career

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR HISTORY MAJORS

This web-site was designed to help address one of the most frequently-asked questions we receive: "What can I do with a degree in history if I don't want to teach high school?" As you will see in the table of contents below, we have included links to sites that can tell you more about the various jobs that are available for history majors, as well as links to history graduate programs in Texas and to general information sites regarding history-related careers. This is just a starting-off point; it is up to you now to follow through on the information you receive here and achieve your career goals. We wish you the best of luck.

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**
Why Study History? A General Statement	History-Related Job Sites
History Graduate Programs in Texas	General Information
Publications on Careers in History	Back to Dept. of Social Sciences Home Page

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

For students interested in a strong liberal arts education, history represents a fascinating, flexible major that permits study of the broadest possible range of human experience. Majoring in history not only permits students to explore the past, gaining insights into how societies change over time, but also provides an opportunity to develop vitally important and widely applicable reading, writing, research, and interpretive skills.

**HISTORY-RELATED JOB SITES**
	The web-sites listed below vary in quality and in the type of information they contain. Some contain much information about their profession; others are not as complete. Some just list jobs that are currently open, while others just tell you how to apply. Many of the careers listed below require additional training--but a history major still provides you with an excellent foundation on which to build.

Occupation	Web-Site(s)

Archivist	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos065.htm
	http://www.archivists.org/index.html
	http://www.archives.gov/
Attorney	http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/careerprofiles_overview.asp?careerpk=21
	http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/LAWYER.HTM
	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm
Business	http://www.theaha.org/grads/careers/Business.htm
Conservator	http://aic.stanford.edu/become/contrain.html
	http://www.nationaltrust.org
Copywriter	http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/COPYWRTR.HTM
FBI Agent	http://online.onetcenter.org/report?r=1&id=554
Federal Government (General)	http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/index.htm (check jobs for GS-0170 "Historian")
Historian (Government)	http://www.history.navy.mil
	http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/
Historian (Private Sector)	http://www.historyfactory.com
	http://www.historyassociates.com
	http://www.hrassoc.com
Journalism	http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/industryprofiles_overview.asp?industrypk=23
Librarian	http://www.ala.org
Museum Curator or Technician	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos065.htm
	http://www.alhfam.org/alhfam.jobs.html
	http://www.aam-us.org/
National Park Service	http://nps.gov
Paralegal	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm
Private Dectective and Investigator	http://online.onetcenter.org/report?r=1&id=557
Public Relations	http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/careerprofiles_overview.asp?careerpk=31
	http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gove/file/occguide/PUBRELRP.HTM
Teacher (Post-Secondary)	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos066.htm
Urban or Regional Planner	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos057.htm
Writer or Editor	http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos089.htm

GOOD HISTORY GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN TEXAS*
	* (these schools were selected by Dr. Guthrie, based on his personal criteria. Some may disagree with his selections and omissions)

School	Web-Site

Baylor University (Waco)	http://www3.baylor.edu/History/graduate_program.html
Rice University (Houston)	http://history.rice.edu
Southern Methodist University (Dallas)	http://www.smu.edu/~history
Texas State University (San Marcos)	http://www.txstate.edu/history
Tarleton State University	http://www.tarleton.edu/~graduate/
Texas Christian University (Fort Worth)	http://www.graduate.tcu.edu
Texas Tech University (Lubbock)	http://www.depts.ttu.edu/historydepartment/
University of Houston (main campus)	http:www.class.uh.edu/hist/grad.html
University of North Texas (Denton)	http://www.hist.unt.edu/GraduatePrgm/Main.htm
University of Texas (Austin)	http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/history/gradprogram/index.html
University of Texas at Arlington	http://www.uta.edu/history/graduateinfo.htm
University of Texas at El Paso	http://www.utep.edu/history

	Students interested in attending a graduate school outside of Texas should consult The Directory of History Departments and Organizations in the United States and Canada, published by the American Historical Association. It is available from the Social Science Department Office (HUM 355) or from Dr. Guthrie (HUM 357)

GENERAL INFORMATION

This section contains links to various sites: some dealing with general career information; some with the general subject of the value of majoring in history; and some will connect you to the web-sites of professional organizations and insitutions

Tarleton State University Career Services	American Historical Association
Careers In History: A Miniguide from the AHA	"Versatility of a History Degree"
"What Can You Do With A Degree in History"	"Historians in Business"
American Association of Museums	Society of American Archivists
Smithsonian Institution	National Trust for Historic Preservation

USEFUL PUBLICATIONS

Below is a list of publications regarding careers for history majors. Some are general in nature while others focus on specific occupations

Title and Author	Publication Info	Comments

C. Schultz, P. Miller, A. Marrs, and K. Allen. eds. *Careers for Students of History*	Washington DC: American Historical Association, 2002	Very Useful: contains chapters on "Historians in Museums," "Historians in Archives," "Historians in Editing and Publishing," "Historians as Consultants and Contractors," etc. Dr. Guthrie has several copies.

J. Gardner and P. LaPaglia, eds. Public History: Essays from the Field	Melbourne, FL: Krieger Publishing Company, 1999	Contains chapters on careers in museums, editing and publishing, archives, historic preservation, federal and state governments, and the private sector

G.W. Bates, *Museum Jobs from A-Z: What They Are, How to Prepare, and Where to Find Them*	Batax Museum Publishing, 1994	Although almost ten years old now, it still will provide you with a good picture of the career opportunities in museums.

*2001-2002 Guide to Museum Studies and Training in the United States: Resource Report*	American Association of Museums, 2002	Primarily has to do with training for museum jobs.

A. Jones and P. Cantelon, eds. *Corporate Archives and History: Making the Past Work*	Melbourne, FL: Krieger Publishing Company, 1993	A description of the type of work that archivists in the private sector do.

*Directory of Federal Historical Programs and Activities*	Washington DC: Society for History in the Federal Government, 2003	Lists addresses for all federal agency history offices.

Julie Zagars, ed. *Preservation Yellow Pages*	New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1997	Includes information on contact information for the field of cultural management resources