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the economics have a way of working out.
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<p>Like many people I came to Washington to do good and all I did was well.</p>
<p>I was a history major, as were both my parents. I went on to get an MA in international relations, now work as a researcher for a think tank. My father is a journalist. My mother was a publisher, now is a literary agent (she was dual history and english). They both went to grad school in lit. None of us are rich right now (I'm just starting out) but we all love our jobs and do just fine.</p>
<p>Oldest son - history major - teaches high school social studies and loves it.</p>
<p>Youngest son - recent grad with mechanical engineering major, materials science minor and History minor. just because he enjoys history.</p>
<p>Brother-in-law was a history major. He went on to get his Masters in Library Science and worked in a public HS. He's retired now and gets a nice pension from the teacher's union.</p>
<p>My Sister was a history major. She had her first internship in county govt as a jr. She has worked for various counties ever since. She started out as a research analyst and for the last 28 yrs has been a Human Resource manager. Her work involves management, finance, labor relations and more.
In her work she hires many recent grads. Her criteria is someone who can write well, has critical thinking skills and the confidence to make decisions. The degree or institution is secondary.
She still loves History!</p>
<p>My cousin was an art history major at Amherst. She did a post-bac at Columbia to take some science classes, then applied to med school. She said her med school interviewers loved the fact that she was an art history major.
She is now an emergency room surgeon who still loves art and history.</p>
<p>These are great! Thank you!</p>
<p>ANOTHER history major here! :) </p>
<p>I majored in it for the sheer love of the subject. I knew that I always wanted to be a history major since finishing my AP Euro course in 10th grade. I did worry a little about what I'd do with it because I heard so many potential history majors (who half did change majors) saying that they wanted to go to law school afterwards and it wasn't what I wanted to do. I actually transferred schools for a stronger history program and haven't regretted at all. The department that I was with was certainly well aware that many of its own graduates go on to law school and worked very hard to make sure that we all could read, write, and think critically. And we're doing well.</p>
<p>History, like any other liberal arts and humanities subject, requires a lot of analyzing and writing that are very useful skills for any job. For people who really want to make history their career, they can work as researchers in the government or museums or archives, archivists, collectors (again in museums or archives or libraries), or librarians... the list go on. Money can actually be great in certain non-law jobs- just have to be very qualified to do them.</p>
<p>I am now in graduate school to continue my education in history and hope to work as a museum educator or researcher.</p>
<p>I was not a history major, but I went to UVa law school and was surrounded by history and political science majors. I don't know if they majored in those subjects as a precursor to law school or if they were in law school because their history and poli sci degrees prepared them for nothing else, but most were quite successful in law school, and much better at cocktail party conversation than I was.</p>
<p>I'm still trying to find out what I can not do with my history degree. I graduated with a dual major in History and Political Science. I worked the entire time I was in school, paid for it myself, and graduated with substantial less debt than 99% of my classmates. This allowed me to take jobs that while the pay was initially low, the training and experience they provided would become more valuable over time. </p>
<p>I secured employment soon after the 9/11 attacks, and after 3 years was in management and being groomed for further responsibilities. One of the best gifts that the study of history brings is the strengthening of analytical ability. I noticed that I could go into business for myself and fill a niche not currently being met. I started my own company. After 3 years the business had grown out of the garage into a full fledged operation with a world wide customer base complete with warehouses and employees. I decided to further explore my business talent by pursing an MBA. As I write this I am enrolled at the University of Texas, working on that MBA, selling my business, and ... this is the best part.. pursuing a masters in history.</p>
<p>As I mentioned, I am still trying to find out what the limit is with a history degree. I think that drive, determination, and hard work go farther in life than any degree ever will. Liberal art degrees are not trade schools.They are not school you attend to establish a profession after completing such as a doctor or lawyer. They are places to go and become more educated, to become a more complete human... hence the reason they are called the humanities. Somehow, this purpose has been diluted in our society over time. Perhaps this is from some sort of drive to push science and math upon young children while decreasing emphasis on history; perhaps it is due to some fairy tale American dream of attending college and then getting some great job out of some sort of entitlement complex.</p>
<p>If your child wants to pursue history, be happy for them. Unlike many of the other graduates I have encountered from other disciplines, history majors for the most part all tend to enjoy what they are doing intrinsically and don't feel external pressure to complete the degree so that they can then go get a job somewhere in some industry they don't feel a passion for, but think they will get a fat paycheck. My friends and fellow history students that graduated have all taken some interesting paths. Some are now professors, some are still in school, some are returning to school, some work at museums, some work for the gov, some are lawyers, some teach elementary .... just because other people do not know what people with degrees do in no way limits what you can do in life.</p>
<p>I’m a History major and soon to be ROTC cadet. I love everything about History and the Military, so I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds!</p>
<p>This thread is FIVE years old!</p>
<p>@emerald it’s practically…ancient history</p>
<p>Please do not resurrect and post to old threads. Please feel free to begin a new thread. closing thread</p>