What do you want to do with a History Major?

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Your liberal arts background has prepared you with the transferable skills to be successful in many professions.  Don’t think of your major as a limiting factor in deciding what career to pursue; you are qualified to enter a diverse array of career paths!  The tough part is deciding how you want to utilize your skills and matching that with potential careers.  The following is a sampling of different career options that are available to history majors.  Some careers may require additional schooling beyond a bachelor’s degree though most have entry-level opportunities available.  Obtaining internships and volunteering in these positions is one of the best ways to assess not only your interest but also to help you secure permanent paid employment. 

Law & Government

• Lawyer, legal aid, legislative aid, consumer advocate, human relations specialist, foreign service officer, law enforcement officer, public policy advisor, lobbyist

Journalism, Communication & Radio/TV/Film

• Journalist, photojournalist, editorial assistant, technical writer, filmmaker, graphic designer, biographer, editor, advertising associate, news analyst, communications associate, information specialist, producer, director, writer, technical advisor, talent coordinator

Business

• Development associate, market research analyst, corporate trainer, sales associate, human resource associate, public relations officer, corporate historian, account manager, marketing associate, event planner, arts administration

Research

• Librarian, consultant, legal aid, museum archivist, grant writer, information technology specialist, insurance agent, market research analyst, writer for trade publication, genealogist, urban planner, government agency (National Park Service, Library of Congress, Government Printing Office, U.S. Senate Historical Office)

Education

• Primary and secondary school teacher, university professor, parks and recreation educator, education coordinator for a museum, human service worker, travel agent, admissions counselor, guidance counselor, corporate trainer

Public History

• Archivist, historic preservation specialist, records manager/registrar, public educator, library specialist, administrator, curator, docent
• For more ideas about careers in public history visit the American Historical Association website at http://www.historians.org/governance/tfph/PublicHistoryEmployment.htm

Non-Profit & Advocacy

• Civil rights advocate, counselor, Peace Corps or Teach for America participant, NGO or non-governmental organization staffer, program coordinator, social worker, membership coordinator

For more information about wide array of careers history majors pursue (both within the field of history and outside) visit the American Historical Association website at http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/careers/Index.htm