01/25/02
 
 

QUESTION: What can history do for my intellectual growth?

ANSWER: The study of history develops the mind and sparks a capacity for critical inquiry. Each student of the past learns the process of historical inquiry. The value of that inquiry--the selection of data, the assembling or ordering of information in systematic fashion, and the development and testing of ideas--rests upon the caliber of questions that the student asks and seeks to answer. Easily stated generalizations will not suffice for students of history as they become increasingly aware of the complex world in which we live.

Thus, the study of history allows us to understand the past and the present because it explores the full-range of human thought, behavior, and achievement in a systematic way. It offers each person an invaluable opportunity to sharpen his or her perceptions--of the past, of life, of reality, and of the diverse world in which we live. To that degree, the study of history truly becomes a "profound experience" in any educational program.

QUESTION: Why should I consider a major, minor, or concentration in history?

ANSWER: In particular, the study of history is of value in (1) your intellectual growth; (2) your career or professional preparation; and (3) your perspectives for a more holistic life. You can reach these goals through other academic areas, but historical studies have a way of effectively leading to and building on each of these objectives.

QUESTION: How can a history concentration help fulfill my educational needs?

ANSWER: The study of history provides a solid base from which undergraduate majors can move into a wide variety of specialized programs in graduate or professional schools, or a history major can prepare one for a teaching career.

QUESTION: Are history majors locked into teaching fields?

ANSWER: Because of its breadth of subject matter, along with its training in critical thinking and analysis of data, a history program offers students a background they can apply in many careers, professions, or graduate programs. Beyond these, the B.A. in history has provided the background for thousands of the nation's most successful lawyers, bankers, government administrators, business executives, authors, performing artists, journalists, ministers, politicians, and creative authors.

QUESTION: How can a history professor assist in my selection of specific history-oriented careers?

ANSWER: I will gladly discuss these concerns with you. I can provide details about careers in history teaching and research, archival or museum work, library science, employment with historical associations, historical editing, public information officer, and the like.

QUESTION: What if I am interested solely in pursuing an M.B.A. or going to graduate school, law or medical school, or into the ministry?

ANSWER: If your interest lies in any of these areas, you should check with those graduate or professional schools before your junior year to determine what particular qualifications and coursework they expect of you, what deadlines they specify for applications for admission and fellowships, and what national examinations (such as the Law Boards, Graduate Record Examination, etc.) they will require you to take in your junior or senior years. You should also understand that many (yes, many, not a few!) of this nation's most respected CEOs, physicians, and ministers majored or minored in history as undergraduate students.

QUESTION: What are the requirements for a history concentration?

ANSWER: The requirements are printed in the FGCU online Catalog and in various history page Web sites. Students should feel free to discuss these requirements with Dr. Winsboro, History Program Director, College of Arts and Sciences.

QUESTION: This sounds interesting, but I am still a little confused about the specific fields to which I can apply my coursework in history. How can I determine specific career opportunities?

ANSWER: There are primarily three career opportunity areas for history graduates. They are: 1) the nonprofit sector, 2) the private sector, and 3) the public sector. The following charts reflect major opportunities in each of these sectors as outlined in recent research by the National Center for the Study of History.

Archives

Archivist:

Identify, appraise, arrange and preserve significant documents. Prepare reference aids; publicize archival resources.

Records manager:

Survey, inventory and process records. Prepare retention and disposal schedules. Conduct records management training.

Historical associations & societies

Promote the study, preservation boards, and value of history. Manage historical resources. Write, edit and publish publications. Offer scholarly and professional services to the public. Serve as a forum for historical activities.

Historical projects (includes Main Street programs)

Conduct historical research; document and publish findings. Provide administrative services, draft budgets, seek grants. Promote program by direct public appeals and through use of print, broadcast and TV media. Offer technical assistance in matters relating to history/preservation.

Architectural history and restoration

Study, restore and renovate, reproduce or preserve historical buildings and architectural styles.

Libraries

Reference librarian:

Serve the public by providing information on collections. Develop and promote use of bibliographies and electronic finding aids. Recommend purchases of library materials.

Catalog librarian:

Catalog and classify library material; develop collection's accessibility; assist public in use of facilities.
 

Research librarian:

Provide research services to public and to reference librarians. Conduct literature search on card catalogues and electronic data bases. Compile bibliographies.

Technical librarian:

Recommend acquisition of specialized library material. Implement and automate bibliographic systems; instruct users.

Museums

Curator:

Research, analyze, authenticate; preserve; display and interpret historic material. Plan acquisitions, exhibits and storage; coordinate work with other museum personnel.

Conservator:

Examine artifacts; assure ambient environment. Preserve artifacts from physical deterioration; conserve collections.

