Careers and Graduate School

Careers for History Majors

History majors can seek employment in a variety of fields, ranging from education to government to business. The American Historical Association has published a guide to career opportunities for history majors. (Note that you can get more information for each category by clicking the category name.) For additional ideas, see Katherine Brooks, You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career (HF5382.75.U6 B755 2009 at Cofrin Library).

Secondary Education

History majors interested in teaching history at the high-school level should contact the Professional Program in Education to learn more about applying to the education program in order to minor in education.

Government Employment

History majors may qualify for a number of state and federal jobs. Some of these jobs may call explicitly for someone with historical training, but others emphasize key words such as “research.” Click here to search for government jobs in Wisconsin. Click here to search for jobs with the federal government. In both cases, you should do multiple searches to try to find jobs that fit your skills, location, and interests. Ask UWGB Career Services for help in conducting a search for a government job.

Public History

Historians doing historical research and sharing historical knowledge outside of schools, colleges, and universities are known as public historians. Public historians work in various institutions, including museums, parks, archives, and even the corporate world. Many history students at UWGB have completed internships with local musuems as a way to learn more about public history. (See the internships page for more information.) As a general rule, to make a career in public history, you need to have at least a Master's degree. See below for examples of public history programs in Wisconsin.

Graduate Programs in History

The American Historical Association maintains a listing of Ph.D. programs in history, organized by both subject (i.e., modern Europe) and by state. Although the database does not track M.A. programs, it is still a good starting place to find relevant graduate programs. History majors considering the pursuit of a Ph.D. should inform themselves about the many personal and financial challenges associated with graduate school. Talking to history faculty early and often is essential. Again, the AHA provides excellent resources for learning about graduate school and the academic job market. See, for example, the following articles from the AHA's Perspectives on History:

Law School

History is a popular major for students planning to attend law school. There is no formal pre-law program at UW-Green Bay, but students interested in attending law school can learn more about pre-law planning at the UW-Green Bay pre-law webpage. The pre-law advisor is Prof. Timothy Dale.