
Careers for History Majors
Through clear graphs and informal prose, readers will find hard data, practical advice, and answers to common questions about the study of history and the value it affords to individuals, their workplaces, and their communities. A resource for intellectual exploration and personal inspiration, it includes a statement shaped by cooperating faculty at over 100 colleges and universities describing the abilities and habits of mind that students develop in history programs at diverse institutions. The booklet’s contributors include alumni working in a wide range of fields and occupations as well as professional historians. Together, they suggest ways that today’s college students can prepare themselves to bring historical thinking to bear in solving tomorrow’s problems.
Current and prospective students, and their families, will discover an array of useful materials inside, as will career and academic advisers, faculty, program administrators, and staff. General readers can explore statistics, personal stories, and reflections on the many ways that a disciplined knowledge of the past—as well as the skills it takes to understand and communicate that past—empowers individuals to contribute and thrive in their academic, work, and civic lives.
For more resources from the American Historical Association, please visit historians.org/whystudyhistory.
Introduction
"Introduction," by Sarah Fenton.
"What Can You Do with that History Degree? Exploring the Data," by Paul B. Sturtevant
"A history degree doesn't narrow your opportunities after college. Instead, the history major opens a world of possibilities for your future. Federal government data show the variety of exciting career paths that history majors follow."
History Discipline Core
"History Discipline Core," by Anne Hyde
"Taking Charge of Your Education: The History Discipline Core during College," by Sarah Olzawski
"Talking to Employers about Your Degree: The History Discipline Core on the Job Market," by Loren Collins
Many Paths, One Degree
"Introduction," by Sarah Fenton
"An Education to Last a Lifetime: Conversations with the Past, Stories for the Present," by Claire Potter
"The History Major: Opening Doors to Life in a Global Economy," by John Fea
"Connecting Past to Present: The History Major in Our Communities," by Johann Neem
"The Landscape after College: Putting Your History Skills to Work," by Sarah Shurts
"What Employers Want: Thoughts from a History BA in Business," by John Rowe
"The Well-Rounded History Graduate: Professional Citizen, Human," by Frank Valadez
Contributors
Contributors include history professors, and people in both industry and the public sector. See all our distinguished contributors here.
In Their Own Words
The AHA has gathered testimonials from history majors on the value of a history degree. Read the “In Their Own Words” testimonials here.
Questionnaire: Why Study History?
The history major provides both a stepping stone towards dynamic careers in many industries and preparation for ongoing contribution to civic life. As part of a continuing effort to advocate for the BA in history and highlight the value of historical thinking, the AHA invites responses to a new "Why Study History?" questionnaire.
Purchase the Pamphlet
You can purchase this pamphlet online at Oxford University Press. For questions about the pamphlet, please contact Alana Venable (avenable@historians.org). For bulk orders contact OUP directly.
Member Download
AHA Members can download a PDF version of the booklet.