Careers and Internships

A Program with Options

As a student with a history major or minor, there is a wide variety of career choices. Serious thought should be given to planning a bachelor's program as a preface to a Professional or Master's degree in a specialist area because such a degree is increasingly the means of entry to the rapidly expanding career fields.

Some of the career fields include:

• Archivist
• Biographer
• Business
• Civil Service
• Commentator
• Genealogist
• Historian
• Historical Librarian
• Historical Societies
• International Business
• Movie Industry
• Museum Director
• Politics
• Pre-Law
• Public History
• Reporter
• Teacher
• Tourism
• U.S. Foreign Service
• Writer

More information is available in the History Office, located at Stewart Hall 283.

Nature of the Work

Historians describe, organize, synthesize and explain the human past so that people can profit from this knowledge. They critically analyze human institutions, behavior patterns and systems of thought. They examine the successes and failures of those who lived in earlier times. Historians also revise interpretations of the past based on new evidence. The study of history can help people discover the causes of current problems.

Historians may be involved in editing historical materials, preparing exhibits, writing pamphlets and handbooks, speaking to various groups, serving as consultants and doing administrative and research work. Historians usually specialize in the history of a particular period of history, but they must be able to relate one area of history to another. People interested in history may also enter the teaching profession.

Employment Outlook

Only a small number of positions are available for teaching historians. The employment trend is increasing for historians in archival work and in other types of work. Some history majors will work as trainees in administration and management positions in government and in private industry. Others will enter a post-baccalaureate program in one of the many growing fields such as planning, management and international business.

History Internship

The internship program of the Department of History is designed to give competent, interested students an opportunity to participate in an approved off-campus learning and work situation which relates to the major. The program offers the student an opportunity to relate course work and major requirements to their application in the working world. See HIST 444 in the course listings. A maximum of three (3) credits may be applied to the elective credits needed in the major program. Any remaining credits apply as general electives toward graduation. Students interested in the internship program should contact the department as early as possible to apply for the program.

The Program Committee, in discussing an Internship program for interested History students, has agreed on the following guidelines:

Eligibility

• History majors preferred, B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S.
• The student must be at least a junior or senior.

Credits

• The exact number of credits will be determined by the nature of the Internship and through faculty-student consultation.
• The Internship may be spread over more than one semester and/or summer sessions.

Selection Of Intern

• The History Department and a prospective agency will screen applicants for Internships.

Responsibility:

• The History graduate director will serve as contact person for the Internship program.

Evaluation:

• The nature of the Internship work should be directly related to the History major (e.g.--historical research, writing, archival work; evaluation, collection of materials).
• History Department supervisor and Agency supervisor may provide written evaluations.
• Some form of written report may be required of the student.

Contract

• A contract spelling out the nature of the Internship, evaluation procedures, withdrawal provisions, and other responsibilities of the Intern, Agency and Department may be required.