Explore our History academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.

Curriculum Guide

History Department

CLAS Advising Center

Unlock career potential in History! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

History Department Career Resources

Career Communities

Sample History Internship Sites

Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.

• Grand Rapids Public Library
• Grand Rapids Public Museum
• City of Rochester
• Village of Sparta
• The Network of LGBT in West Michigan
• Michigan House of Representatives
• Grand Rapids City Archives and Research Center
• Manasseh Project

History Internship Program

General Information on Internships

Join A Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!

• Phi Alpha Theta 
• Anthropology Club
• History Club
• Archaeological Society
• Renaissance Festival

Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.

Civic Change Agent
Grant Writing
Public History Undergraduate Badge
Intercultural Communications Undergraduate Certificate

Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.

Civic Engagement Center

History Study Abroad Options

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

There are many approaches to studying history. Study abroad offers students the distinct opportunity to experience various historical contexts and sites thus enabling a unique perspective on the understanding of countries and cultures.

History Study Abroad

Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

Getting Started

Fellowship Opportunities

Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships

Finding a Fellowship

Where Alumni Have Landed

History Department Alumni Resources

• Guest Experience Associate – Grand Rapids Public Museum
• Library Assistant – Grand Rapids Public Library
• Various Positions – Hope Network
• Membership Services – YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
• Business Office Representative – City of Grand Rapids
• US Air Force
• Director of Programs & Outreach – North Berrien Historical Museum
• Volunteer Coordinator – Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
• Public Relations & Marketing – Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative
• Paralegal – Reisinger Law Firm PLLC
• Collector – Chemical Bank
• Teacher – Various School Districts
• Program Coordinator – MSX International

History Department Events

Great Lakes History Conference (Fall Semester)

History Day (Winter Semester)

You’ve explored the narratives, movements, and moments that shaped the world as an undergraduate in history, and now you're ready to dive deeper into research, analysis, and interpretation. Graduate school in history offers the opportunity to specialize in a particular era, region, or theme while building advanced skills in critical thinking and scholarly writing.

Master of Arts (MA) in History: This degree is perfect for students looking to expand their historical knowledge and research abilities. It often includes the option to write a thesis and prepares you for careers in education, museums, archives, or public history.

PhD in History: If you're passionate about original research and want to contribute new insights to the field, a PhD is the next step. This path is ideal for those pursuing academic or high-level research roles in universities, think tanks, or cultural institutions.

Interdisciplinary Programs: Many graduate programs now blend history with areas like political science, anthropology, or digital humanities. These are great options if you're interested in connecting historical research to contemporary issues or using emerging technologies to study the past.