What jobs can you get with a Bachelor's degree in History?

What is a bachelor's degree in history?

During a bachelor's degree in history, you'll study events and phenomena from the past, focusing on the cultural, political, and social aspects of people's lives. History majors will not only learn about the past, but they will also gain an understanding of its impact on us today and apply this knowledge to improve our future.

Why study for a bachelor's degree in history?

A bachelor's degree in history can enhance your worldview and give you a valuable skillset applicable to many careers.

A degree in history teaches you:

• Critical thinking skills
• Communication skills
• Research skills
• Writing skills

Jobs for history majors

An advantage of being a bachelor's degree in history graduate is that it opens you up to various career paths. Read and draw inspiration from our list of careers, whether you want to write, research, or teach.

Archivists

Many history students become archivists and work preserving historical records, documents, and files. You will be responsible for organizing and maintaining collections of material related to world history.

History teachers

A bachelor's degree in history can lead to a teaching or lecturing position. You work as a high school history teacher or a history professor at a university. Further education may be necessary for some teaching roles.

Museum curator

Although many museum curators hold an advanced degree and have solid professional experience, some smaller museums have curators with Bachelor's degrees in history. Curators have a niche understanding of specific areas of history and are responsible for researching historical artifacts and planning and organizing exhibitions.

Professional historian

Many history majors decided to be professional historians to research and interpret historical data better to understand human behavior, past events, and cultures. As a historian, you can work in government agencies, research institutions, historical sites, or museums.

Librarian

History students are adept at finding information and examining sources, skills vital for Librarians who help individuals find historical documents, books, resources, and research texts. As a history graduate, you'll know to build databases for institutions and members or curate collections based on topics. In some cases, Librarians offer educational programs or teach members how to use tools and resources.

A career as a Librarian could mean working for universities or schools, public organizations, government agencies, or specialized institutions. Based on the area of specialty and the types of history majors they employ, Libraries may hire for entry-level history jobs or advanced roles requiring a master's degree in Library science.

Lawyer

History programs make you an ideal candidate to work as a paralegal or legal assistant. You will have developed advanced communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills to conduct legal research, collate and examine the evidence, and write legal documents. Most professionals at this level have Bachelor's degrees, and working as a paralegal can be an excellent entry-level job for history majors.

History graduates make great lawyers. You'll be able to interpret laws and regulations and advise and represent clients in court. To qualify as a lawyer, you will need a graduate degree and a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, which can take up to three years.

Researcher

History degrees are an excellent asset for researchers looking to uncover the truth about historical events or persons from the past. As a researcher, you'll work on research papers and projects involving historical knowledge.

Journalist

Many history majors utilize their writing skills to pursue a career path in journalism. A history program teaches excellent research and analytical skills, essential when fact-checking articles and investigative features.

Study for a graduate program in history

Many history majors pursue a master's degree and specialize in a particular area of study, such as European history, American history, Asian history, and more. With a master's degree, you could land jobs as a college professor, librarian, museum curator, or archivist. You may also pursue a doctoral degree in history and become a historian who works as an independent researcher or consultant.

So, if you're looking for an exciting career path that utilizes your passion for history and provides valuable skills for the future, then a history major may be the perfect choice for you!