Any History Majors?

Gestahl

Another History major here with a BA. I pursued history partially because it had been a weak point in my education, and I still feel as though I should know an awful lot more about it than I do, but I don't regret the decision at all.

A BA in History is obviously not likely to ever land me a job in the field, but as others have pointed out, history is more about learning to read, write, research, and think critically. Hard to explain that to employers, but I wouldn't trade my history experience for anything.

rungirl1973

Interesting.

My daughter is planning to major in History. She's a sophomore now...

She plans to teach English overseas as soon as she finishes her degree, so she decided to major in something she enjoys. I'm torn about the whole thing. On the one hand, I want her to have opportunities for work after she graduates. On the other hand, it's no fun working in a career that you hate just because there were more opportunities for jobs.

GeekyGirlLyn

In all likelihood youre going to need a PhD or at least have taken a good chunk of PhD level classes to get a job at a University. These days competition is so tough with the job market being so saturated that many schools can pick and choose. Especially for the liberal arts subjects and topics. History, English, Sociology et al. Im getting my PhD now because I knew I wouldnt stand much chance in higher education teaching without it these days. You may be able to find jobs at community colleges and online universities though, as youve already mentioned looking into and trying. So there is always that.

lynn1982

Interesting.

My daughter is planning to major in History. She's a sophomore now...

She plans to teach English overseas as soon as she finishes her degree, so she decided to major in something she enjoys. I'm torn about the whole thing. On the one hand, I want her to have opportunities for work after she graduates. On the other hand, it's no fun working in a career that you hate just because there were more opportunities for jobs.

That all depends on what she plans on doing once she's finished teaching English overseas... The OP is talking specifically about teaching university. That's a whole other world of precarious labor...

rungirl1973

Interesting.

My daughter is planning to major in History. She's a sophomore now...

She plans to teach English overseas as soon as she finishes her degree, so she decided to major in something she enjoys. I'm torn about the whole thing. On the one hand, I want her to have opportunities for work after she graduates. On the other hand, it's no fun working in a career that you hate just because there were more opportunities for jobs.

That all depends on what she plans on doing once she's finished teaching English overseas... The OP is talking specifically about teaching university. That's a whole other world of precarious labor...

That would be her ultimate goal (teaching university level). Sounds like she has a tough road ahead.

oroblar

If it is what she wants to do then the struggle is worth it. Currently education is cutting back drastically across the board, but there are always ebbs and flows to every market. If she wants to teach at the University level I highly recommend a PhD. In my quest for my Master's I wanted to follow up with a PhD. However, in my short sightedness I didn't realize that the closest university to offer the program I wanted was a couple hours away. I have a steady job where I live and am not really wanting to uproot everything I have. There are so many factors that play into that decision including it would not be fair to my family. I continue looking for different odds and ends jobs that are history related. Any way, I digress. I would have her map out her educational plan and definitely DO NOT stop at the Master's level. Just my two cents.

lynn1982

Interesting.

My daughter is planning to major in History. She's a sophomore now...

She plans to teach English overseas as soon as she finishes her degree, so she decided to major in something she enjoys. I'm torn about the whole thing. On the one hand, I want her to have opportunities for work after she graduates. On the other hand, it's no fun working in a career that you hate just because there were more opportunities for jobs.

That all depends on what she plans on doing once she's finished teaching English overseas... The OP is talking specifically about teaching university. That's a whole other world of precarious labor...

That would be her ultimate goal (teaching university level). Sounds like she has a tough road ahead.

She might still change her mind. A PhD requires much more than teaching university.

xxghost

Political science major.
Social studies major (within the college of education).
History minor.
Natural science minor.

Yay middle school science and social studies!

vtmoon

One of my degrees was in History and like you it was focused on US military engagements history, except for my capstone research paper was on Colonial Latin America.

My only history related job was designing webpages and cataloging old archives for a State Library. It was a lot of fun spending hours in the Library reading books and when your boss asks you can just say you are doing research.

bellaamor30

I'm not a History Major, but I am getting my undergraduate degree in Anthropology, Minor in Indigenous Studies. I always had an interest in history, but moreso history of ancient cultures - hence what initially brought me into anthropology.

So I guess I am Bigfoot. You found me...practicing my "would you like fries with that."

:laugh: Just kidding. I'm aware my degree is "useless" but I already have just under a year of federal government experience under my belt that I may not have gotten were it not for my studies and motivation to go somewhere with it, so here's to hoping that helps career wise once I graduate. Honestly, if you have enough perseverance you can find a job in or related to your field. It just takes time and effort.

Hi, fellow anthro major :-). I have a major soft spot for history and archaeology, can't say I ever worked in the field I studied but I am the girl you want on your team for trivia night!!!

digitalbill

Two years ago, my Son came home asking me about Iraq.
When i asked him why, he told me that they were learning about Desert Storm in history class.
I wanted to punch his teacher.
But then I met her and she was probably just a baby whenb all of that happened...
'sigh'
I am history......

Briargrey

BA in English Lit (focus on medieval lit) witha post-bacc secondary teaching certification for English and History, so I've got sort of a history degree <g> I love it, anyway I use my degrees all the time, but not in a way most people would automatically correlate to the degree. I work in healthcare compliance (I added in a MHA later on in life).

Dino_bacon2112

Is Political Science close enough? No? Ok. I'll find friends elsewhere.

reds_1

Archaeology degree count? It should!