What can you do with a major in
HISTORY?
Nature of Work
History is the study of past civilizations and problems and is used to promote insight and understanding of the
problems of today, preserve our great cultural heritage, and enrich our appreciation of human existence. Historians collect facts, opinions, and other information. They usually specialize in a specific country or geographic region, in a particular time period, or in a particular field such as social, intellectual, political or diplomatic history.
Genealogists trace family histories. Biographers collect detailed information on individuals. Others help preserve archives, artifacts, and historic sites and buildings. They use standard techniques to locate, evaluate, and
interpret historical evidence. Many historians teach in universities.
Personal Qualities
Helpful qualities for individuals who seek to incorporate their History major in a career include:
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intellectual curiosity and creativity
• academic aptitude
objectivity and open-mindedness
• systematic work habits
analytical skills and good judgment
an ability to communicate their ideas clearly, both in speech and writing
an ability to work both independently and as part of a group
Work Settings
Students who majored in History work in various settings including the following:
research organizations, associations and consulting firms, colleges and universities, archives, libraries, museums,
and historical societies, publishing firms, large corporations, government agencies
They work in classrooms, offices, libraries, and museums. Some may travel to the sites of historic events; such as
battlefields and buildings.
Related Occupations
Research Worker, Archivist, Archeologist, Genealogist, Conservator, Artifacts, Scientific Linguist, Historical
Society Director, Biographer, Press Secretary, Lawyer
Career Services Resources
The following books our available for students in the Career Services Library:
• Liberal Education and Careers Today
• Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors (2 editions)
• Great Jobs for History Majors
• The Liberal Arts Advantage
• 150 Best Companies for Liberal Arts Graduates
• Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads
For More Information Contact
American Historical Association
400 A. Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003-3889
(202) 544-2422
www.historians.org
Organization of American Historians
PO Box 5457
Bloomington, IN 47408-5457
(812) 855-7311
www.oah.org
Information gathered from various resources including: DISCOVER
American Association for State and Local History
1717 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37203-2921
(615) 320-3203
www.aaslh.org
January 2008
A Sample of Ithaca College History Graduates
One method of exploring careers is to examine the occupations of alumni who majored in a discipline in which you may be interested.
Below is a representative sample of occupations held by Ithaca College alumni who majored in History.
Attorney
Site Coordinator, Parent Liaison
Producer
Financial Representative
Vice President of Marketing
Federal Law Enforcement Office
Legal Assistant
Accountant
Patent Foreign Filing Specialist
Human Resource Management
Survey Processor
Project Asst., Alcohol Policies
Software Engineer
Recruiter
History Teacher
Membership Director
Publications Manager
Visual Manager
Administrative Assistant
Associate Community Director
Managing Director/COO
Assistant to Director of Staff Development
Attorney
Preschool Teacher
Software Division Administrator
Acquisitions
Trader
Director of Program Research
Assistant Vice President
Account Specialist
Special Projects Officer
Project Manager
Landscaper
Legal Assistant
High School Social Studies Teacher
Congressional Aide
Owner/Producer
President/Owner
Legislative Assistant
Grant Consultant
Advertising Sales Representative
Producer
Property Tax Specialist
Freelance Photographer
Assistant District Attorney
News Archivist
Preservationist
Product Consultant/LAN Administrator
Eaton Peabody
Robert Moton Elementary School
CNN (Cable News Network)
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
McGlinn Capital Management
Department of Homeland Security
Friedman Wang & Beiberg
ISU Insurance Services
Oliff & Berridge PLC
French Woods Festival
Irtor Survey Research
Center for Science in the Publication
Lotus Development Corporation
Education America
Kingston City Schools
The Federalist Society
Mass Insight Education
Saks Fifth Avenue
Historic Ithaca
Worthing Southeast
Coldwell Banker Europe
USA Today
Gallagher, Riley & Lachat
Monroe BOCES
The Princeton Review
The Development Group
Fidelity Investments
Brookstone Production Company
Chase Manhattan Bank
Xerox Corporation
Patrol Squadron
Caelum Research Corporation
Fertile Delta
Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch
Tuxedo High School
The Honorable John W. Oliver
Middle Passage Cinema
Kenny Rogers Roasters Franchise
N.Y.S. Assembly 118th District
DBS Planning Consultants
Princeton Packet
CNN (Cable News Network)
Marriott Corporation
Self-employed
Suffolk County District Attorney
Fort Lee Film Storage & Service Co.
New York City Parks Department
Cigna Companies
Bangor, ME
Westminster, MD
Atlanta, GA
Commack, NY
Reading, PA
Santee, CA
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Syracuse, NY
Hancock, NY
Chicago, IL
Washington, D.C.
Cambridge, MA
Denver, CO
Kingston, NY
Washington, D.C.
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Ithaca, NY
Decatur, GA
Chicago, IL
Arlington, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Fairport, NY
Burlington, MA
Newton, MA
Boston, MA
Deerfield Beach, FL
Brooklyn, NY
Rochester, NY
Brunswick, ME
Rockville, MD
Chicago, IL
Morristown, NJ
Tuxedo, NY
Fitchburg, MA
Baltimore, MD
Rochester, NY
North Syracuse, NY
Troy, NY
Princeton, NJ
Atlanta, GA
Washington, D.C.
Needham, MA
Riverhead, NY
Fort Lee, NJ
New York, NY
Rochester, NY