Why History
Shape Your Future With a History Degree
A degree in history lets you study the past to better understand the present, all while you develop the critical reading, writing and communication skills that employers are looking for. Our graduates have pursued successful careers in marketing, journalism, public relations, business, law, museum studies, and nonprofit and international work. Many of our graduates also pursue careers in teaching or continue their education with graduate degrees from some of the top history and history-related programs in the country.
Learn more about career possibilities and read alumni stories below.
Careers with a History Degree
Law
Your understanding of historical contexts and research skills will serve you well as you prepare and argue legal cases, as a number of our alumni have discovered in their careers in law.
Education and Teaching
Like many of our alumni, you might be interested in pursuing a career in education. Whether you want to teach at the elementary, high school or postsecondary level, your degree in history can prepare you to teach or apply to graduate schools.
Non-Profit and International Work
Your understanding of historical conflicts and contexts are invaluable assets in careers with international nonprofits, where you can apply your knowledge of past political and social circumstances to create sustainable opportunities for people in the present.
Museum Work
Educate others about local and world histories through a career in museum curation or administration, where you'll work with experts across multiple fields to construct public exhibits and events.
Marketing and Public Relations
The writing and communication skills you develop as a history major translate well into careers in marketing and public relations where you can craft the public face of museums, universities, symphonies and more.
Journalism
Our graduates are often particularly prepared for degrees in journalism, where you can apply your research and investigative skills and craft stories about current events.
Business
Your strong organizational skills and experience analyzing historical trends can translate into many different career paths in business, from market analysis to business forensics.
Meet Our Faculty
Exploring the World's History
Our faculty's research and expertise offers you a comprehensive understanding of world histories. Our faculty explore Latin American, Asian, Middle Eastern, Native American, European, and U.S. histories. Their research focuses on historical periods ranging from the pre-modern and Medieval periods to the 20th century, and their areas of focus include Latino/a histories, history of food, historiography and history of racial formation.
"More Than a Headstone" with the Veteran's Legacy Program
Our students engage historical research for the public good through their work with "More Than a Headstone," a project through the Veteran's Legacy Program of the National Cemetery Administration. Student researchers work with MTAH to research and compile information about service members, particularly those of marginalized identities, buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, and the students present this research to the public through profiles on the the MTAH website.
Center for Art Collection Ethics
The Center for Art Collection Ethics highlights and raises awareness about ethical issues in art collection and provides annual training for graduate students and professionals in the fields of art and museum collections. The Center is led by Elizabeth Campbell, an associate professor in the Department of History and a specialist in Nazi art looting and restitution.
