CAREER RESOURCES
What Can I Do with a History Major?
The short answer to this question is “everything.” The history major has many career options because prepared with skills in demand in many fields, including writing, research and problem solving, critical thinking, and oral communication. Moreover, these skills are transferrable—they are not field-specific but applicable in many ways for many different kinds of jobs.
Many employers look at the college degree, not the specific major, and make their decisions about who to hire based on which applicants best show that they understand the job, have the skills that will help their future employer, and possess a desire to work hard and succeed.
When you graduate and look for a career, know your interests (a visit to the Career Center is highly recommended: http://www.gvsu.edu/careers/), know the skills you have gained, and think ahead by taking advantage of opportunities such as internships or career preparation events that will help you in the future.
For further information, see:
University of Tennessee, What Can I Do with This Major? http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/history/
American Historical Association, “Why Study History?” https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/why-study-history
American Historical Association, “Careers for History Majors” https://www.historians.org/jobs-and-professional-development/career-resources/careers-for-history-majors
GVSU History Major http://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/8E60AE8A-DD89-F38B-68F611A92AA5D47A/history_general_15-16.pdf
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections http://www.bls.gov/emp/
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CAREER POSSIBILITIES, CLICK HERE OR SEE BELOW
THE OPTIONS
Career Area: Law School and Government
Job Titles
Lawyer
Legislative aide
Foreign Service
Law enforcement
Public advocacy groups
Public office, staff administration, or campaign assistant
Legal aid or public defender’s office
Community organizing
Paralegal
Preparation Strategies
Complete an internship at a government agency or public policy group
Join Law Society of GVSU: https://orgsync.com/62576/chapter
Seek leadership roles in campus organizations, including student government
Join debate teams
Volunteer for community organizations, advocacy groups, or political parties
Complete a study abroad program
Resources
GVSU Pre-Law Website: http://www.gvsu.edu/prelaw/
American Bar Association, Legal Profession Statistics: http://www.americanbar.org/resources_for_lawyers/profession_statistics.html
What Can I Do with This Major? http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/law/
Potential Employers
Law firms
Federal, state, and city government
Lobbying organizations
Corporations
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Public interest groups
Curriculum Suggestions
BUS 201: Legal Environment for Business
CJ 302: Criminal Law
CJ 305: Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties
CJ 325: Criminal Justice and Human Rights
CJ/LS 444: Forensic Behavior and Law
CLA 367: Thinking Like a (Roman) Lawyer
COM 303: Debate
HST 317: History of American Foreign Relations
HST 328: U.S. Constitutional and Legal History
LS 201: Introduction to Law
LS 324: Legal Research and Writing
MGT 334: Labor and Employment Law
MGT 432: Grievance Arbitration and Collective Bargaining
PHI 330: Legal Philosophy
PLS 206: American Constitutional Foundations
PLS 306: Constitutional Law I (Federalism and Separation of Powers)
PLS 307: Constitutional Law II (Civil Rights and Liberties)
PLS 314: International Law
WGS/LS 370: Women and the Law
For more curriculum suggestions, see http://www.gvsu.edu/polisci/pre-law-faq-45.htm
Students interested in becoming a lawyer will need to attend law school (earning a J.D.) (http://www.lsac.org/jd/), which requires taking the LSAT (http://www.lsac.org/)
Career Area: Business
Job Titles
CEO
Entrepreneur
Accounts manager
Systems analyst
Business manager
Preparation Strategies
Attend professional and career events sponsored by GVSU Career Center, including Job Fair
Gain relevant experience through internships and summer jobs
Join student organizations for business students
Talk to professionals in industry that interests you
Resources
What Can I Do with This Major? http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/business-studies/
Seidman College of Business, Student Organizations
Potential Employers
Manufacturers
Healthcare organizations
Banks and financial institutions
Real estate brokers
Insurance companies
Retail stores
Hotels and restaurants
Non-profit management
Curriculum Suggestions
Interest in General Business:
ACC 212: Principles of Financial Accounting
ACC 213: Principles of Managerial Accounting
ECO 210: Introductory Macroeconomics
ECO 211: Introductory Microeconomics
BUS 201: Legal Environment for Business
Interest in Marketing:
ACC 212: Principles of Financial Accounting
ECO 211: Introductory Microeconomics
BUS 201: Legal Environment for Business
MKT 350: Marketing Management
Interest in Management:
ACC 212: Principles of Financial Accounting
ECO 211: Introductory Microeconomics
BUS 201: Legal Environment for Business
MGT 331: Concepts of Management
FIN 320: Managerial Finance
Alternately, history majors could complete the 12-credit Entrepreneurship Certificate offered by Seidman College of Business, which is designed as “a short track of courses to learn the process and tools, and to develop the skills and experiences necessary to identify and create a sustainable business opportunity.” See http://catalog.gvsu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=40&poid=5529
Career Area: Education
Job Titles
Elementary and secondary school teacher
School administrator
College professor
Higher education administrator
Higher education student support services
Preparation Strategies
Volunteer in schools (25 hours of experience with children or youth required by College of
Education for admission)
Seek experience with youth, such as summer jobs at camps, churches, or youth organizations
Complete a relevant internship, for example, at a literacy center
Complete a study abroad program
Complete a senior thesis (HST 498) if considering graduate school
Resources
History Major with Secondary Education http://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/8E60AE8A-DD89-F38B-68F611A92AA5D47A/history_secondary_education_15-16.pdf
