It is natural for us as a race to look towards the future and seek ways to improve it. However, we often forget that the best lessons come from the past. George Santayana famously said that we are doomed to repeat it if we don’t remember the past. A history degree is a perfect way to familiarize ourselves with the nuances of yesteryear’s and learn from them. It takes you thousands of years back and allows you to study and appreciate how societies formed, evolved, and shaped the world as we know it today.
However, many history students often wonder where this degree will take them. Occupations in STEM education often give students defined career tracks. Still, abstract degrees like history may seem like they provide an uncertain future. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can pursue various careers with a history degree, and below we’ll list some of the best ones.
Academic researcher
Working as an academic researcher is one of the most prestigious careers to pursue with a history degree. Academic researchers are essential for societal progress. They unearth and compile facts and figures that shape policies and influence how we move forward. Academic researchers work in various fields, ranging from STEM subjects to sociology, history, psychology, and the arts. Academic research is an essential tool to build upon our knowledge and progress.
An online history degree can prepare you to enter this esteemed field by honing your critical thinking skills. It can teach you to analyze a research question from various perspectives and put your findings in context with today’s concerns. An online degree also allows you to study with a flexible schedule while honing your oral and written communication skills. Getting a bachelor of arts in history online is the first step to working successfully as an academic researcher. It teaches you to analyze large data sets, spot patterns, and meaningful information and connect it to today’s issues.
Diplomat
Working as a diplomat can bring you recognition and give you immense opportunities for personal and professional growth. Diplomats have an enormous responsibility on their shoulders. They act as representatives of their country in the global political and socio-economic arena. They play a vital role in maintaining international peace and need in-depth knowledge of economics, trade, and international agreements. However, most important is having a firm grasp on historical events and their significance in the current context.
Diplomats need to be well-versed in history to understand the background of various international alliances and treaties. Furthermore, they need to understand their country’s history and keep it in mind when interacting with foreign representatives. Working as a diplomat takes you across the globe and lets you interact with different kinds of people. It is an incredibly prestigious profession, which actively influences foreign relations. Furthermore, it is a lucrative career choice, with diplomats making an average of $84,500 annually.
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Curator
If you have a profound love for art, this is arguably the best job for you. Apart from their managerial duties, curators act as keepers of cultural and historical heritage. Many of the pieces you’ll work with as a curator will be hundreds of years old, with a rich background. Therefore, it’s vital to understand the historical backdrop of every piece in the collection to ensure you can also help visitors to appreciate them. Curators thus need to put together information about each piece, and they often help host educational programs. Furthermore, curators often help museums in the acquisition and advise them on what artifacts their collection needs most.
Having in-depth historical knowledge is essential for curators to appreciate the significance of the pieces they acquire. Furthermore, without detailed historical knowledge, they cannot put together audio-visual presentations that allow visitors to experience and understand the various objects and archives. Thus, a history degree is a perfect way to begin your career as a curator. The program will help you acquire specialized knowledge fit for the role.
Lawyer
Who said you need to study law to become a lawyer? Working as a lawyer is yet another rewarding and lucrative career for someone with a history degree. With a sound understanding of historical events, you can actively understand historical legal precedents and the evolution of law. Jurisprudence often has a deep historical background. An insufficient understanding of this background can impair your legal judgment.
Many laws often change in response to economic, social, and political changes. A history degree can teach you more about these changes. Furthermore, a history degree helps you hone your critical thinking and writing skills, which are vital for lawyers. It can help you analyze a client’s situation from various perspectives and formulate the best defense. Additionally, lawyers need to understand research to help them put together a defense based on empirical values. A history degree also teaches you to articulate your point clearly and coherently so that you can persuade even the most demanding judges and juries.
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Teacher
Working as a teacher at any level is one of the best options for a history degree. Whether you work as a high school teacher or as a university professor, teachers have the opportunity to reach out to and influence students for the better. In addition, with a history degree, you can inculcate in your students a deep appreciation for sociology, psychology, and the arts and how they influence our historical development.
Furthermore, you can teach students the importance of learning from previous mistakes and carrying forward the best parts of history. You can give students a more holistic understanding of the world and how we got to where we are today.
Conclusion
A history degree is one of the most fascinating, exciting degrees to opt for. It teaches you lessons you will carry forward for the rest of your life. Furthermore, it prepares you for diverse occupations that provide opportunities for immense personal and professional development. These aren’t the only options available to you, and you can pursue some incredibly rewarding fields after completing your history major.