Being a history major, I often run into a widespread misconception: people think that if you major in history, the only thing you can do once you’ve graduated is teach history. While that is a viable path, that’s certainly not the only path.
What else can you do with a history degree?
A lot. The American Historical Assocation has a detailed page about what a history major might do after graduation. People with a history degree might find themselves working in education, obviously, but they could also end up being communicators of some sort. Working in business, particularly administration, is also a possibility.
If you do a Google search for “what can you do with a history degree” and check out some of the top results, you’ll find that a lot of people think that all you can do with one is teach. They’re wrong.
Where It Gets Personal
It’s not a crime to be misinformed. It’s not a crime to put your nose where it doesn’t belong, either. While neither are a crime, when you combine those two things, the end result can be quite frustrating.
I can’t tell you how many people have questioned my choice of major; not in a curiosity way, either, like “Oh, cool, what do you want to do with that degree?” Instead, people have essentially attacked my choice of major: “History? What are you going to do with that?” (scorn) “You should switch to being a business major, they make way more money.” Their argument always follows the path of “Well, if you aren’t going to teach, you can’t do anything with it.”
I’ve learned to take such nonsense in stride, but it’s still a bit of a put off. I’m not an idiot (really); I have looked into this stuff, you know. While I can be spontaneous smetimes, I don’t often set aside 4 years of my life to get a degree without looking into what I can do with said degree.
Insult is often added to injury when these people will try to argue with me about this. I’ll tell them that you can do many things with a history degree; that I’ve looked into it a great deal. And they will, without missing a beat, tell me that I’m wrong, and that if I’m not going to teach, I can’t do anything with the degree.
Argh.
What ever happened to getting a degree in something that you enjoy? What’s with the obsession with vocation-based education? Jobs are important, but they aren’t the end-all, be-all of your life. If I wanted to major in business or nursing or dental hygiene or some other “you can get a high paying job immediately after graduating with this!” degree, I would. But I don’t. I want to major in history, and I refuse to be swayed by the masses.
I can hear the army of history geeks mustering now, to back me up. I hope.
Comments 13
Hi, I just wanted to tell you that I completely agree. It’s amazing how many people still consider college like a trade school. Most people rarely enter a career that correlated with their major!!! I happen to be earning a history degree by the end of the year. I’m also earning a paralegal certificate. I’m well aware of the opportunity to enter law school, earn an MBA, or even become a paralegal. Let’s not forget urban planning, writing, archiving, historical restoration, and many many other positions that will welcome someone with a history degree. I hate to say it, but these people who say these things, are either professionals who have an applied degree, or people who haven’t ever earn any sort of degree.
Posted 21 Jul 2007 at 4:23 pm ¶Hi Veronica,
Yeah, far too many people (in my opinion) view college / university as a simple trade school. There’s nothing wrong with trade schools, but a trade school is not the same as college / university.
I agree. Generally speaking, those I’ve spoken with who have said such things either a) have no degree of their own, and show no signs of getting one or b) have a very specific, applied degree.
Posted 25 Jul 2007 at 8:24 pm ¶I think the most important thing is that you enjoy what you do. What good is a lot of money if you have to spend more than a third of your life miserable because you don’t like what you do? I’m not a history major, but I think it sounds very interesting. And no one should be able to sway you if you know it’s right for you.
Having said all that, Stephen Colbert says (tongue-in-cheek, if you’re not familiar with him), “Why study history? If you don’t learn from it, you’re doomed to repeat it, and then you’ll know what happened anyway.”
Posted 13 Aug 2007 at 10:07 pm ¶I too encounter history degree put-downs since graduating, but I wouldn’t trade my degree for anything other degree. I’ve definitely changed for the better since earning it. It’s also an ideal stepping stone degree to multiple areas such as law, business, marketing, politics, archiving/museum studies, public administration, journalism/tv/blogging etc…
Posted 14 May 2008 at 3:47 pm ¶Johnny: Amen to the “enjoy what you do”! I’d rather enjoy what I do over having a huge salary.
Osiris: Thanks for some insight post-graduation. I’m glad you don’t regret your decision to major in history.
Posted 18 May 2008 at 10:22 am ¶I certainly agree. As a history undergraduate myself, I also found myself weighting up the fact that I would spend three allbeit challenging years studying a subject I enjoy, with the wisphers that job prospects are limited. I dont regret picking history as I am set on going into teaching anyway, yet those who suggest that buisness is the key to job success can think again as the current market is flooded and those with a buisness degree are merely looking at a job in a cubicle if lucky. History students can be some of the most dedicated and appliacble of students and history also eqquipes those students with numerous transferable skills which employers crave.