GVSU Elementary Education Major http://www.gvsu.edu/coe/undergraduate/undergraduate-elementary-education-program-25.htm
GVSU College of Education, Admission Requirements http://www.gvsu.edu/coe/undergraduate/admissions-requirements-10.htm
What Can I Do with This Major? http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/education/
American History Association, “Graduate School Application Process: From Start to Finish” https://secure.historians.org/projects/cge/PhD/Questions.cfm
Potential Employers
K-12 schools
School districts
Community colleges
Colleges and universities
Curriculum Suggestions
EDF 315: Diverse Perspectives on Education
EDI 337: Introduction to Learning and Assessment
EDT 370: Technology in Education
PYS 301: Child Development
SST 309: Social Studies for Elementary Teacher (for elementary teaching minor)
SST 310: Strategies for Social Studies Teachers (for secondary teaching certification)
HST 498: Senior Thesis (if considering graduate school)
Students interested in elementary school teaching can major in Social Studies and must complete the Elementary Education Minor
Students interested in college teaching will need to earn a graduate degree in history (Ph.D.). All students considering graduate study should major or minor in the foreign language(s) relevant to their interests
Career Area: Public History
Job Titles
Government historian
Museum Curator
Cultural resource manager
Conservator
Park service historian
Historical consulting
Historic preservation specialist
Archivist or records manager
Preparation Strategies
Complete an internship in public history
Volunteer at local museums, historical societies or other organizations relevant to public history
Complete a study abroad program
Complete a senior thesis (HST 498) if considering graduate school
Resources
American Historical Association, Careers in Public History https://www.historians.org/jobs-and-professional-development/career-resources/careers-in-public-history
National Council on Public History, Job Listings http://ncph.org/jobs
The Public History Navigator http://ncph.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Public-History-Navigator-2015-Web.pdf
Melissa Bingmann, “Advising Undergraduates about Career Opportunities in Public History,” Perspectives on History (March 2009) https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/march-2009/advising-undergraduates-about-career-opportunities-in-public-history
American Association for State and Local History, “Curious about a Career in Public History?”
http://about.aaslh.org/curious-about-a-career-in-public-history/
American Alliance of Museums http://www.aam-us.org/resources/careers
Society of American Archivists http://careers.archivists.org/
Potential Employers
Museums
Historical societies
Federal, state, and local government
Non-profit organizations
Corporations
National Park Service
Curriculum Suggestions
ANT 220: Introduction to Archaeology
ANT 314: Bioarchaeology
HST 405: Local and Community History
HST 420: Public History*
HST/CLA 415: Museum Studies*
HST 490: History Internship
Students interested in careers in public history often obtain a master’s degree (MS or MA) in history or museum studies
Career Area: Library and Information Science
Job Titles
Academic librarian
Services librarian
Liaison librarian
Metadata librarian
Library director or manager
Health science librarians
Archivist
Conservator
Children’s or young adult librarian
Preparation Strategies
Volunteer at a public or school library
Gain relevant experience through part-time jobs in libraries
Seek experience with youth, such as summer jobs at camps, churches, or youth organizations (for
school librarians)
Resources
American Library Association, “LibraryCareers.org” http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/libcareers
Meredith Schwartz, “How to Become a 21st Century Librarian,” Library Journal, March 20,
2013 http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/03/careers/how-to-become-a-21st-century-librarian/#_
Potential Employers
Public libraries
Academic libraries
School libraries
Corporations
Government (including National Archives and Records Administration)
Curriculum Suggestions
CIS 160: Programming with Visual Basic
CIS 238: Internet Media and Programming
COM 201: Speech
COM 371: Media and Society
If interested in children’s or young adult librarianship:
ENG 304: International Literature for Children and Young Adults
ENG 309: Teaching Literature to Children
ENG 311: Teaching Literature to Adolescents
ENG 334: American Multicultural Literature for Children and Adults
A strong liberal arts background is the best preparation for a librarian.
Most professional-level library positions require a master’s degree in library and information science (either MLS, MLIS, MSIS, MSLS, MA in LIS, or MS in LIS)
Career Area: Media and Communications
Job Titles
Journalist
Editor at trade or university press
Editor at newspaper, website, or magazine
Publisher
Documentary film producer
Grant or technical writer
Media planning
Media relations specialist
Preparation Strategies
Gain relevant experience through internships and summer jobs
Seek leadership roles in campus organizations, including student programming
Work for campus newspaper, radio station, and similar outlets
Volunteer to be announcer at college and local sporting events
Volunteer to create or maintain websites for local organizations
Maintain a personal website or blog to showcase work
Resources
What Can I Do with This Major?
What Can I Do with This Major?
Riley Guide, Job and Industry Resources for Writing, Broadcasting, & Journalism Careers
Potential Employers
Websites, newspapers, or magazines
Radio and television stations
Trade and academic presses
Corporations
Federal, state and local government
Colleges and universities
Curriculum Suggestions
CFV 225: Film Culture
CIS 160: Programming with Visual Basic
CIS 238: Internet Media and Programming
CMJ 236: News in Society
CMJ 256: News Reporting
CMJ 284: Broadcast News 1
CMJ 290: Journalism History
COM 201: Speech
COM 220: Media Literacy
COM 271: History of Communications Technologies
COM 371: Media and Society
ENG 261: Foundations of Language Study
LS 324: Legal Research and Writing
WRT 200: Introduction to Professional Writing
WRT 219: Introduction to Creative Writing
WRT 253: Document Production and Design
WRT 350: Business Writing
WRT 351: Writing for the World Wide Web