Career Options

Uses of a History Major

Understanding the complexities of the human experience is the historian's goal. The history major broadens the student's knowledge about his or her own society and its past, and introduces the student to other cultures. It also prepares the student for a variety of career opportunities. Students wishing to pursue careers as college professors can go on to graduate school. The Social Studies major leads to careers in middle school or high school. Law schools take a third of their candidates from History majors. Government activity at local, state and federal levels depends on historical knowledge and the skills acquired in the study of history. Editing, both for book publishing and the communications media, requires similar skills and historical knowledge. Historical sites, museums and libraries employ persons with academic backgrounds in history. Most jobs in business and industry are open to liberal arts graduates with an historical background.

Sample Job Titles:

Bachelor's Degrees/Entry Level

• History teacher
• Assistant museum curator
• Museum registrar
• Administrative assistant
• Legal assistant
• Management trainee

Further Education or Experience Often Required

• Archivist
• Librarian
• Lawyer
• Foreign service worker
• Art historian
• Historic site administrator
• Museum Curator

Check the Dictionary of Occupational Titles under section 052 for additional related careers.

Sample Job Descriptions:

• Historic Site Administrator:
  
  • Manages operation of historic structure or site.
  • Oversees employees, contacts volunteers, and coordinates tours.
• Assistant Museun Curator:
  
  • Assist curator in collecting, restoring, and exhibiting items in museum collection.
  • Clean, restore and find out information about new items.
• Legal Assistant:
  
  • Aid lawyers in researching cases, analyzing trial documents, and gathering evidence.
  • Free lawyers from the more routine legal work.
• History Teacher:
  
  • Plan lessons, projects, assignments, and give exams to students.
  • As secondary teacher, subject area is more specialized.
  • Certification is required in public schools, but not in most private schools.

Skills to Develop

• Develop skills in computer and research areas, foreign languages, and business management.

Strategies for Contacting Employers

• Attend Career Development Office workshops on such topics as:
  
  • Career Options
  • Internships
  • Resume writing
  • Preparing for an Interview
  • Job Search Strategies

Some Employers of History Majors

• Magazines and newspapers
• Colleges and universities
• Libraries
• Historical Societies and Museums
• Archives
• Public and private schools
• State and Federal governments
• Research foundations
• Communications media
• Business and industry
• Antique dealers
• Travel and tourism

Related Fields

• Sociology
• Law and Jurisprudence
• Secondary School Education
• Museum Curators
• Political Science

Resources on graduate programs are available at the Career Development Office.

Other Sources of Information

• American Historical Association
  
  • 400 A Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003; (202) 544-2422
• American Association of Museums
  
  • 1225 I Street, NW Suite 200, Washington DC 20005; (202) 289-1818
• American Studies Association
  
  • 2140 Taliaferro Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; (301) 405-1364
• American Association of University Professors
  
  • 1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005
• National Association of Social Workers
  
  • 750 First Stree, NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002; (202) 408-8600
• National Association of Independent Schoolsbr
  
  • 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 973-9700