Is a history degree right for me? What can i do with it?

Is a history degree even right for me? 

Here are some skills that are needed if you are getting into history field work:

The ability to read and write effectively: These are very important to any history student! History involves reading books on top of books on top of books so that you can learn a subject well enough to regurgitate it without thinking. You will also have to probably write about it depending on your field work, not to mention that 20,000 word master's thesis! 

The ability to research: In any history related job you will need to be able to have the skills to look at a story with little information and be able to trace the roots of that story to other sources of information and incorporate that into your own analysis of that information.

Critical thinking: This is the ability look at a problem in depth and find solutions for them. The best analysis skills are the creative ones! Don't be afraid to think outside the box about an issue and create new and inventive ways to solve problems and make things better!

The most important characteristics you should have are to be willing and eager learn, to be disciplined, and to persevere.  These characteristics will follow you throughout your life making your job more of a lifelong educational learning experience than a 9-5 way to pay the bills. 

What can i do with it?

If for some reason you are pursuing a history degree with no idea what you are actually going to do with it, i can help you.

With a history degree you have the foundation to do anything, but another degree in your specialized area will most likely be needed. Here are a few examples:

1. Teachers/Librarians

2. Researchers 

3. Museums and Historical society's

4. Writers/Editors

5. Lawyers/Business people 

These are just a few examples of careers you could go into with your foundation in history. I am one of those people that before i make any move i contemplate one thousand outcomes of that move. I knew i wanted to work in a museum, and i knew i wanted to get a history degree, however, that is not all there is to it. You can't walk into the Smithsonian and say, "Hey, i'm here for that job opening." It doesn't work like that. I had to research what i wanted to do in the museum and contemplate getting another degree in that specific field (Historian, Archivist, Curator, etc.) My point is, you're a history major, do some research. :)