate history majors often complete courses on the Civil Rights move, U.Southward. economic history, and American environmentalism. At the graduate level, history students often conduct original research in their focus area.

The specialization prepares graduates for jobs like U.S. history teacher, museum curator, civics educator, and historian.

Medieval History

A medieval history concentration typically focuses on European history from the autumn of Rome through the 16th century. Undergraduate medieval history majors study topics like bullwork, the human relationship between European monarchies and the Catholic Church, and the Black Death. At the graduate level, learners may report Latin and read primary source documents.

The specialization leads to roles like European history teacher, medieval historian, writer, and museum worker.

Public History

A public history specialization emphasizes historical instruction and outreach to the public. During a public history program, majors take courses on topics like museum studies, digital history, and oral history. Students may also complete projects, similar designing a museum exhibit or creating a historical website.

With a public history degree, graduates can pursue careers at museums, historical societies, libraries, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. They can besides piece of work in the digital humanities and historic preservation.

What Are the Education Requirements for History?


Colleges and universities offer history degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Each degree leads to different career paths and opportunities. This section introduces common education requirements and career paths for various history degrees.

Associate

An associate caste in history introduces learners to different historical periods and societies. Students have survey courses in U.Southward. history, world history, and European history. The degree besides incorporates general education requirements in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

An associate degree prepares graduates for support and administrative roles, including administrative banana, paralegal, and salesperson. Many schools permit students to transfer their associate degree toward a bachelor'south caste.

Bachelor's

A bachelor's degree in history strengthens critical thinking and enquiry skills. During a bachelor's caste program, history majors report ancient history, U.S. history, and earth history. Some history programs comprise a capstone project, senior seminar, or inquiry newspaper as a culminating requirement. Many schools as well offer an online history degree choice.

After completing a bachelor'due south in history degree, graduates can pursue jobs in educational activity, business, public relations, museum science, and sales. The degree also prepares students for graduate studies in law, library science, and history.

Chief'due south

A master'southward degree in history introduces learners to graduate-level historical theories and methodologies. In a chief's programme, students oft focus their coursework by choosing a specialization. They take graduate seminars in their specialization to prepare for a master's test or thesis.

Graduates with a master's degree in history tin work equally history and social studies teachers, historians, museum curators, and archivists. They tin can also pursue a doctorate in history.

Doctorate

A Ph.D. in history prepares graduates for bookish and research positions. For example, tenure-track history professor jobs require a doctorate. The degree emphasizes stiff inquiry, writing, and belittling abilities. Graduate students complete advanced coursework in their focus area and pass comprehensive examinations.

In improver to coursework, most programs include several years of dissertation research and writing before doctoral candidates tin can defend their dissertation and earn their degree. Doctoral students often spend at least v years in their Ph.D. plan.

How Much Does a History Caste Toll?


The total cost of a history degree varies by factors like school, location, and delivery format. In California, for example, students earning an associate degree in history through a customs higher pay around $2,500 for their degree, co-ordinate to information from the National Center for Teaching Statistics. In contrast, a available'south degree from a individual university costs over $127,000 in tuition and fees. Meanwhile, in-state tuition at four-year public universities costs around $37,000, on average.

Choosing an online history caste can save students money. Many online colleges offer tuition discounts to distance learners. For example, some public universities offer in-land tuition rates to all online learners regardless of residency. Online learners also save on some of the expenses that on-campus students incur, such as housing and commuting costs.

How Much Do History Majors Make?


The v most mutual professional fields for graduates with a history degree include teaching, management, law, sales, and administration. Salaries vary considerably by factors like part, feel, and education.

For case, history majors tin work every bit high schoolhouse teachers, making a median salary of around $63,000 per year. Writers and authors, another mutual career path for history degree graduates, make median annual salaries of $67,000. The communication skills gained during a history degree also lead to public relations specialist roles, which pay a median almanac bacon of $62,000.

History majors with an advanced degree can piece of work every bit lawyers, librarians, historians, and professors. Historians earn a median annual salary of $63,000, while professors make effectually $80,000 per year, depending on their field and feel.

Career and Salary Outlook for a History Degree


Professionals with a history degree tin can work as historians, educators, museum curators, and librarians. In these roles, history majors use their critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills. They likewise rely on advice and creative thinking skills to brainwash and inform people.

Many of these career paths offer to a higher place-average salaries. However, some history caste jobs require a graduate degree. For example, historians typically hold a principal'south degree, equally do librarians. The following listing outlines several mutual careers for graduates with a history degree.

History Professor

History professors teach undergraduate and graduate students in their specialty area, such as modern U.S. history, medieval Europe, or environmental history. They write lectures and appraise educatee learning through papers and exams. History professors often conduct research in their field and publish their work in scholarly journals or with academic presses.

Historian

Historians examine historical sources to analyze and interpret the past. They apply written sources, artifacts, and visual materials to gain historical data. After conducting inquiry, historians present their findings in reports, academic papers, and presentations. Historians also conduct educational programs and work with museums or historic sites to preserve materials.

Librarian

Librarians manage digital and impress collections. They catalogue library textile and assist patrons looking for books, newspapers, videos, and other materials. They likewise blueprint programs for the public and educate users about data resource. They can work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, bookish libraries, and corporate libraries.

Museum Curator

Museum curators perform administrative and research tasks for museums. They acquire and shop items in the museum's collection and put together exhibitions to showcase the collection for the public. Museum curators also research and authenticate items and manage educational programs to teach the public about the museum's field.

Career Median Almanac Salary Projected Growth Rate (2019-2029)
History Professor $fourscore,790 ix%
Historian $63,100 3%
Librarian $threescore,820 5%
Museum Curator $52,140 eleven%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Certifications and Licensure for History


Many history degree jobs do non crave a license or certification. Nonetheless, in some roles, history graduates do good from an additional professional person credential. For example, educators often need a teaching license. The post-obit list outlines several common licenses and certifications for history graduates.

Graduation Cap

Teaching License


Grand-12 history and social studies teachers at public schools demand a teaching license to practice. Requirements vary by country, but almost states require a bachelor's degree and completion of an educator training program and student-didactics experience. Candidates must also pass content area exams.

Graduation Cap

Lath Certified Social Studies-History Teacher


The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards awards board certification to experienced social studies-history teachers. Candidates need a bachelor'south degree and iii years of didactics feel. They must too submit 3 portfolios and pass a content cognition exam.

Graduation Cap

Certified Archivist


The Academy of Certified Archivists offers a professional certification for trained archivists. Candidates demand a related chief'south degree and professional person experience. They must also pass an exam. Electric current graduate students can sit for the exam and meet the experience requirement after passing.

Resources for History Majors

A professional association for historians, the AHA offers a career center and teaching resources. The association too hosts conferences and publishes historical research. AAM promotes museums by developing standards of excellence and advocating for museum professionals. The brotherhood offers career advancement tools, a job middle, and professional person development resources. Established in 1876, the ALA represents library professionals. The association offers professional development opportunities, awards scholarships, and hosts conferences and events. An association of U.S. historians, the OAH publishes enquiry, hosts a lecture series, and provides career back up for historians and other educators. The organization's research and teaching tools include podcasts, athenaeum, and teaching units.

Genevieve Carlton

Genevieve Carlton holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and earned tenure every bit a history professor at the University of Louisville. An award-winning historian and writer, Genevieve has published multiple scholarly articles and a book with the University of Chicago Printing. She currently works every bit a freelance writer and consultant.

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