What can I do with a major in...

What can I do with a major in History?

History, as a basic liberal arts discipline, is interrelated with the other social sciences and provides the student with numerous options for professional development. These options include graduate studies and research, social research, teaching, law, and governmental service among others. In addition, the Alvernia University program in Social Studies provides academic preparation necessary for application for teacher certification in Pennsylvania.

Students considering a major in this liberal arts area may want to ask themselves if they are committed to working in the field of history: that is, actually working with historical information and issues at libraries, museums, classrooms and the like. Or is the information of history simply the training ground for building the skills of analysis, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and research, which can be utilized by a wide variety of employers in a host of industries?

While this decision does not need to be made prior to beginning a course of study in history, questions regarding course choices, research opportunities, internship credits and graduate school will be impacted differently by each focus or goal.

Strategies

• Get experience in student government
• Plan on attending graduate or professional school
• Take courses in business, communication, education
• Develop or enhance ability to speak foreign language(s)
• Gain internship experience in government agencies
• If interested in teaching, obtain certification to teach in your state
• Strengthen computer skills
• Become familiar with public history

Career Titles

Advertising Executive Advocate Analyst Anthropologist Archeologist Archivist Biographer Broadcaster Campaign Worker Clergy Community Relations Director Congressional Aide Consumer Advocate Counselor Consultant Criminologist Demographer Economist Editor FBI/CIA Agent Foreign News Correspondent Foreign Service Officer Foundation Staffer Genealogist Gerontologist Government Official Historian Historic Preservation Historic Site Tour Guide Historical Society Staff Human Service Worker Indicter information Specialist

Insurance Agent/Broker Intelligence Analyst International Relations Journalist Judge Lawyer Lecturer Legal Assistant/Paralegal Librarian Lobbyist Market Research Analyst Media Consultant Museum Curator Museum Technician Newspaper Reporter Paralegal Assistant Park Ranger Peace Corps/Vista Worker Personnel Manager Political Scientist Psychologist Public Administrator Public Relations Specialist Research Assistant Research Library Assistant Sociologist Teacher, Social Studies Technical Writer Travel Agent Urban Administrator Urban Planner Writer/Author Travel and Tour Services

Professional Organizations

American Association for State and Local History
1717 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37203-2991

American Historical Association
400 A Street, S.E.
Washington, DC 20003-3889

American Studies Association
1120 19th Street NW, Suite 301
Washington, DC  20038

Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

The Organization of American Historians
112 North Bryan Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47408-4141

Society of American Archivists
17 North State Street, Suite 1425
Chicago, IL 60602-3315

Web sites

American Association for State and Local History: Jobs
Careers for History Majors
Museum Employment Resource Center