Careers in History:

One question that comes up regularly concerning the study of history is “…but what would I do with it?”  In fact history opens up so many career opportunities it’s impossible to list them all in a short space. As one recent graduate noted about her experience in job interviews, “nobody asks for a history degree, but everyone asks for what you learn as a history major.”  Here are some of the most common careers our graduates take up:

Secondary education: many students study history or history/social sciences, combine that with an education endorsement, and take up careers at schools here in Lincoln, in Nebraska, or in other parts of the country.  Our degree has proved excellent preparation to be a competitive candidate for teaching positions.

Law: every year a number of students successfully apply for admittance to law school, and go on to careers in law or in related fields.  The history degree at Nebraska Wesleyan prepares students well for law school.

Archives, museums, libraries and historic preservation: many graduates have gone on to careers in museums, historical societies, and other government or non-government agencies and institutions that are responsible for preserving the past and making it accessible to the public.  Our internship program in particular is designed to provide students real-world experiences with such opportunities.

And a lot of other careers in government, consulting, business and service: history requires one to exercise a number of fundamental skills in research, critical reading and interpretation, supporting an argument, writing, and documenting evidence.  Students of history are self-learners, who, because they are sensitive to how things change over time, can adjust to the changes that inevitably come in any lifetime of work, citizenship, or in personal circumstances.