History

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

History majors learn skills that make them highly competitive in today’s job market. They locate, collect, analyze, and synthesize data, arguments, and information. Historians can take the general and make it specific, and provide convincing and compelling arguments that influence future decisions. Students have the option to concentrate in cultural history or contemporary history.

WHY BECOME A HISTORIAN?

Primarily, historians analyze artifacts from the past to derive lessons about the present. This process, however, is far more interesting than memorizing dates, names, and facts. These skills can be applied to academics, education, government and law, but they are equally sought after in the private sector. The skill-set of a historian – which includes outstanding written and verbal communication skills, information analysis, argumentation and persuasion – prepares students to be successful in today’s competitive marketplace.

According to the journal Foreign Policy, the number one field of study for people pursuing careers in international affairs is history. According to the University of Michigan Law School, history is one of the primary majors for future Law students. Job sites such as Monster.com show that history majors begin careers with salaries comparable to other popular university majors such as english or psychology. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, employers favor graduates with skills learned in history, not technical education.

History doesn’t have any marketability.

Not true! Training for one specific career might help you in the short term, but if the market changes, you may be forced to move long distances, take a pay cut, or find yourself unemployed. A broader educational skillset, like the kind history provides, prepares you to adapt to any number of employment situations, making you marketable to more than just one field.

History degrees don’t have “real-world application.”

Yes, they do! In fact, they open up many doors instead of one. Compare a Liberal Arts education to training at Tech school: Tech training in one specific skill set (welding, a computer programming language, etc., all of which are important) might pigeonhole you in the long run if the market changes. A history degree makes you adaptable to an ever-changing market.

A History background shouldn’t lead to questions like “what can I do?” Instead, it should make you ponder “What can’t I do?”