What Can You Do With A History Degree?

History is one of those majors (much like Philosophy) that cause people to snort and ask, What can you do with a history degree? Yet, history is a scholarly field that you are wise to pursue. This concentration will make you into a witty conversationalist, an insightful problem solver, and a well-rounded person.

Don’t let the masses discourage you. There are, in fact, plenty of careers for history degree holders, including:

It’s important to remember that history majors possess transferable skills that are good for any industry.

They are generally good at writing, critical thinking, communicating, viewing cause-and-effect, problem solving, researching and analyzing through a variety of different methods. “You can do almost anything with a public history degree, from working in museums, to battlefield parks, to tourism development for communities,” according to Bill Harbour, history department chairman at Longwood College in Virginia. “A lot of our students are making their mark as political lobbyists, too.” 

Furthermore, history grad Brock Magoon adds, “I think employers like to see that ability to think outside the box, which is a buzz word in the corporate culture now. You are really able to take a different perspective and bring to the table a new viewpoint from say, a business major, who’s just taken accounting classes.”

“There are so many wonderful things you can do with a history degree,” says Robert F. Pace, associate professor of history at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. He recommends going into construction contracting if you’re looking to make good money. He explains, “One guys I know contracts to restore old houses and his business makes in excess of $1 million a year.” Other opportune positions include archivists, national park managers and historic site tourism operators.