Posted 14 Jul 2008 at 7:39 am ¶I disagree. I’ve had a difficult time finding a job with my history degree (and I dual majored with English). I’m stuck tutoring and my only option at this point is to either go to grad school (in which I’d still be stuck teaching) or get a teaching license.
If you’re studying history, be sure to get an internship at that dream spot (museum, think tank, etc.) before you graduate. Colleges aren’t quick to help grads once you’re out of school, and most employers could give a hoot that you’re a master researcher.
Posted 29 Jul 2008 at 4:54 pm ¶Randy: Sorry to hear you’re having a hard time finding a job. I’ve thought about getting a teaching license after I graduate, so having to do so wouldn’t be the end of the world, I suppose.
Hope you find something you enjoy; best of luck!
Posted 30 Jul 2008 at 6:19 pm ¶Hey,
i’ve just applied to do history at uni and was just wondering the job aspects at the end of the three years
thanks
Posted 29 Nov 2008 at 9:31 am ¶I’m currently double majoring in political science and english. The past couple of weeks though I’ve reallly been thinking about switching to history, and it’s not really about the post-grad job opportunities, etc. I actually find the field and its subject matter to be extremely interesting. Courses dealing with the world wars, fascism, and nazim intrigue me a lot, and I would love to read and learn more about those. To agree with your statement, I’m more interested in it out of enjoyment than anything else. Allbeit, I do want to go into teaching or writing after uni, and I find that History wouldn’t be bad for either of those 2 options. Maybe I’ll switch to History, although I cover some important aspects of history in Poli Sci. I’ll see, maybe a minor!
Posted 23 Aug 2009 at 6:34 am ¶Heck YES! i really enjoyed reading that
just today my aunts parents came over and we talked and they asked me what i’m studying. I said “History!” and then began the insults. “OH so you want to be a teacher huh?” “well no.” i said, and immediately got spammed by “well you wont be able to do anything with it if you don’t want to teach!” they said, and completely filled with anger i just walked away. I HATE WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT. its like they think i’m stupid for doing something i love! HISTORY FOR THE WIN!!!11 
Posted 07 Nov 2009 at 2:22 pm ¶I just received my history degree last month and it was one of the most proud moments of my life and my wife most certainly agrees. There is a simple truth for all college students to understand. If earning a high income is your priority, then make it as such. As for those of us who place a higher priority on happiness in what we are to spend the rest of our lives doing, we will do as such. So what will I do with a history degree? I am almost thirty and guess what…I do not yet know. And guess what? I do not care. I personally earn my living as a guitar instructor and I wanted to be a history major because it was the road less travelled, was a challenge, was versatile, and…oh yes! I enjoy history. Now I know that majoring in something you enjoy is a radical, difficult notion for some of you “keeping up with the Jones’” crowd to digest, but I cant tell you from experience that those who finish strong are the ones who excel in what they enjoy. It was a tough degree to earn and I can assure you engineering and nursing majors that we have done more reading, writing, and research in two semesters than you did in four. Beware of ignorantly assuming we are an economically inviable bunch. You’d be surprised where history majors wind up in life. We have a degree which enhances our ability to think critically, analyze, retain vast amounts of information, to communicate effectively, to investigate, scrutinize a source, and yes…to teach if necessary. To elaborate on a specific career path goes well beyond this entry…but it is a wide one. Neither can I describe to you how much my degree has helped me as a person. And do not take this personally engineers, but I was initially a Chemical Engineering major and decided very adamantly that had I wanted wind up in a bad way, I would have continued on that path. But reasoning found me first and I jumped on the wagon to personal peace. So take it from me, this little history major owes you “history degree?!” folks no other explanation than to say, “That is for me to know and you to figure out.” History majors, be well and God bless you all.
Posted 24 Jan 2010 at 2:56 am ¶So it is safe to say that many in here love history, but, as a history major myself, i have been stressing out over that fact that after graduating from college i am unable to find a decent paying job with a B.A. in History. I am thinking about of going back to school to get a M.A. in history in history and teach a high school. However, given the CA budgetary crisis, the state has done some heavy cuts in social studies through all the school district, and i am unsure if i can find find job after graduate with M.A. On a different note, are anyone in here able to find a job that use their degree? Just Curious.
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