Jobs For History Majors

Museums and Historical Organizations:

Research in museums includes authentication, verification, and description of items; more basic research that focuses on the meaning, significance and context of artifacts; and research (usually team-based) that is aimed at assembling an exhibition or educational program based on the museum's collections. Museum staff members involved in these activities usually possess specialized knowledge in a particular subject field, a general knowledge of historical methodology, a curiosity for artifacts, and a sense of public responsibility. Although larger institutions may require higher educational qualifications for staff members involved in research, a BA (with some additional training) may suffice, especially for entry level positions at the smaller museums.

Historic Sites and Museums:

The United States has numerous historic sites and museums ranging from large national museums to the small, local historical society collections. The National Park Service is responsible for approximately 350 parks, battlefields, monuments, and sites around the country, almost all of which have some cultural resources to be interpreted. Educators are needed at such sites to interpret the past to visitors with a wide range of education and experience. Those who teach at museums and historic sites may need more than traditional history courses to qualify for their positions. Courses in art history, folklore, and archeology may prove useful training for work at a museum or historic site. In a small museum, the education specialist may also have some responsibilities for exhibit preparation and collections management. In this case, specialized museum courses are invaluable. In large museums, there is a distinct difference between curators, who are responsible for the collections, and exhibit specialists, who design the exhibits.

Novelist:

Though novels are works of fiction, audiences crave authenticity in their entertainment. Many history majors who share a love of writing can put their knowledge of historical periods to use by crafting clear visions of days gone by. Because history majors spend so much time learning to decipher the causes and effects of major world events, they can craft elaborate scenarios that keep readers engaged from cover to cover. By couching their tales in accurate settings, historians can open up their favorite worlds to new audiences. Many readers pick up a historian's love of an era or of a character, while enjoying an entertaining story.

History Professor:

Some history majors thrive in academia so well, that they make perfect candidates to train tomorrow's generation of historians. Tenured history professors don't just recite copy from old textbooks, however. Many faculty members spend most of their time writing about history and culture while leading research teams that investigate new leads about specialized subjects. By uncovering new information and reaching new insights, history professors help refine the stories we tell about past civilizations while helping us write a better story for ourselves

Foreign Service Agent.

You may not find yourself slinking around European nightclubs in swanky clothing like the stars of the television series Alias, but the United States Government does want your help if you understand the history and culture of foreign countries. Numerous government agencies employ history majors to provide valuable insight and context for potential policy and partnership decisions. Helping our leaders better understand the customs of our friends and foes around the world can open up new opportunities for trade and cooperation, or it can defuse the military fallout of potential misunderstandings.

Just a couple of diferent jobs that are available to History majors.