Department of Humanities and Communication

Career Opportunities for History Majors

Prepared by Gordon Patterson and Robert Taylor

This webpage consists of a number of hyperlinks to articles describing some of the opportunities open to students of history. If you are considering majoring in history, Peter Stearns' short essay, Why Study History?, summarizes some of the reasons why you might want to major in history.

See Liberal Learning and the History Major

The American Historical Society commissioned a series of articles in which a group of prominent historians presented their reasons for becoming historians:

Jobs for History Majors

Professor Irv Solomon at Florida Gulf Coast University prepared a list of career opportunities open to history majors in the non profit, private and public sectors of the economy. This list should give you an idea of some of the opportunities open to history majors.

Non Profit Sector

Archives

  • Archivist: Identify, appraise, arrange and preserve significant documents. Prepare reference aids; publicize archival resources.
  • Records manager: Survey, inventory and process records. Prepare retention and disposal schedules. Conduct records management training.

Historical associations & societies

Promote the study, preservation boards, and value of history. Manage historical resources. Write, edit and publish publications. Offer scholarly and professional services to the public. Serve as a forum for historical activities.

  • Historical projects (includes Main Street programs)
  • Conduct historical research; document and publish findings. Provide administrative services, draft budgets, seek grants. Promote program by direct public appeals and through use of print, broadcast and TV media. Offer technical assistance in matters relating to history/preservation.
  • Architectural history and restoration Study, restore and renovate, reproduce or preserve historical buildings and architectural styles.

Libraries

  • Reference librarian: Serve the public by providing information on collections. Develop and promote use of bibliographies and electronic finding aids. Recommend purchases of library materials.
  • Catalog librarian: Catalog and classify library material; develop collection's accessibility; assist public in use of facilities.
  • Research librarian: Provide research services to public and to reference librarians. Conduct literature search on card catalogues and electronic databases. Compile bibliographies.
  • Technical librarian: Recommend acquisition of specialized library material. Implement and automate bibliographic systems; instruct users.

Museums

  • Curator: Research, analyze, authenticate; preserve; display and interpret historic material. Plan acquisitions, exhibits and storage; coordinate work with other museum personnel.
  • Conservator: Examine artifacts; assure ambient environment. Preserve artifacts from physical deterioration; conserve collections.
  • Education specialist: Prepare and deliver classes; develop staff and docent training programs. Arrange tour schedules; produce and present lectures and multimedia shows on history.
  • Publication specialist: Research, write, edit, design and produce scholarly catalogs, interpretive histories, reports, guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, audiovisual products and direct mailings.
  • Public Relations specialist: Foster positive publicity; write press releases; stage media and public events. Respond to public queries; write and produce public service announcements; promote the public's use and support of museums.

Research institutions

  • Study and report on the development of topics--especially policy issues--over time. Fulfill contract research assignments. Edit historical documents. Coordinate interdisciplinary studies requiring historical perspective; determine significance/ trends in computer-based data.

Religious & philanthropic organizations

  • Apply historical studies to enrich an understanding of the organization's mission. Analyze issues over time, defining needs and programs with reference to historical context. Encourage the study of history.

Teaching

Many history majors pursue careers in teaching. Here are some Guidelines which will help you if you are considering a career in teaching. Florida Tech's Science Education Department regularly offers the majority of courses which undergraduate students need to receive state certification. Special arrangements can be made for the additional courses which are required for certification in history. Professor Patterson and Professor Taylor can provide more information about this opportunity.

Private Sector

Organizations that Emphasize History

  • Consulting & free-lance assignments Note: Competence required in business administration, especially marketing and finance.
  • Archives/records management Provide archival and records management services. Foster private and public efforts to research historical records.
  • Cultural resource management: Identify, research and evaluate historic resources; assist in preparation of environmental impact reports. Nominate resources for legal protection.
  • Historical research/writing/editing: Research, write, edit, index and publish historical works concerning individuals, families, institutions or communities. Provide litigation support, oral history, interviewing and transcription services
  • Preservation/restoration: Apply historic, artistic, technical, and manual skills to rehabilitate and preserve structures and artifacts. Research and publicize preservation issues, laws and tax incentives.

Communications Media

  • Programming-production: Research, write and edit historical documentaries and narratives. Develop programming for radio and television, motion pictures and recording industries.
  • Publishing: Note: Command of the English language--and the subject matter--is essential. Typing/word processing/proofreading skills needed. Ability to spot consumer trends important.
  • Editors (book): Evaluate manuscripts; assure accuracy, grammar, clarity, thoroughness, organization, and style. Secure publication rights; negotiate contracts. Research market to test demand for publication.
  • Editors (magazine): Research, write and edit articles. Review unsolicited manuscripts; develop new ideas for publications. Host press conferences; seek out new material and information.

Organizations that Apply Historians' Skills

Management (general) Analyze financial, economic, and political risk using historical models. Test operating procedures for historical analogies. Employ oral history for organizational diagnosis. Examine policy issues by drawing on historical sources and perspectives.

  • Advertising Select target audience for advertising campaigns; design surveys; analyze and interpret results. Review raw and published material. Spot trends, determine effect of advertising campaign.
  • Archival and record keeping services Organize archives and records to serve as integral part of corporate information system. Develop retention, storage, and retrieval policies. Exhibit archival material and memorabilia to promote corporate mission.
  • Genealogy Trace family histories and create family trees. Help locate missing family members and create family history books for reunions.
  • Insurance Search and evaluate historical records to construct insurance case histories. Establish risk factors based on historical research; analyze legislative action relating to industry in depth.
  • Law Research public and private archives and records sources; develop support material from historical evidence. Apply oral history techniques for depositions. Write briefs.
  • Market research Design and code research questionnaires; manage information gathering process for interviews and surveys. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, applying math and statistical techniques. Edit, proofread and report on conclusions to clients.
  • Newspaper, radio & television journalism Probe contemporary and historical records for source information. Interview, applying oral history techniques. Provide concise, accurate reports within stringent deadlines, placing current events in historical perspective.
  • Paralegal services Investigate, collect, organize and manage information. Research laws, legal writings, and precedents. Interview clients; perform trial fact analysis. Manage computer data base systems.
  • Public relations Identify public trends; interpret corporate activities over time. Draw on archival material for organizational promotion, incorporating historical themes in advertising, publicity, and public relations material.
  • Staff training Incorporate corporate history within staff training programs. Relate the history of clients, cultures, domestic and foreign markets to institutional goals and operating policies.
  • Travel & tourism Inform public about the history of people, places and material objects. Facilitate travel to historical sites. Plan conferences; guide tours. Promote the educational value of tourism.

Public Sector

  • Archives (federal, state & municipal) Preserve, arrange, service and exhibit public documents and manuscript collections. Plan and select archival acquisitions. Develop state-wide records management and archival policy. Promote scholarly research in archival records.
  • Departments of Education Examine long-range trends that influence education at all levels. Draft budgets, prepare cost/benefit analyses. Examine ways and means to strengthen the curriculum. Promote public interest in education.
  • Department of State--Foreign Service Analyze and report on foreign countries' political, economic, and social conditions. Present U.S. policies, culture and values to other nations.
  • Federal agency preservation offices Coordinate the federal agency's activities under provisions of National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Determine effect of the agency's projects on property in, or eligible for, National Register of Historic Places.
  • Historical offices (general) Write institutional and policy history. Prepare current issues studies, analyze policy performance and identify long-range trends. Preserve and organize institutional records; provide archival and records management. Edit public records and documents.
  • Historical offices (military services) Prepare institutional histories and policy related studies; lecture on military history. Direct historical editing projects; manage archival and records centers, museums and artifact collections.
  • Heritage/cultural agencies Supervise and administer historical documents, artifacts, structures, and parks; produce exhibit displays; provide research and publication services.
  • Intelligence services Employ historian's skills to gather and analyze economic, political and social data; relate trends and precedents from the past to present and future events.
  • National Park Service
  • Manage historical sites and parks, studying their history and promoting their use. Conduct tours and classes; interpret site and park history to public.
  • Military Service for those seeking to become military officers a major in history provides a solid basis for professional and career development.
  • Legislatures Administrative assistants Research the history of policies and legislation; analyze costs and effectiveness. Respond to public inquiries on current political issues, laws and procedures. Manage institutional records and publish bibliographic material.
  • Elected officials: Bring historical perspective to decision making process. Apply objective scholarship to the examination of political, social, economic and military issues.
  • Libraries & museums (federal, state & municipal)
  • Planning agencies Provide urban and rural planning services to preserve natural and historical resources; foster environmental quality. Recommend, review and enforce land use and development policies.
  • State Historic Preservation Offices Plan state preservation efforts; educate public concerning preservation. Conduct cultural resource surveys, nominate properties to National Register, administer historic, archaeological properties, provide guidance on preservation legislation.

Credits

  • History Department, The University of Akron.
  • Howe, Barbara J., Careers for Students of History, Washington, D.C.: American Historical Association and the National Council on Public History, 1989.
  • Pomeroy, Robert W., and the National Center for the Study of History.
  • Solomon, Irv Florida Gulf Coast University

General Information on Careers

The U.S. Department of Labor has compiled data on the demand for different college graduates. Click here for a summary of their findings.

The Department of Labor publishes projections for the demand for different occupations and college majors through 2006.