Some Career Choices for the Public History Student

Historical studies prepare students for a wide variety of careers, some of which may be pursued immediately after college and some of which require further study in graduate school. Students of history at Stevenson University are skilled in research, writing, oral and electronic communication, analysis, and persuasion--all of which are abilities that are invaluable in many different careers.

The following are only a small sample of employment opportunities for SU history graduates. Further information may be obtained from the American Historical Association (AHA) website upon which the following information is drawn.

POSITION EXAMPLES

Advocacy
The research, writing, oral and electronic communication, analysis, and persuasion skills of the college history graduate are excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers in public advocacy. Although the field of advocacy is most often associated with law and politics, it is much broader. Graduate work is often required in public advocacy.

Sample Work Places: lawyers and paralegals, litigation support, legislative staff work, foundations

Communications
Today is an era of rapidly expanding forms of communication. This is good news for college graduates of history programs. As the means of communication multiply, the opportunities for the involvement of historians in communicating interpretations of the past also multiply. Many opportunities exist for historians in the career path of communications: writers, editors, producers of multimedia material such as CD-ROMs, television programs, websites and much more.

Sample Work Places: archivists, documentary editors, librarians, journalists, producers of multimedia materials, writers, editors.

Education
One of the most obvious career fields for a recent college graduate is education. Education is a broad field itself, ranging from traditional classroom teaching at the secondary and collegiate levels to more creative teaching formats.

Sample Work Places: Businesses, schools, religious institutions.

Museum Director/Curator/Archivist
Archivists are responsible for collecting, organizing, cataloging, preserving, and finally storing historical documents and other important records for museums, libraries, and other institutions interested in preserving these records. Some specialize in a particular type of document, such as letters, manuscripts or films. They research and analyze collections and prepare exhibits. Curators and museum directors take care of the administration of a museum or gallery. They acquire, authenticate, and evaluate collections, arrange and oversee exhibitions, and write grants and proposals. Conservators clean, restore and take care of the physical condition of the collection. Archivists, curators and conservators require advanced degrees in museum studies, but a solid background in the subject is also valued.

Sample Work Places: Museums, libraries, government, colleges, universities, research facilities.

Researcher
Straight out of college, students may find employment opportunities doing research for documentary films, brochures and exhibits at historic sites and museums, and documents to help business or government agencies understand their past when making decisions that will shape the future. Graduate study may also be required for certain research positions.

Sample Work Places: Museums and historical organizations, Cultural Resources Management and historical preservation, think tanks.