WCU History Department Career Opportunities for Graduates

	Department of History 500 Main Hall West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383	(610)436-2201 http://www.wcupa.edu/

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES in HISTORY

So, you ask . . . "What can I do with a degree in history?" Contrary to the belief of many, it turns out that you can do a lot! While it is true that career choices for history majors, as for all Liberal Arts students, are not as straightforward as they are for someone in a more technical or specialized major, according to the author of The Complete Job Search Handbook, earning a liberal arts degree assures you of one clear advantage: "Your broad education will provide that most precious of commodities in today's labor market -- flexibility." According to an article entitled "Why Hire Humanities Graduates?" Robert Goodward, notes that "more than any other curriculum, the Liberal Arts train people to think critically about concepts and society, look at the big picture and analyze cause and effect relationships, break an idea or situation into component parts and put it back together again."

A common misconception about those who pursue degrees in the humanities opt for a cut in pay upon graduation. Research tells a different story: a study tracking the salaries of liberal arts graduates from the University of Virginia between 1971 and 1981 reported the mean salary to be $30,000 [or $50,820 adjusted for inflation]; 21% earned $50,000 or more; and 14% earned at least $60,000 [adjusted for inflation, that's $101,640 in 2000 dollars]. A similar survey of liberal arts graduates from Penn State showed that, although they started at lower salaries than their counterparts in professional programs, over a period of time liberal arts graduates outdistanced the field in every one of those occupations in salaries.

The long-range career success of humanities graduates is most certainly due to the broad range of skills the liberal arts graduate brings to the job market. In particular, liberal arts graduates are touted for their verbal and written communication skills, as well as their interpersonal skills. These skills help humanities graduates at every stage of their working life, from the interview process on. As a discipline history looks for the linkages between economics, politics, society, culture and thought, and religion, and attempts to create a holistic understanding of the past. So while history incorporates the fundamental elements of liberal learning found in the other liberal arts, it also serves to integrate liberal studies while developing an understanding of historical development and its relevance for the present and future. The American Historical Association has recently stated it best: "In sum, history is at the heart of liberal learning, as it equips students to: (1) participate knowledgeably in the affairs of the world around them, drawing upon understandings shaped through reading, writing, discussions, and lectures concerning the past, (2) see themselves and their society from different times and places, displaying a sense of informed perspective and a mature view of human nature, (3) read and think critically, write and speak clearly and persuasively, and conduct research effectively, (4) exhibit sensitivities to human values in their own and in other cultural traditions and , in turn, establish values of their own, (5) appreciate their natural and cultural environments, (6) respect scientific and technological developments and recognize their impact on humankind, (7) understand the connections between history and life."

WCU graduates can be found employed in a broad range of professions and occupations: high school teachers and university professors, lawyers and judges, ministers, museum curators, journalists, screenwriters, law enforcement officers, business and public officials (in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and even the United States Congress). If you would like to check out the employment prospects for professional careers as a teacher or an academic or institutional historian or social studies teacher, check out the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for the current and future employment prospects for secondary social studies teacher, for college and university professor and for archivists and curators.

Advising and Finding the Right Career for You

You may already know exactly what you want to do with your degree in history. If so, great. If you are still uncertain what you want to do in your career, take advantage of the resources available to you to begin exploring the possibilities. Your academic advisor and WCU's Twardowski Career Development Center are there to help you understand your many options and to make the best academic choices to help you find a career well suited to your training and temperament.

Freshman Year: Increase Your Self-Awareness

Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your academic interests.

• Meet with a Twardowski Career Development Center counselor to help identify interests, values, and abilities.

• Interview (informally) friends and family members about the nature of their jobs .

Sophomore Year: Explore Your Careers

Obtain information about occupations (reading and research).

• Begin to identify what is important to you in a career (e.g. using interpersonal skills, technical skills, the work culture of a given career path, etc.).

• Target electives to increase marketability; consider a minor related to your interests.

• Consider opportunities for study abroad and undergraduate research.

• Explore relevant work experiences such as internships and summer jobs.

Junior Year: Link Your Self-Knowledge with Occupation Information

Begin to relate values, interests, and abilities to career fields.

• Develop networking relationships with faculty and professionals.

• Enhance leadership skills through participation in campus and community activities.

• Participate in an internship, study abroad, or undergraduate research opportunity.

• Begin to develop an effective resumé that highlights education, work, and student activities.

• Meet with prospective employers or graduate schools in your career field (through on-campus recruiting, off-campus contacts, or correspondence).

Senior Year: Career Implementation

Use the resources of the Twardowski Career Development Center to:

• Complete an effective resumé that highlights education, work, and student activities.

• Sharpen interview skills.
• Learn to write effective letters of application.
• Have the confidence to "sell yourself" in interviews!

On-line Career Resources for History Majors

For more information about career opportunities in history, the following web sites may be helpful:

What Can You Do with an Undergraduate Degree in History?

So You Want to Be a History Major?

History Doctoral Programs in the United States and Canada

Careers in Public History

JobStar's Profession-Specific Salary Surveys

Useful Books Specifically Related to History Majors

• Barbara Howe, Careers for Students of History (Washington, DC: American Historical Association, 1989)

• Julie DeGalan and Stephen Lambert, Great Jobs for History Majors (VGM Career Horizons, 1995)

• Melanie Gustafson, Becoming a Historian: A Survival Guide (Washington, DC. American Historical Association, 2001)

• Blythe Camenson, Opportunities in Museum Careers (VGM Career Horizons 1996)

• Blythe Camenson and Stephen Lambert, Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors (VGM Career Horizons,1997)

• Ronald and Caryl Rae Krannich, The Best Jobs for the 1990s and into the 21st Century (Impact Publications, 1995)

Graduate School

For some career paths of interest to history majors, additional training or education may be required. In addition to pursuing a degree in WCU's graduate program, recent graduates have attended graduate and professional schools including:

    • Concordia University                                  • SUNY Albany                                                             • University of Pennsylvania
    • Delaware Law School                                • SUNY Binghamton                                                      • University of Texas at Austin
    • George Mason University                           • University of Chicago                                                   • University of Wisconsin
    • Ohio University Law School                       • University of Delaware (Hagley Program)                     • Villanova University Law School

If you believe graduate school may be in your future, the following website may be of assistance:

Should I Apply to Graduate School in History?

Websites of Employment Opportunities in History

Internships.com

Intern Abroad

Organization of American Historians Job List

Museum Employment Resource Center

American Association of Museums Job Headquarters

Global Museum

Smithsonian Institution Career Center

National Archives and Records Administration Jobs, Internships and Volunteers

Govtjobs.com