Careers
What Can I Do With A History Degree?
A liberal arts degree in a field like history can help you prepare for a wide range of jobs. Understanding the past, awareness of the importance of culture and context, as well as an ability to sort through large amounts of information, draw conclusions, and write or speak persuasively are all skills that prove valuable in a range of careers.
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History Career Pathways
Discover your future in history by exploring real-world career paths pursued by KU History alumni.
History degree skills: History graduates are well-spoken, self-starting, analytical, and highly adaptable. They possess strong critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills that make them valuable in an ever-changing job market.
Education
- Administrator
- Researcher
- Elementary or High School Teacher
- College or University Professor
- Dean
- Paraeducator
- Student Success Specialist
- Registrar
- Educational Technology Liaison
Museum
- Archivist
- Museum Manager
- Collections Manager
- Curator
- Archaeologist
- Conservator
- Gallery Director
- Gallery Exhibitions Officer
- Museum Education Officer
- Visitor Service Representative
- Development Officer
Law
- Legislative Aide
- Attorney
- Judge
- Public Defender
- Paralegal or Legal Assistant
- Legislative Assistant
- Corporate Counselor
- Litigation Support Specialist
- Circuit Defense Counsel
Writing
- Journalist
- Scientific Writer
- Technical Writer
- Grant Writer
- Publication Editor
- Speech Writer
- Publisher
- Research Assistant
- Film Editor
- Author
- Print Journalist or Picture Editor
- Advertising Research Director
- Print Production Manager
- Staff Reporter
Government and Military
- Foreign Service Officer
- Political Affairs Officer
- National Security Agent
- Intelligence Analyst
- Compliance Officer
- Special Agent
- Policy Analyst
- Historian
- Diplomat
- Lobbyist
- City Manager
- Captain
- Cryptologic Interpreter Technician (Navy)
Public Service
- Park Ranger
- Librarian
- Horticulturalist
- Administrator
- Nurse
- Anthropologist
- Historical Interpreter
- Firefighter
- Airline Captain
- Clerk
- Translator
- Environmentalist
- Land Use Planner
- Historic Preservationist
- Urban Planner
- Priest
- State Trooper
- Social Worker
- Emergency Medicine Physician
Business Management
- Management and Program Analyst
- Market Research Analyst
- Business Analyst
- Consultant
- Compliance Officer
- Compliance Manager
- Hedge Fund Manager
- Stock Analyst
- Banker
- Insurance Professional
- Financial Account Representative
- Account Executive
- Real Estate Broker
- Business Recruitment Specialist
- Project Manager
- Commodity Broker
- Information Technologies Technician
- Insurance Agent or Producer
- Operations Manager
Communications
- Public Relations Specialist
- Content Writer or Editor
- Corporate Communication Specialist Manager
- Communications Consultant
- Media Communications
- Account Executive
- Manager of Marketing
- Client Success Manager
- Reporter
- Photographer
- Solutions Manager
- Work Experience Coordinator
- Sales Consultant
Career Possibilities
A Wide Range of Careers
Some history majors continue to use their degree as educators, researchers, archivists, or public historians, but many more work in a variety of fields including law, government, nongovernmental organizations, business, or even medicine, with law and business as the two most common trajectories. Over time graduates in history earn salaries in the higher end of those who pursued liberal arts degrees and tend to report in surveys that they are happy they majored in history.
Recent History alumni agree that their History major helped prepare them for the real world.
Recent History alumni agree that their History major helped prepare them for the real world.
Explore Your Options
Department faculty and KU Career Services are happy to discuss career options with you, including potential internships. While we don’t offer specific departmental internships, our students have interned at news outlets like NPR, as well as museums and the National Archives in Kansas City.