A common misperception about majoring in History is that it isn’t a “practical” major in terms of getting a job after graduation. In fact, History is a very practical major. Most majors do not line up with a particular career field, and those that do limit a person to that field. Majoring in History prepares you for ANY job that requires critical-thinking and communications skills–which is to say most jobs. When you study History, you’re not just learning about the past; you’re learning how to ask original questions, conduct research, and communicate your ideas to others.
Here are some articles that explain why majoring in History (or any field in the humanities) is good career preparation, even where you might least expect it:
From the President of Johns Hopkins University: “Students, Please Take that “Impractical” Humanities Course“
From The Atlantic: “Should I Major in the Humanities?”
From the Harvard Business Review: “Liberal Arts in the Data Age“
From Forbes: “That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket”
From the Wall Street Journal: “The ‘Soft Skills’ Employers are Looking For”
From Business Insider: “30 People with ‘Soft’ College Majors Who Became Extremely Successful”
From Onewire: “Not All Finance Workers are Finance Graduates”
From the New York Times: “Carlyle Co-Founder’s Formula for Success: Study the Humanities”
From the Los Angeles Times: “History Isn’t a ‘Useless’ Major”
From Business Insider: “Don’t Go to School for Finance–Liberal Arts Is the Future”
From Inside Higher Ed: “Shocker: Humanities Grads Gainfully Employed and Happy”
You can learn more about careers for History majors by checking out this brochure from our Career Center. We also encourage you to sign up for a RaptorLink account with the Career Center, so that you can apply for job and internship postings in History.
If you scroll down, you can see some of the career fields, jobs, and graduate schools that History majors are well-prepared to excel in:
Occupations
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Banker |
Government Agency Administrator |
Lawyer |
|
Business Consultant |
Historian |
Lobbyist |
|
Business Manager |
Historic Preservation Specialist |
Market Research Analyst |
|
Community Relations Director |
Historic Site Administrator |
Media Industry Professional |
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Congressional Staffer |
Historical Archivist |
Museum Curator |
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Consumer Advocate |
Historical Consultant |
Nonprofit Administrator |
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Diplomat |
Historical Researcher |
Political Analyst |
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Documentary Filmmaker |
Historical Society Staff Member |
Political Consultant |
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Economic Development Analyst |
Human Resources Manager |
Politician |
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Editor |
Insurance Agent |
Public Administrator |
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FBI/CIA Agent |
International Banker |
Public Policy Analyst |
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Federal Investigator |
International Relations Specialist |
Public Relations Specialist |
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Financial Services Professional |
International Trade Specialist |
High School History Teacher |
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Foreign Service Officer |
Journalist |
Writer/Author |
Types of Employers
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Private & Non-profit Organizations |
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Advertising Agencies |
Financial Services Firms |
Newspapers |
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Banks |
Historical Archives |
Nonprofit Organizations |
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Book / Magazine Publishing Companies |
Historic Sites / Historical Societies |
Political Organizations |
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Civic Organizations |
Insurance Companies |
Professional Associations |
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Community Organizations |
Labor Unions |
Public Interest Groups |
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Consulting Firms |
Law Enforcement Agencies |
Public Relations Firms |
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Cultural Organizations |
Law Firms |
Radio/TV Companies |
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Educational Institutions |
Libraries |
Research Firms |
| Foundations |
Media Conglomerates |
Television Studios |
| Film Industry |
Museums |
Think Tanks |
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Government Agencies |
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Department of Commerce |
Federal/State Congressional Offices |
Peace Corps/AmeriCorps |
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Department of Justice |
General Accounting Office |
Smithsonian Institution |
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Department of State |
National Archives & Records Admin. |
U.S. Customs Service |
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Drug Enforcement Administration |
National Endowment for the Humanities |
U.S. Information Agency |
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FBI/CIA |
National Park Service |
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Jobs Obtained by Rutgers-Camden History Graduates
| ABC FAMILY, DISNEY – Sales Assistant |
FOSTER WHEELER, INC. – Corporate Counsel |
RAHWAY LUMBER CO. – President |
| AGC OF NEW JERSEY AND NJAPA – Executive Director |
THE FRY GROUP – Executive Recruiter |
RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL – Ass’t. Dean of Graduate Admissions |
|
ALPHARMA INC.- Commercial Counsel |
GAB ROBINS NORTH AMERICA, INC. – Manager |
RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION – Superintendent |
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AMERICORPS NCCC – Corps Member |
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY – Sr. Dir., Foundation Relations |
SAP AMERICA – Support Alliance Manager |
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BARRASSO CONSULTING – Paralegal |
GILL ST. BERNARD’S SCHOOL – Director of College Guidance |
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP – Associate |
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BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BC – CEO |
HOGAN & HARTSON LLP – Attorney |
STATE OF NEW JERSEY – Administrative Specialist |
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BOYS’ CLUB OF NEW YORK – A.S.A. Director |
HUNTINGTON LEARNING – Managing Director |
STATE OF NJ – UNION COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT – Probation Officer |
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BUSH, GOTTLIEB, SINGER, LOPEZ – Partner |
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE – Supervisory Revenue Officer |
STRAUB – Director, Network Development |
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CARTILE PATCHEN AND MURPHY LLP – Senior Associate |
J P MORGAN CHASE – Analyst |
STREET SCHOOL OF AMERICA – Teacher |
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CENTER FOR NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS – Technical Assistance Coordinator |
KAILUA HIGH SCHOOL – Teacher |
THE NEW SCHOOL – Assoc. Director of Admissions |
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CHARLES JONES LLC – Human Resources Generalist/Recruiter |
LIBERTY MUTUAL – Sales Representative |
TRENTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT – Elementary Teacher of Bilingual/ESL |
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COMMERCE BANK – Project Manager |
M. SHANKEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. – Copy Chief |
TRIDENT MEDIA GROUP – Literary Agent |
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CORNELL UNIV. COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY – Associate Professor |
MELLON CONSULTING – Associate Principal |
ULRICHSEN ROSEN & FREED – Associate |
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CUNY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM – Admissions/Outreach Counselor /2005 |
MINTAX, INC. – Senior Tax Analyst |
UNION COUNTY – Attorney |
|
DEP’T HOMELAND SECURITY, INS – Asylum/Refugee Officer |
MULTISTATE TAX COMMISSION – Counsel |
UNITED STATES ARMY – Special Agent |
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DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. – Vice President, Legal Affairs |
NJ ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE – Deputy Attorney General |
WASHINGTON POST – Reporter |
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DOWN SYNDROME, IRELAND – Fund Raiser |
NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. – VP/Manager of Employment |
WEBMD, INC. – Legal Assistant |
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DUANE MORRIS LLP – Partner |
OMNIFILE-HW WILSON CO. – Editor |
WESTFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION – Principal |
|
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER – Executive Director |
PASSAIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE – Sr. Asst. Prosecutor |
WOODBRIDGE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WOODBRIDGE – Principal |
| FASHION INST. OF TECH., STATE U. OF N. Y. – Professor of Marketing |
PINNACLE MORTGAGE, INC. – Licensed Mortgage Banker |
Graduate Schools Attended
|
History Graduate Programs |
| Rutgers University-Camden |
| New York University |
| University of Virginia |
| University of North Carolina |
| University of Maryland |
| Eastern Illinois University |
|
Masters in Education |
| Rider University |
|
Theology |
| Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary |
|
Law School |
| Rutgers-Camden |