About Shepherd College

About Shepherd University Studying History at Shepherd University Is History the Right Major for Me? What Can I Do With a Major in History? History-Related Student Activities History Department Faculty Questions? Regional Map of Shepherdstown Dr. Anders Henriksson, Chair Department of History Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV 25443 (304) 876-5329 (800) 344-5231 ext. 5329 E-mail: ahenriks@shepherd.edu	What Can I Do With a Major in History? You probably want to know what careers historical studies might prepare you for. The short answer is that history prepares you for any firld which seeks broadly-educated individuals who can read and analyze disparate data and report their findings clearly. Some more specific ideas about history-related careers follow: TEACHING PUBLIC HISTORY LAW COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY GOVERNMENT THEOLOGY TEACHING Maybe your goal is to teach history in high school or junior high school. The appropriate major for that career is secondary social studies comprehensive degree. Majors in social studies take many history courses as well as other courses in the social sciences and education. Those who look to post-secondary teaching will need at least a master's degree beyond the B.S. in social studies or B.A. in history, An M.A. or M.A.T. may qualify you for community college teaching. Generally, to teach in a four-year college or university requires a doctorate degree. PUBLIC HISTORY If you do not want to teach but would like a history-related career, you might investigate several possibilities which fall under the general heading of public history. National and state parks employ historians as interpreters and preservationists. State and local history societies employ a variety of specialists including administrators, researchers, preservationists, and archivists. The history B.A. is also a good background for museum work or positions in historic preservation. Additional specialized training may be required for careers in these fields. LAW Is history the right major if you want to be a lawyer? Traditionally, students interested in law school tended to choose history as an undergraduate major. Today, because law schools recommend no particular major, pre-law students pursue a wide variety of majors. History remains a good foundation for a profession that relies heavily on precedent. Many of our graduates go to law school. COMMUNICATIONS The skills of analysis and interpretation emphasized in history are applicable to various forms of communication including print and broadcast journalism. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY Historical studies can help prepare you for a business career. Many businesses today are internationally oriented. They need people with a broad understanding of other cultures. A history major combined with study abroad, work in economics, and strong language skills could prepare you for a role in today's international marketplace. Businesses with a regional or national focus also seek employees who can think and write. GOVERNMENT Many history graduates find opportunities for employment in government. Government at all levels - state, local, and federal - hires broadly-educated college graduates for many positions without any specific requirement as to major. History is especially useful as preparation for the Foreign Service exams, which could lead to a diplomatic career. The government hires many archivists, and some agencies hire historians to oversee their historical collections. THEOLOGY Because most all religions have deep historic roots, history has long been recognized as a logical major for students bound for theological seminary.

You probably want to know what careers historical studies might prepare you for. The short answer is that history prepares you for any firld which seeks broadly-educated individuals who can read and analyze disparate data and report their findings clearly. Some more specific ideas about history-related careers follow:

TEACHING
PUBLIC HISTORY
LAW
COMMUNICATIONS
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
GOVERNMENT
THEOLOGY

TEACHING
Maybe your goal is to teach history in high school or junior high school. The appropriate major for that career is secondary social studies comprehensive degree. Majors in social studies take many history courses as well as other courses in the social sciences and education. Those who look to post-secondary teaching will need at least a master's degree beyond the B.S. in social studies or B.A. in history, An M.A. or M.A.T. may qualify you for community college teaching. Generally, to teach in a four-year college or university requires a doctorate degree.

PUBLIC HISTORY
    If you do not want to teach but would like a history-related career, you might investigate several possibilities which fall under the general heading of public history. National and state parks employ historians as interpreters and preservationists. State and local history societies employ a variety of specialists including administrators, researchers, preservationists, and archivists. The history B.A. is also a good background for museum work or positions in historic preservation. Additional specialized training may be required for careers in these fields.
LAW
    Is history the right major if you want to be a lawyer? Traditionally, students interested in law school tended to choose history as an undergraduate major. Today, because law schools recommend no particular major, pre-law students pursue a wide variety of majors. History remains a good foundation for a profession that relies heavily on precedent. Many of our graduates go to law school.
COMMUNICATIONS
    The skills of analysis and interpretation emphasized in history are applicable to various forms of communication including print and broadcast journalism.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
    Historical studies can help prepare you for a business career. Many businesses today are internationally oriented. They need people with a broad understanding of other cultures. A history major combined with study abroad, work in economics, and strong language skills could prepare you for a role in today's international marketplace. Businesses with a regional or national focus also seek employees who can think and write.
GOVERNMENT
    Many history graduates find opportunities for employment in government. Government at all levels - state, local, and federal - hires broadly-educated college graduates for many positions without any specific requirement as to major. History is especially useful as preparation for the Foreign Service exams, which could lead to a diplomatic career. The government hires many archivists, and some agencies hire historians to oversee their historical collections.
THEOLOGY
     Because most all religions have deep historic roots, history has long been recognized as a logical major for students bound for theological seminary.