What Can I Do With A Major In History

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Overview	Career Titles	Employers	Skills	Salary Information
Graduate Data	Alumni/Intern Profiles	Links of Interest	Additional Information

Overview | Return to top

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As investigators into the past, historians make use primarily of evidence that has survived from the time or place they are studying, such as objects of art, artifacts, documents or literature. In addition, they utilize the later reflections of poets or statesmen and the studies made by archaeologists, anthropologists, geographers, economists, political scientists, philosophers and theologians, as well as other historians. Every field imaginable feeds into the study of history.

As the French philosopher Voltaire said, history can be "a pack of lies we play on the dead." Historians search for truthful, accurate explanations of cause and motivation, but they also make value judgments and interpretations colored by their own experiences and biases. The way a historian looks at a particular event or figure may not be the way that event or figure was perceived at the time. Every historian comes at his or her work from a different perspective, which makes the study of history even more varied and fruitful.


Career Titles | Return to top

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Advertising Manager Advocate Analyst Anthropologist Antique Dealer Appraiser Archaeologist Architectural Historian Archivist Artifacts Conservator Attorney Auctioneer Bank Loan Officer Biographer Book Editor Budget Analyst Caseworker Cataloger Chamber of Commerce Manager Chief of Staff City Coordinator City Manager Claims Processor Clergy Collections Manager College/University Administrator Communications Director Community Action Specialist Congressional Staff Consular Service Consumer Advocate Consumer Affairs Director Contract Administrator Corporate Trainer Corporation Historian/Archivist Counselor Credit Assistant Criminal Investigator Criminologist Critic Cultural Affairs Officer Cultural Resource Manager Curator Customer Service Representative Customs Agent Customs Officer Customs Port Investigator Defense Intelligence Specialist Demographer Diplomat Document Restorer Documentary Editor Dramatic Arts Historian Economic Development Analyst Economist Editor Election Supervisor

Encyclopedia Researcher FBI / CIA Agent Financial Advisor Financial Aid Officer Financial Analyst Foreign News Correspondent Foreign Service Interpreter Foreign Service Officer Foreign Trade Specialist Foundation Administrator Freelance Writer Fundraiser Gallery Assistant Genealogist Geographer Gerontologist Government Agency Administrator Government Researcher Grant Writer Historian Historic Preservationist                   Historic Site Administrator Historic Site Educator Historic Site Tour Guide Historical Advisor Historical Documents Producer Historical Program Coordinator Historical Research Consultant Historical Society Director              Historical Society Researcher History Teacher Human Resources Administrator Human Services Worker Immigration Agent Indexer Insurance Agent/Broker Intelligence Analyst International Banker International Law and Relations Researcher International Relations Specialist International Trade Specialist Interpreter Investment/Securities Broker Journalist Judge Judicial Law Clerk Lawyer Legislative Analyst/Aide Legislative Research Assistant Legislator Librarian Loan Officer Lobbyist Market Research Analyst Medical Archivist Military

Minister Mortgage Broker Museum Curator Museum Director Museum Guide National Park Site Manager News Analyst News Correspondent News Editor Newspaper Editor Newspaper Reporter Nonprofit Administrator Novelist Operations Research Analyst Paralegal Park Ranger Peace Corps/VISTA Worker Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Photographer Policy Analyst Political Scientist Politician Preservation Specialist Preservationist Press Representative Principal Professor Project Manager Proofreader Public Administrator Public Defender Public Opinion Pollster Public Policy Advisor Public Relations Specialist Real Estate Agent Recruiter Registrar Reporter Research Analyst Restoration Specialist Retirement Planning Consultant Sales Representative Social Service Director Social Worker Sociologist Speechwriter Superior Court Judge Technical Writer Technology Consultant Textbook Sales Representative Travel Agent U.S. Embassy Representative U.S. Representative Chief of Staff Underwriter Urban Planner Writer / Author

Employers | Return to top 

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Advertising Agencies   Air, Bus, and Rail Lines Antique Dealers        Archival Companies Archives Banks Book / Magazine Publishing Companies Broadcasting Firms Brokerage Firms Bureau of the Census Business and Industry Campaigns Chambers of Commerce CIA/FBI Civic Organizations Civil Rights Commission Collection Agencies Colleges and Universities Communications Media Community Arts Centers Community Organizations Congressional Districts Conservation Agencies Consulting Firms

Corporations Corrections & Court Systems Cultural Organizations Department of Commerce Department of Justice Department of State Drug Enforcement Administration Educational Institutions Exhibits Federal, State, Local Governments Film Companies Foundations Health and Human Services Historic Preservation Boards Historic Sites / Historical Societies Historic, Cultural, Genealogical Groups Immunization and Naturalization Insurance Companies International Business Firms Investment Firms Justice Department Labor Unions Law Enforcement Agencies Law Firms

