Launch Your Career
What do employers want?
The skills you will acquire when you major in history.
- Critical Thinking
- Persuasive Writing
- Research Skills
- Excellent Oral Communication
- Global Understanding
Most employers today are not looking for job candidates who have majored in one specific discipline; rather, they are looking for particular skills.
A 2013 national survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities found that nearly all employers (93 percent) said that "a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidate's] undergraduate major."
More than three-fourths of employers want universities to place more emphasis on critical thinking and written and oral communication skills.
The history major is designed to ensure that all students graduate with these kinds of skills.
Read "So your doctor majored in history?" »
What will employers need in the future?
The skills students will develop by majoring in history.
For most American workers, the days of preparing for a single career are over. In the 21st century workplace, employees typically change jobs ten times in the two decades following college!
We cannot predict all of the kinds of the jobs that will exist thirty years from now, let alone train for them.
But we can be quite certain that the skills you will acquire with a history degree will give you the flexibility to assume wide range of careers during your life.
What can you do with a history major? Almost anything you want.
The list of careers you can pursue with a history degree is enormous.
Graduates from UNCG’s history department have successfully pursued a wide range of careers including:
- Film producer
- Mortgage Broker
- University administrator
- Community College Instructor
- Business Vice President
- Staff for a U.S. Senator
- Insurance account manager
- Retail store manager
- Radio producer
- Public historian
- U.S. Army Sergeant
- Teach for America Instructor
- Financial Service Representative
- Comic book author
- Study Abroad consultant
- National Park Service Park Ranger
- Marketing Specialist
Katie Heidsiek, MA 2011, is now the curator for the Town of Windsor Museum in Colorado. Read More »
A degree in History also prepares you to pursue many different graduate programs.
UNCG history majors have entered MA and PhD programs at institutions such as Wake Forest University, Yale University, Purdue University, East Tennessee State, University of Akron, University of Wisconsin, University of Richmond, University of Nebraska, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina State, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Elon University.
They have pursued degrees in fields ranging from Global Economics, Literature, History, and Classics to Archaeological Science, Counseling, Nursing, Business, and Education. Many have become doctors and lawyers.
For some history majors, our nationally-known MA program in Museum Studies is an ideal way to continue their learning and prepare for careers as museum professionals.
The History Department will help you prepare for your career.
Our faculty are happy to speak with you about your future plans. We will help you find the resources you need.
If you are interested in law school, please make an appointment with our Pre-Law Advisor, Dr. Thomas Jackson.
History majors pursuing careers in teaching receive special advising each semester.
The History Department networks with Career Services.
Use the Handbook for History Majors to plan a course of study that fits your career interests, including advice about choosing an appropriate minor, study abroad, and other opportunities for building on your strengths.
Careers that History Majors in the U.S. Have Successfully Pursued
- Advertising: account executive, media buyer, media planner, copywriter, researcher, sales.
- Banking: loan officer, operations manager, trust officer, branch manager
- City Planning: regional planner, urban administrator, urban planner.
- Computer Services: computer operator, operations analyst, marketing representativ(information technology)
- Education: bilingual teacher, college/university professor, secondary school teacher, school counselor, special education teacher.
- Education Administration: admissions counselor, academic advisor, alumni affairs staff, career services staff, financial aid staff, learning support services staff, development staff, student activities staff, student housing staff, dean of students, counseling staff, principal.
- Environment: advocacy staff, community relations, contract administrator, environmental education,environmental journalism, environmental policy, fundraiser, lobbyist, park ranger, social research analyst, technical writer, wildlife/recreation management.
- Government: analyst, caseworker, city manager, civil service, community affairs coordinator, codecompliance officer, congressional staff, criminologist, customs agent, diplomat, economicdevelopment coordinator, foreign service officer, housing & community development, intelligence analyst, investigator, legislative analyst, legislative assistant, politician, program analyst, program information officer, public affairs officer, researcher, speech writer.
- Film, TV, Radio: broadcaster, production assistant, producer, programming assistant, public relations, sales, scriptwriter.
- Health Care: public health administrator, human resources manager, public relations.
- Historical Research: archaeologist, archivist (national, state, local, medical, corporate archives), biographer, curator, historian, demographer, historical society administrator, international relations analyst.
- Human Resources: benefits specialist, college recruiting specialist, compensation manager, employee relations officer, employment interviewer, job analyst, organization development specialist, recruiter, labor relations, training specialist.
- Insurance: actuary, branch manager, brokerage manager, sales, underwriter.
- Investments: commodities trader, research analyst, securities analyst, stock broker.
- Journalism: editor, photojournalist, writer, researcher, news correspondent, foreign news correspondent (see also Publishing).
- Languages: consul, customs inspector, exporter, foreign language teacher, immigration officer, importer, intelligence officer, interpreter/translator, researcher, travel agent.
- Law: attorney, judge, law professor, legal research assistant, paralegal.
- Library Science: librarian, library technology manager.
- Management & Business: accountant, sales, sales manager, economist, corporate policy analyst, human resources manager, research & development manager, CEO.
- Marketing: market research analyst.
- Multimedia: business development, customer support, marketing, online copy editor, online researcher, production assistant, sales, scriptwriter, website designer, web editor, web producer.
- Museums & Public History: curator, exhibits designer, historic preservation specialist, historic site manager, public history curator, special collections curator, appraiser of antiquities and art, museum technician.
- Non-Profit Sector: clergy, consumer advocate, fundraiser/development, education administrator, foundation work (United Way, Red Cross), grant writer, Peace Corps/Vista volunteer, public relations, activist careers, advocacy/labor unions.
- Performing Arts: actor, choreographer, director, producer, stage manager, community affairs director, fundraising/development, government relations, investor relations, press relations officer, promoter, publicity officer, speech writer.
- Publishing: author, book editor, columnist, corporate communications, copy editor, editorial writer, electronic publishing specialist, employee publications specialist, freelance writer, government publications specialists, journalist, newspaper/magazine writer, playwright, production assistant, public information officer, public relations, magazine designer, (see also Multimedia).
- Real Estate: appraiser, commercial real estate agent, residential real estate agent.
- Retail and Merchandising: buyer, retail manager, sales representative, entrepreneur, executive.
- Visual Arts: appraiser, editorial assistant, graphic designer, photographer.
(courtesy of Messiah College