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History

History is an academic discipline which uses a narrative to observe and study a sequence of past events. It is broken down into various areas of study including: Periods, Geographical Locations, World, Military, Religion, Cultural and Social. Sometimes there can be a bias in school teaching. History textbooks are often used by countries as tools to help foster patriotism and nationalism, and are written with the intent to put the national heritage in the most favorable light.

Program Information

Entry requirements vary among different colleges and universities. Most competitive colleges recommend at least two years of high school social studies, which includes history and courses in civics or government. The University of Michigan has one of the top history programs in the country. Michigan has Faculty Advisers available to all students. They can help you with course selection, provide information on study abroad programs, help you choose a faculty mentor, or answer any questions you may have. First year courses provide students with a general outline and give students a foundation to build their writing skills. Second year provides many more historical courses, as does the third and fourth year. In these years, students can narrow down their focus to one aspect of history they are interested in. Princeton University is another top school for history. The History Department at Princeton offers forty different undergraduate courses covering two thousand years of human experience. The History Department has structured its program to encourage the breadth of knowledge while allowing concentrators to study what they are interested in. By the senior year, students will have chosen a field of concentration (such as Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, Latin America, the United States, Russia, etc.). Concentrators will also work in stages towards writing a 75 page senior thesis based on historical research.

history student

Pros & Cons

Students in history degree programs have the opportunity to study abroad. This provides a tremendous opportunity for students to travel without having to take time off school. Studying abroad also allows students to study historical places. For example, those interested in Ancient Rome may want to travel to Rome to see the ruins first hand. Historical study is an asset for a variety of professional situations, and develops skills necessary for a large range of work. History Majors have to have a strong attention to detail as well as strong research and writing skills. These skills can help you be successful in any career. For most students however, a history degree will not lead to a specific job right out of university. If you want to become a history teacher, for example, you still need to attend teacher’s college. Most students who complete an undergraduate degree in history will take a graduate program, which requires more money and time. In certain fields that history majors qualify for, they may face strong competition for jobs as well.

Graduate School & Career

History Majors are not limited to becoming teachers or working in museums. Many students attend graduate school after completing their undergraduate degree. While this may be teacher’s college, it can also be in another field, such as law school. The research, writing, and attention to detail skills required for history directly correlates to a career in law. Many history majors become educators, either in public schools or at museums and historic sites. History majors can also work in writing, working on historical documentaries or historical journals. Other job options include archivist, editor, information manager, librarians, paralegals, and contract historians.