Kathee Lamberies '03 & '05
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!
History Career Guide
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.
Menu of Experiences
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.
Career Spotlight
History
Aaron Crider '15
Two of my favorite Grand Valley memories were serving on the Grand Valley Journal of History editorial board and co-directing the Student Reading Series.
Zachariah Brevis '99
One of my favorite Grand Valley memories is 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.
Jason Black '99
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.
Rebecca Woronko '10
One of my favorite Grand Valley memories is my first football game as a student! The buzz and excitement in the student section was something to behold and it was empowering!
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
Attend Events
Career Community- Education, Nonprofit & Public Service
Prepare for the Career Fair (City)
October 5, 2026 2:00 PM - 4:00 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...
Prepare for the Career Fair (Valley)
October 6, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Winter 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,...
GVSU Fall 2026 Career and Internship Fair
October 13, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Fall Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni of...
Graduate School Fair 2026
October 21, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Explore your future at the annual GVSU Graduate School Fair hosted by the GVSU Career Center on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 12pm - 2pm in the Henry Hall Atrium on the Allendale...
State of Michigan Information Session & Networking Event
October 28, 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Did you know the State of Michigan is the largest employer in the state? And did you know that applying for a position with the State of Michigan can look a little different from a typical job application? Join...
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!
Graduate & Professional Programs
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.
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos from Professionals in the Field
Check out our podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.