Lots of students who are interested in history ask, "So what can I do when I graduate?" The answer is "Whatever you think will be interesting and rewarding." In addition to teaching at all levels, graduates with history specialties can find employment in journalism, archives, government service, and private sector business, to just name a few areas. Undergraduate preparation in history provides the kind of broad education and ability to think that leads to success in many fields.
For further information on career opportunities, consult the American Historical Association guidebook to Careers for History Majors as well as the subject headings below. Work with your faculty adviser to select complementary coursework and internships that will prepare you to pursue any of these career options. In perusing the list below, ask yourself the questions "So which of these areas can I see myself working in?"
Non-Profit Sector
- Archives
- Archivist
- Records Manager
- Heritage and Cultural Agencies
- Historical Associations & Societies
- Historical Projects
- Libraries
- Reference librarian
- Catalog librarian
- Research librarian
- Technical librarian
- Museums
- Curator
- Conservator
- Education specialist
- Publication specialist
- Public Relations specialist
- Planning Agencies
- Research Institutions
- Religious & Philanthropic Organizations
- Teaching
- Primary and secondary schools
- College/University and Adult Education
Private Sector
- Banking and Investment Services
- Research/Analyst
- Communications Media
- Documentary Film making
- Web-based News Agencies
- Television and Radio
- Consulting & Free-lance Assignments
- Archives/record management
- Cultural resource management
- Historical research/writing/editing
- Legal and policy research
- Preservation/restoration
- Insurance
- Research/analyst
- Publishing
- Editors (book, journals, magazine, web)
- Law
- Management (general)
- Marketing and Advertising
- Public Relations
- Travel & Tourism
Public Sector
- Archives (federal, state, & municipal)
- Departments of Education, Environmental Protection, etc.
- Department of State - Foreign Service
- Federal agency preservation offices
- Government
- Executive Branch
- Legislative Branch
- Judicial Branch
- Federal
- State
- Local
- Military Services
- Historical Offices (general and military services)
- Heritage/Cultural Agencies
- Intelligence Services
- National Park Services
- Legislatures (administrative assistants & elected officials)
- Libraries & Museums (federal, state & municipal)
- Planning Agencies
- State Historic Preservation Offices