History Major Career planning Options
- Social Studies Education (see also Education major)
History encompasses relics, events, places, and people of the past. History majors learn to document, understand, analyze and appreciate events that have taken place. They gain the ability to synthesize large amounts of information and to draw conclusions based on their findings. Since historical recollections are often colored by the biases and influences of the "rememberers" themselves, history majors develop a sense of perspective. Through armchair research as well as hands on research, they learn to place people, events and artifacts in time relation to their setting and to assign to them a sense of their relative importance. Visit Rivier's History, Law and Political Science Department for information on degrees and course offerings.
History Major Skills
|Oral & Written Communication
||Read & Concentrate Extensively
||Organize & Analyze Data
||Interpret Past & Present Events
|Understand Societal Changes
||Appreciate Diverse Perspectives
|Forecast Shifts in Political & Consumer Views
||Conduct & Explain Research
|Document Evident Conclusions
||Creativity & Curiosity
*Social Science Education majors should also develop skills involving creativity, planning, and the ability to adapt teaching methods and modalities to the various learning styles of students.
Career Paths in History
Careers for new history graduates are diverse and dependent upon one's interests, abilities, work values, academic emphasis and practical experience in the field. History is at the heart of traditional liberal arts education and offers skills of great interest to employers. History majors are employed in a wide variety of fields including law, public service, teaching, business, communications, historical research and preservation and many others. Those who pursue certification in social studies education may wish to seek employment at the middle/junior or senior high school levels. In these settings, the social science departments may require education to teach a variety of subjects including history, geography, government, psychology, and cultures. History majors are encouraged to combine their liberal arts studies with experience and course work related to specialized areas of interest. For example, history majors with an interest in journalism can round out their studies with hands on entry level journalism experience and related courses. To work as a historian, an advanced degree is required, a PhD. degree is needed for teaching and research in a college or university.
History Graduates may work as...
(The following titles are from across the industry. Some of these jobs may require education or experience beyond a bachelor's degree.)
||Teacher (History or Social Sciences)
|Curator of Collections
|Foreign News Correspondent
|Foreign Service Worker
|Assistant Museum Curator
||Public Affairs Specialist
|Assistant Museum Registrar
|Peace Corp/Vista Worker
||Travel Agent/Tour Guide
History Graduates may work at ...
||Library of Congress
|National & State Parks
||Outdoor Education Centers
|College & Universities
||National, State, & Local Government
||Business & Industry
|Public & Private Schools
|Chamber of Commerce
Ways to Increase Employability
- Pursue elective course work or additional training related to one's professional field of interest.
- Participate in volunteer and service learning opportunities.
- Become an active student member of university, community, or professional organizations, which enhance leadership skills and promote networking relationships with fellow professionals.
- Obtain quality practical experience prior to graduation through relevant part-time, full-time, and summer job/internship positions.
Sources of Information on Majors, Careers and Employment
- Rivier University Faculty, Academic Advisors, & Health Sciences Department Resources
- Professionals Working in the Field
- Professional Organizations
- Rivier University Career Development Center Counseling Staff, Website & Office Resources
Professional & Rivier University Organizations related to History
Career Related to Websites for History Majors