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What Can I Do with a Master's in History?

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If you are considering embarking on a master’s in history program, this is clearly an exciting time in your life. There is so much to look forward to, as this topic will keep you thinking, engaging, asking questions, and getting deep. I imagine you are wondering a few things: What can I do with a masters in history? What are some jobs with a masters in history? Well, there are many masters in history jobs that can tie directly into your specific interests and framework that got you on this path to begin with. While your bachelors maybe scratched the surface, your masters will go deeper. These questions are certainly not one size fits all, as there are many factors that tie into the answers. This includes what you specialized in, what your career goals were/ are within the program you end up choosing, and what hands on experience you were able to glean prior to hitting the job market. This is to say, it is important to choose accordingly when looking at masters in history programs, so you place yourself where you want to be, when looking for jobs upon completion. 

According to the bureau of labor statistics, you are in a good field if you take on history. The career outlook for such career paths is that it will grow by at least three percent from now until 2029. That may not seem like a lot at first glance, but it is good news that the discipline is certainly not going anywhere. Given the times we are in, we see many disciplines become obsolete, but history is certainly not one of them. There are many careers that will always be relevant in this discipline. We are going to look at some of them here to give you a sense. 

Jobs with a Masters in History

Teacher/ Educator

As far as masters in history jobs go, the first thing that might come to mind for you is a history teacher. Maybe you are picturing your high school history teaching as we speak and wondering if that is something you want to emulate? Well, there are many ways to teach history, including incorporating your own bent on history and it’s telling, with the many perspectives this can offer. With a master’s degree in history, you can teach in some post-secondary contests namely community colleges. This is a great way to get started if you want to eventually get a doctorate and teach more extensively at the academic level. 

Historian

Historians are critical storytellers. This role is important when it comes to keeping culture and histories alive by holding origin stories accountable for how we got to where we are today. When looking at jobs with a masters in history, a historian is an excellent choice and a really great way to leave your mark on the world. This requires top notch writing and research skills, all of which can be gleaned from most masters in history programs. Generally, to be successful as a historian, you need at least one foreign language under your belt and some hands on experience that can occur in a variety of locations. Historians are also innovating how information is collected and analyzed in the midst of this new wave of technology. 

Political Scientist 

As a graduate of history and the advanced level of learning this is where some people stop their higher-level studies, although some intellectuals will move on to achieve a Ph.D., you can have a long a successful career as a political scientist with a master’s degree. Political scientists never wonder what to do with a history degree, it is a common pathway to public policymakers. To be effective in a government setting politicians will use their gain skills or oral and written presentation to make arguments for and against making changes to public policy. They will evaluate political ideas and analyze historical documents and government policies to form a compelling opinion on how they may have impacted our society on a continued timeframe. Political scientists can make on average 115, 000 per year so this is a popular career to consider. 

Museum Conservator

Use your degree to preserve, restore, and display artifacts. As a graduate of a master’s program individuals will then have the knowledge of the importance of maintaining, protecting, and prolonging the existence of certain historical documents, objects, and artifacts. This can include performing chemical and physical tests to determine the year and material make-up of certain artifacts. Museum conservators also oversee, train, and teach museum curators and technicians as well as perform tours and act as a source for onsite research, in museums.

Related:

What Can I Do with a Associate’s in History?

25 Best Online Associate’s in History

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in History

25 Best Online Master’s in History

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.