Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Explore our History academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Unlock career potential in History! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
Traveling by passenger van to Wichita, Kansas, with a motley group of GVSU students to frame a house as part of the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program has to be among my favorite college memories. I met some amazing people on that trip.
My first football game as a student was so much fun! The buzz and excitement in the student section was something to behold and it was empowering!
A favorite Grand Valley memory is meeting two friends, Jill and Brad, and having all of our 300 and 400-level classes together! It was so nice to go through all that with a core group of friends!
My favorite Grand Valley memory was being in all of the organizations that I was a member of made my time at Grand Valley.
I have too many memories but having to greet the incoming freshmen class in the field house during freshmen welcome week with Victor Cardenas is one of my most stressful memories.
History Department Alumni Resources
January 21, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County! Each semester, we bring top companies...
January 28, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the The Fowler Center for Outdoor Learning (MCHS Family of Services)! Each semester,...
February 1, 2026 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...
February 4, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the Michigan State Police! Each semester, we bring top companies right to you on campus!...
February 9, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Fall GVSU Career and Internship Fair, but not quite sure where to start? The Career Center will be hosting a drop-in event to help you refine your resume, formulate...
View More Career Community- Education, Nonprofit & Public Service
History Department Events
Great Lakes History Conference (Fall Semester)
History Day (Winter Semester)
Consider joining the Education, Nonprofit, and Public Service Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
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.
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.
