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What Can I Do with an Associate's in History?

Contributing Editor
B.A.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Susan A. Kemppainen has been a freelance writer and researcher for nearly 10 years, following a career in healthcare developing and coordinated continuing clinical education programs for physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff. She also has significant experience working with students and administration in a university setting.
Founder/Senior Editor
B.A., M.Div.
Jeremy Alder has spent over a decade researching and writing about higher education to provided students with the information they need to achieve their goals. He has significant personal experience with career transitions, working as a freelance writer and editor, non-profit director, community organizer, preacher, teacher, retail manager, and carpenter prior to founding College Consensus. Homeschooled from the second grade, Jeremy is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (B.A., Philosophy) and Duke University Divinity School (M.Div.). He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, five kids, and a Labradoodle named Hank.

If you are wondering if this program would offer a good foundation for a successful education and career path, the answer is yes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the history pathway is only supposed to grow. In fact, the outlook is that it will grow 3 percent between 2019 and 2029.

What is an Associate’s in Business?

An associate’s degree in history is a jumping-off point. It acts as a foundation for the rest of your academic trajectory. Many people choose an associate’s degree path because it is an economical option to complete general education coursework along with entry-level major classes. This will make it easy to seamlessly matriculate into a four-year program. An associate’s degree in history generally takes two years to complete if you are studying on a full-time basis. Many people choose history as a way to open the doors to a humanities-based education, though many students have big plans for a career that will engage a degree in history.

We will take a look at some of the options in a minute here. In the meantime, if you are considering an associate’s in history, it’s a good idea to focus on a program that has easy transfer options. Many schools have complex advising that supports students to choose the classes that would support their personal and academic goals. 

In an associate’s program in history, students will gain such skills as critical thinking, communications, research and analysis, along with academic writing and a framework for the inner workings of historical context. They might even participate in early education classes. 

You will also gain a foundation in basic history classes such as American Government, US history before and after 1877, World War one and two, the principles of microeconomics, the principles of macroeconomics, African American History, Latin American History, Global Civilizations, among many more. Not to mention, students will participate in writing classes, general education coursework including mathematics and basic science. 

Business

Many people gain a foundation in history to go into the field of business and management. Lower level business management requires a basis of general education in the humanities, and history is a good choice. This includes philosophy, psychology, and even mathematics. All of this can support a successful entry level career in business. 

History Education

With an associates degree in history, you can start your entry level career in education. This is an excellent foundation to be a teaching assistant in history, or to become a professor’s research assistant. This is obviously an amazing beginning if you ultimately want to pursue a career as a history or social studies teacher or even professor. That would simply require you to transfer to a four year program and work your way up from there. 

Historic Preservation

Preservation is about keeping old things alive with their stories intact. Many people are part of the process to ensure that old homes, buildings, furniture and artifacts are appropriately restored. This includes historians, city planners, construction companies, and even architects. An associates degree in history can support students on this journey, and even enable them to start their preservation career. Conducting research is an important part of this process, which is skills that will be learned in an associate’s program in history.  

Consulting

Cultural organizations often work with historians on a freelance basis. This can be a good entry level gig for someone looking for a post-associate’s degree internship or apprenticeship. Many times historians work with different companies to consult on a project basis. This can include projects based on preservation, historical architecture, inhibit design, archeology, or even litigation. Sometimes historians are hired as consultants by the film industry to consult for productions. 

Law School Candidate

Oftentimes, graduates of associates degrees in history are interested in pursuing a career in law. History students make great candidates for future law students. In fact, a history degree is the perfect pathway for a law degree. Public speaking and writing are heavily emphasized in history programming and are essential skills for law students and potential lawyers. 

Library Sciences

An associate’s in history is also the perfect pathway for those who are interested in pursuing a degree and career in the field of library sciences. Transferring to a bachelors might be the perfect next step. This is an excellent foundation for future librarians and those who are interested in curation. What better background then history can offer you the ideal framework for any such positions. This can include archivists and those who work in museums. 

There are many places you can go with this associate’s offering. It is the perfect foundation for a number of career paths. It might just be the perfect starting point for many big and transformative professions. 

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