Is being a historian an exciting job?

Question

I understand it won't be interesting to everyone but I mean to people interested in history. What kind of job choices could i expect with a history degree.

Answer 1

I am a freelance historian. I don't have a degree in history and I only took one history class in college. I double-majored in Political Science and Philosophy—I like to joke that that qualifies me to have deep thoughts about being unemployed. People in these (and other disciplines) often study at history from different perspectives. Even thought I don’t have a degree in history, I love it, read and study it, and have done extensive primary research (and spent a lot of money buying books and traveling to do research). Now, I’ve written several historical articles that have been published in historical quarterlies and I have three books I’m working on. I haven’t seen a dime of “profit” though… and maybe never will. It helps to have a “day job” or another source of income.

About making this a career, if you major in history in college, you could be come a teacher (and if you was to get you Masters and PhD, you could become a professor!) But if you’re not thinking of becoming a teacher, you should also take other classes and minor in something that is more business-oriented so have a little broader credentials when you go looking for a job (or maybe major in something more “practical” and minor in history—that might be the smart thing to do!)

Someone mentioned being a librarian… to do that, most places want you to have a Masters in Library Science, which can involve another year or two of school after you get your Bachelor’s degree. History would be a fine major if you want to go into Library Science, but you can have most any BA or BS and go to school to become a librarian. To be a librarian in a public school, you need to be a certified teacher, too, so keep that in mind! I am considering going back to get a Masters of Arts in Library Science, with an emphasis in research and conserving archival material and old books. Other people specialize in reading and literature, or in childhood learning and education, or multi-media library services. There are lots of options there.

As far as being a historian as a career goes, you do not have to go to college for this. You just have to be interested in the past, sorting out the real facts, recognizing relationships between causes and affects, etc. You can research and write on any subject you want--from Biblical history to revolutions on Caribbean islands, early Native American relations, military history, 20th Century Asian politics--you name it! Your focus can be broad or very narrow. Because of the research involved in history, history majors often take other classes like statistical analysis and quantitative and qualitative research; and sometimes other languages depending on their area of interest. These research skills can have broad applications in jobs that involve business or market analysis, political research, public relations, educational policy, etc. Examples: People who work in land title offices need to know how to look up old deed and land records. Professional genealogists need to know how to find personal and family records and documentation. Political lobbyists need to know the historic background of issues, policies and laws. Foreign policy makers and foreign businesses want to know the historic backgrounds of other countries, or the current demographic, political or economic trends there. Law offices often need a researcher to research statutes or regulation or historical situations so they have a report or brief for a lawsuit. Someone who has studied history and has a focus in any of these areas could do any of these jobs.

But the common necessity is to be a good researcher (really a detective) and document your work well—especially if you are going to write and want to get published. If you are thinking of becoming a college professor, you will have to do lots of research and write and get published to get recognition and tenure. If you aren’t in an academic environment, or have a “day job” it is hard to afford being a historian, because all the research, writing and editing is very time consuming (and traveling for research can be expensive). You can make a decent living as a teacher or professor, but it requires dedication. You probably won’t get rich writing history books. Some people make a little income and a few even a good living at it, but few people are so successful as authors that they don’t need another income source.

Otherwise, you can choose any other career you want and do history on the side as a serious hobby, or treat it like a second-job, or collect information when you can so you can write the great American history book when you retire.

I’m very glad to read that you’re so interested in history!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

A job is what you make of it. Look at Ken Norton from the Honeymooners. He was a sewer rat but loved his job and was excited to go to work everyday.

Specifically, history is an exciting field. History majors (BAs) often end up studying law or teaching. Quite a few end up in politics also. These days good historians end up working for various news agencies and 12-hour news television stations as analysts and consultants because it is often necessary to put the news into historical perspective by reference to important historical events and facts. NBC has a resident presidential historian. ABC has a resident government and congressional historian. I am sure the other news organizations have similar positions.

Most movie production studios also hire historians (usual Ph. Ds) as consultants when they are producing movies that hinge on historical events because they want to make sure that they accurately capture the historical event, customs, dress etc.

So bottom line, a degree in History can be interesting and exciting and may lead to a quite rewarding career. It all depends on you!!!

Good luck.

Answer 4

I would have to agree with Cork. I started off with a double major History and Religion degree. I am really passionate about both subjects, and there is actually a large scope of work. Apart from the obvious historian, curator, history teacher, any jobs which requires the researching of historical data, I know of History Majors who have gone into banking, insurance etc. I got into history because I wanted to find lost civilisations, like Heinrich Schliemann. Imagine discovering a city thought to be lost forever.

Answer 5

Historian can be an exciting job for someone who enjoys reading and have a memory that is able to absorb and remember events after reading. Having a history degree can land you a job with a law firm where one can do research for past landmark cases.

Answer 6

Well, I have a degree in history, and let me tell you, there's not much out there. But then, maybe I didn't try hard enough. I got a degree in history because it was fun, and the easiest way for me to graduate from the college I was at. I now work in insurance, handling work comp claims. Some of what I learned in college has helped me, such as the research techniques, and things like that, but I'm not really doing anything historical.

Most people who get a history degree, who really want to do something with history, go on and study more, maybe become a teacher or a history professor at a college. You might be able to write a book, but that may be hard to get published. Other people would possibly work in a museum or a library with historical artifacts & documents and the like. If I could have my dream job, then I'd want to be working in a library, doing research or something of the like, but you need a degree in library sciences for that. I guess I could have done that out of college, gotten a masters or something, but I was not motivated to study farther. I enjoy what I do now, so I'm okay with it. Good luck figuring out what you want to do with your life.

Answer 7

Being an Historian can be absolutely fascinating if you have a good sense of adventure, and a creative mind. There are alot of stories untold, discoveries unseen, and myths and lor
to proove or disproove. I would suggest Geology and Archiology as secondary courses of interest, or find some
Peers with these degrees to team up with and Let the Adventure begin.

Answer 8

the obvious choices are librarian and history teacher.

But you can also do archaeology, curator in a museum, write books on historical subjects,

Your degree does NOT need to restrict you to history. You can actually do lots of things with any degree.

DONT restrict yourself to just academic and historian type jobs.

Answer 9

I think it can be. You can be a museum curator, and explore different times and generations. Another option of history majors is being a teacher, you need a little bit more than history classes, but there is nothing more fulfilling than inspiring young minds.

Answer 10

MAJOREDIN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY..
TRAVELED THE WORLD THREE TIMES OVER AND EUROPE/MED/MIDDLE EAST COUPLE DOZEN TIMES.
WAS GOING TO TEACH BUT LOVE OF FISHING----

NOTHING LIKE HISTORY...PAST. NOT JUST USA BUT WORLDWIDE...AND THE TRAVEL--LIVING WITH THE PEOPLE-EATING FOODS --SEEING WHAT OTHERS ONLY JUST READ ABOUT. ITS SOME LIFE. THEN TO FIND A 2000 YEAR OLD COIN OR 3000 OR 4000 YEAR OLD ARTIFACT!! WOW....

EVEN IN THE USA JUST TO TRAVEL STATE TO STATE
AND STANDING WHERE HISTORY WAS MADE AND WRITTEN...