An online history degree provides students with a solid and well-rounded educational background to pursue career paths in a wide range of fields. A history degree educates students about past events and enables them to develop essential skills in communication, oral and written presentation, research, record keeping, critical thinking, and interviewing. History programs focus on interpreting the past and applying it to future situations. Read more about online history degree programs.
Some Stats
In 2006, there were 407 associate degrees, 34,446 bachelor degrees, 3,144 master degrees, and 807 doctorate degrees conferred in history. There were 84 bachelor, 24 master, and 10 doctorate degrees in American history; 38 bachelor and 2 master degrees in European history; 114 bachelor, 28 master, and 27 doctorate degrees in history and philosophy of science and technology; 26 bachelor and 50 master degrees in public/applied history and archival administration; and 504 bachelor, 76 master, and 22 doctorate in other history (1). In 2006, historians held 3,400 jobs and archivists, curators, and museum technicians held 27,000 jobs (2).
Employment Outlook
Employment outlook varies greatly on discipline, degree, and position and history graduates can pursue many different career paths. Employment of historians is projected to grow about as fast as average from 2006 to 2016, increasing 8% and adding 300 new jobs. Archivists, curators and museum technicians are expected to experience faster than average job growth, increasing 18% and adding 5,000 new jobs (2).
Specialties
The history field is a vast academic area with many different specialties for students to concentrate on and follow many different career paths. The specialties include American history, U.S. colonial history, African history, Asian history, European history, Latin American history, Middle Eastern history, modern U.S. history, cultural history, women’s history, ancient history, classical history, world history, history of war, world ancestry, mythology, and ancient civilization. Students who are interested in a specific specialty should select a school that is strong in that area.
What to Expect
A history degree provides students with a solid educational background on historical concepts and events. Coursework varies by degree and program, but most bachelor degree programs require general education courses in areas such as English, math, science, composition, and humanities. Undergraduate history degree programs offer a rich array of topics on many different regions, time periods, and themes. Most bachelor degrees in history require major coursework in the history of civilization, pre-modern history, American history, Latin studies, and world history. Master degree programs in history enable students to gain a deeper understanding on specific eras and regions. Programs at the doctorate level focus on the writing of history and research skills.
The End Result
A history degree prepares students to follow a variety of different career paths in many different areas such as law, business, healthcare, education, and writing. Undergraduate history degrees prepare students for a variety of entry-level and mid-level positions. Graduate degrees prepare students for higher level positions in areas such as teaching, research, and writing. Career options for history graduates include:
- Historian
- Archivist
- Curator
- Museum Technician
- Politician
- History Teacher
- Researcher
- Historical Writer
- Librarian
- College Professor
- Legislative Analyst
- Novelist
- Curriculum Writer
- Architectural Historian
- Cultural Resources Specialist
Individuals who have a strong passion for history, facts, and past events will find a history career as rewarding and meaningful. History professionals use their knowledge and expertise of history and apply it to a variety of different fields, groups of people, and societies. History professionals can help prevent future disasters by educating people about past mistakes.
(1) SOURCE: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics
(2) SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition