Are you searching for a major or a minor? Oxy’s Department of History is committed to helping students think through how majoring in history can help them pursue a career that will bring them satisfaction.
You (or your parents) are probably asking, “What can you do with a history degree?” You can, of course, become a history professor or teach history in high school. There are also an increasing number of careers beyond the school setting where a degree in history is especially useful—particularly in the burgeoning field of “public history.” This could mean working in a museum or archival setting, for the National Park Service, or in various forms of public policy and advocacy, where the history behind an issue matters.
The prospects for Oxy history majors are by no means limited to a professional engagement with history itself. Like the liberal arts education in which it is embedded, history serves as the foundation for a wide range of careers, many of which might seem at first glance to have very little to do with history. By studying history, you acquire a set of skills that are far more valuable than you might realize. Aspiring lawyers learn how to make arguments drawing from past precedents. Aspiring journalists, screenwriters, and policymakers learn how to tell gripping stories that draw upon the past in order to make better sense of the present.
Understanding Context: History majors understand that context matters enormously. They are trained to bring holistic analyses to events/phenomena of all types. Simply put, things happen for multiple reasons. In order to understand any complex event or phenomenon, analysis begins with an understanding of the social, economic, cultural, and technological factors that shape it. The study of history helps students acquire and develop this mindset. This is an invaluable skill in fields ranging from law to business, education and medicine, and beyond.
Research: History majors are also attuned to the importance of evidence in advancing an argument. They have developed a capacity to conduct advanced research on any given topic; they have familiarity with archives (both physical and digital); and they know how to evaluate the legitimacy of the evidence they are using to ensure they are drawing on the best possible sources. These are essential skills across the entire spectrum of the information economy.
Interpretation: The skill set of taking a complex idea, breaking it down into its component parts, analyzing those parts, negotiating arguments that run counter to our own, and then assembling all of that into a compelling written and oral form is in high demand in the “knowledge economy.” These are high-level managerial skills.
History as a Habit of Mind: Done well, history teaches us the most important skill of all: how to think! This involves the development of certain “habits of mind” that are best suited to grappling with the complexity and ambiguity that surround us. Historians understand that truth is contingent, subject to revision based on new evidence, perspectives and shifting paradigms of interpretation. That doesn’t mean we should abandon evaluation or judgment; only that we do so with a certain degree of humility, thoughtfulness and care, along with a willingness to revise our judgments based on conflicting evidence or the thoughtful contributions of others.
It is important to recognize how applicable these skills are to a broad range of fields. For Oxy grads, a history degree has led to fields of law, medicine, business, public health, community organizing, the arts, entrepreneurial ventures, and much more.
Your Skills and Your Future
In addition to acquiring these skills as part of your history major, it is vital that you develop a capacity to identify them for prospective employers. Occidental’s Hameetman Career Center (HCC) can help you with that, whether it’s through help with a cover letter, a mock interview, or even an internship where you can test out career possibilities in a field that might interest you. Some of those internships are paid and others are offered for academic credit.
The HCC can also connect you with Occidental alumni who were history majors themselves, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the law, tech, entertainment, entrepreneurship, nonprofits, and management of a wide variety of companies Visit the HCC as early as your sophomore year, so you can develop a plan with one of the Center’s knowledgeable and caring advisors.
For more information on careers for history majors, the American Historical Association has put out an excellent guide. We encourage you to read it and share it with anyone who wants to know more about the validity, usefulness and rewards of your chosen major.