Libraries Magazines & Newspapers Museums & Archives National/State Parks Non-Profit Organizations Peace Corps/AmeriCorps Police & Fire Protection Political Campaigns Political Organizations Political Parties Professional Associations Public / Private Schools Public Advocacy Groups Public Policy Institutes Public Relations Firms Publishing Companies Radio/TV Companies Research Firms Research Foundations Smithsonian Institution Social Services Agencies Travel Agencies Travel Industry U.S. Customs Service

Skills | Return to top 

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Accurately identify and evaluate records of past events, ideas and facts Adapt ideas Analyze and interpret information and ideas Communicate and present ideas and information Compare/compile research reports Concentrate for long periods of time Critiquing, editing, proofreading Decision making Describing and evaluating issues, problems, and events Determine cause-and-effect relationships in the past

Develop intellectual curiosity and creativity Effectively explain ideas Excellent written and oral communication skills Historical perspective to make solutions for current societal problems Identifies and evaluates records of past events, ideas, and facts Identify alternative courses of action Integrate historical knowledge with other fields of study Makes keen observations, solves problems, and makes appropriate decisions Objectivity, open-mindedness and systematic work habits Observe people, data, things, and reports

Organize materials / information Predict shifts in political views, societal trends, and consumer behaviors Proficiency for accuracy and detail Read history critically for alternatives Recognize conceptual frameworks and apply a point-of-view Researching, comparing, and compiling research reports See relationships between factors Think logically and methodically Work self-directedly

Salary Information | Return to top   

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NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Summer 2012 Average Salary:

• History Bachelor's Degree: $37,500

Average Salary of SNC History Graduates:

• 2009: $20,001 - $25,000
• 2010: $25,001 - $30,000
• 2011: $25,001 - $30,000

For additional salary information, please visit salary.com


Graduate Data | Return to top   

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The job titles and employers listed below are a sample of the results from the annual St. Norbert College Career Services graduate follow-up survey for the Classes of 2003-2011.

Job Titles

5th Grade Teacher Activities Coordinator Affiliate/E-mail Marketing Analysis Agent Analyst Assistant Golf Professional Associate Editor Clinical Research Assistant Customer Care Center Associate Driver Business Leader

Field Staff Financial Advisor General Studies Instructor High School Social Studies Teacher High School Teacher Historical Interpreter Junior High School Teacher General Studies Instructor Management Assistant Manager

Nanny Police Officer Sales Sales Representative Special Education Para Professional Street Outreach Coordinator Substitute Teacher Teacher

Employers

American Family Insurance Archdiocese of Chicago Ashwaubenon School District Atlas Prep Academy Berlin Area Schools Biomet Stephan Associates Catholic Volunteers Charleston County School District Daniel Wright Middle School Edward Jones Enterprise Rent-A-Car Footlocker.com/Eastbay

Gandrud Auto-Chevrolet Dealership Geico Insurance Glen Erin Golf Club Historical Society Imperial Supplies Jesuit Volunteer Corps Manitowoc School District Medical College of Wisconsin Michael Sustez

Milton High School Montello School District Northbrook Police Department Plainfield North High School St. John the Baptist School Schneider National SpakNET Corporation Spence Corporation The Conover Company Tony Roma

Employers

Education Learning Community Kinesiology Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

Graduate Schools

Concordia University Iowa State University UW LaCrosse

Alumni/Intern Profiles | Return to top   

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Alumni Profiles
Jim Waters
Steve Zach

Intern Profiles
No intern profiles available

Links of Interest  | Return to top   

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Career Information
Career Information for History Majors (College of Staten Island)
Graduate Programs in History
The Riley Guide to History

Professional Associations
American Association for State and Local History
American Association of Museums
American Historical Association
National Council for History Education
National Council on Public History
Oral History Association
Society for American Archaeology
Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations
Society of American Archivists

Jobs & Internships
Careers in History
Federal Jobs
Jobs in Archeology
Museum Employment Resource Center
SNC Government Job Search Links


Additional Information | Return to top 

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SNC History Department
Major Requirements
Academic Advising
Career Services Job Search Links

Disclaimer: The information included on this page is not all-inclusive. You are encouraged to utilize additional online and print resources when researching majors and careers.  Some of the careers listed may require additional education, training, development, licenses and/or certifications.  If you feel something should be added, changed, updated or removed, please contact Career Services.  The content included on this page will be updated annually each summer.  Please contact Career Services if you have any questions about the information on this page or to schedule an appointment.