Choosing a Career Pathway

By Michael Edmondson

This essay excerpt is part of the AHA’s Career for History Majors (2nd Edition). The full booklet may be purchased on OUP’s website.

 

 

Undergraduate history majors are uniquely positioned to explore diverse and fulfilling career opportunities. The versatility of a history degree prepares you for success in a variety of careers, giving you the luxury of choice and the ability to adapt to new opportunities. But it also puts more responsibility on you to choose what kind of career path you want to pursue—there isn’t one conventional path the way there might be for other majors or vocational programs.

Rather than being confined to a single trajectory, you can pursue one, two, or all three of the available pathways: traditional career paths, skills-based career paths, and interests-based career paths. These options are open to anyone willing to walk down them, offering flexibility to match personal strengths, ambitions, and passions.

 

1. Traditional Career Paths

Traditional career paths align closely with your academic training. These careers center on teaching, research, and the preservation and interpretation of historical knowledge.

Teaching and Academia

Passionate about sharing knowledge? Teaching offers a direct way to inspire future generations. History majors can become educators at the elementary, secondary, or collegiate level, with opportunities to specialize in their favorite historical periods or themes. Those who pursue graduate studies may become professors or researchers, contributing to historical scholarship and mentoring students.

Museums and Archives

If you enjoy working with artifacts, documents, and cultural treasures, you can thrive as a museum curator, archivist, or conservator. These professionals preserve history while making it accessible to the public through exhibits, collections, and programs.

Public History and Cultural Heritage

Public historians cultivate engagement with the past in a wide variety of settings, including but not limited to historic sites, museums, historical societies, and in the public sector. Careers in this field might involve planning educational events, curating exhibits, managing archival materials, providing interpretation, or collaborating with government agencies to enhance public understanding of the past and promote cultural heritage.

2. Skills-Based Career Paths

Skills-based career paths leverage the competencies developed through a history education—critical thinking, research, analysis, and communication—to excel in various industries. These careers emphasize your adaptability and your ability to thrive in dynamic, interdisciplinary roles.

Law and Policy

The ability to analyze complex texts and construct logical arguments makes history majors well suited for careers in law. Many history graduates pursue law school, where your training in research and critical thinking is a distinct advantage. Similarly, careers in public policy and advocacy benefit from a history major’s contextual understanding of societal challenges.

Business and Consulting

History majors excel in roles requiring strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making. In consulting, market research, or management positions, your ability to synthesize information and solve problems is highly valued.

Journalism and Writing

Journalism and writing careers tap into a history major’s ability to tell compelling stories and communicate effectively. Whether as reporters, editors, or content creators, history graduates bring a strong foundation in research and narrative construction to this work.

Technology and Data Analysis

While unconventional, some history majors enter fields like technology and data analysis, where your skills in identifying trends and patterns are valuable. User research and data interpretation roles are possible jobs where your analytical training can shine.

3. Interests-Based Career Paths

Interests-based career paths empower history majors to pursue careers that align with personal passions, even if those passions lie outside the traditional boundaries of history. These pathways combine your academic training with your unique interests, creating fulfilling and impactful careers.

Creative Industries

History majors with artistic inclinations can explore careers in filmmaking, game design, or creative writing. For example, a history enthusiast might write historical novels, create documentaries, or design video games set in historical contexts.

Nonprofits and Advocacy

Students with interests outside history can pursue careers in nonprofits or advocacy organizations. For instance, a history major who loves animals might work for nonprofits supporting animal rights, leveraging their research and communication skills to raise awareness or secure funding for causes they care about. Similarly, those passionate about social justice, environmental conservation, or healthcare can find meaningful roles in organizations aligned with their values.

Specialized Fields

History majors interested in certain subjects, such as sports or food history, can explore specialized roles that combine their academic background with niche careers or their personal hobbies.

These three pathways—traditional, skills-based, and interests-based—highlight the immense versatility of a history degree. You could choose to travel down one, two, or all three pathways throughout your career, as there is no right or wrong approach. Each path opens doors to unique opportunities, allowing you to blend your academic foundation with your evolving interests and goals. By embracing this flexibility, history majors can craft careers that are both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling, proving that the past is a powerful foundation for building the future.