Education specialist:

Prepare and deliver classes; develop staff and docent training programs. Arrange tour schedules; produce and present lectures and multimedia shows on history.

Publication specialist:

Research, write, edit, design and produce scholarly catalogs, interpretive histories, reports, guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, audiovisual products and direct mailings.

Public Relations specialist:

Foster positive publicity; write press releases; stage media and public events. Respond to public queries; write and produce public service announcements; promote the public's use and support of museums.
 
 

N O N P R O F I T S E C T O R (continued)

Research institutions

Study and report on the development of topics--especially policy issues--over time. Fulfill contract research assignments. Edit historical documents. Coordinate interdisciplinary studies requiring historical perspective; determine significance/ trends in computer-based data.

Religious & philanthropic organizations

Apply historical studies to enrich an understanding of the organization's mission. Analyze issues over time, defining needs and programs with reference to historical context. Encourage the study of history.

Teaching

Teach history; develop curriculum, lesson plans and classroom materials; prepare, give and grade examinations; counsel students.

Additional duties--primary/secondary schools

Teach other social studies classes. Participate in parent conferences; supervise study hall; coach athletics and advise clubs.

Additional duties--college/university & adult ed

Teach inter-disciplinary history-related programs. Participate in academic administration. Conduct research, write, publish and consult.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPHASIZE HISTORY

Consulting & free-lance assignments

Note: Competence required in business administration, especially marketing and finance.

Archives/records management

Provide archival and records management services. Foster private and public efforts to research historical records.

Cultural resource management:

Identify, research and evaluate historic resources; assist in preparation of environmental impact reports. Nominate resources for legal protection.

Historical research/writing/editing:

Research, write, edit, index and publish historical works concerning individuals, families, institutions or communities. Provide litigation support, oral history, interviewing and transcription services

Preservation/restoration:

Apply historic, artistic, technical, and manual skills to rehabilitate and preserve structures and artifacts. Research and publicize preservation issues, laws and tax incentives.

Other historical services:

Offer specialized services for museum administration, historic site interpretation, legal testimony, public celebrations.
 
 
 
 

Communications media (non-print)

Programming-production:

Research, write and edit historical documentaries and narratives. Develop programming for radio and television, motion pictures and recording industries.

Publishing

Note: Command of the English language--and the subject matter--is essential. Typing/word processing/proofreading skills needed. Ability to spot consumer trends important.

Editors (book):

Evaluate manuscripts; assure accuracy, grammar, clarity, thoroughness, organization, and style. Secure publication rights; negotiate contracts. Research market to test demand for publication.

Editors (magazine):

Research, write and edit articles. Review unsolicited manuscripts; develop new ideas for publications. Host press conferences; seek out new material and information.
 

ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY HISTORIANS' SKILLS

Management (general)

Analyze financial, economic, and political risk using historical models. Test operating procedures for historical analogies. Employ oral history for organizational diagnosis. Examine policy issues by drawing on historical sources and perspectives.

P R I V A T E S E C T O R

Advertising

Select target audience for advertising campaigns; design surveys; analyze and interpret results. Review raw and published material. Spot trends, determine effect of advertising campaign.

Archival and record-keeping services

Organize archives and records to serve as integral part of corporate information system. Develop retention, storage, and retrieval policies. Exhibit archival material and memorabilia to promote corporate mission.

Genealogy

Trace family histories and create family trees. Help locate missing family members and create family history books for reunions.

Insurance

Search and evaluate historical records to construct insurance case histories. Establish risk factors based on historical research; analyze legislative action relating to industry in depth.

Law

Research public and private archives and records sources; develop support material from historical evidence. Apply oral history techniques for depositions. Write briefs.

Market research

Design and code research questionnaires; manage information-gathering process for interviews and surveys. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, applying math and statistical techniques. Edit, proofread and report on conclusions to clients.

Newspaper, radio & television journalism

Probe contemporary and historical records for source information. Interview, applying oral history techniques. Provide concise, accurate

reports within stringent deadlines, placing current events in historical perspective.

Paralegal services

Investigate, collect, organize and manage information. Research laws, legal writings, and precedents. Interview clients; perform trial fact analysis. Manage computer data base systems.

Public relations

Identify public trends; interpret corporate activities over time. Draw on archival material for organizational promotion, incorporating historical themes in advertising, publicity, and public relations material.

Staff training

Incorporate corporate history within staff training programs. Relate the history of clients, cultures, domestic and foreign markets to institutional goals and operating policies.

Travel & tourism

Inform public about the history of people, places and material objects. Facilitate travel to historical sites. Plan conferences; guide tours. Promote the educational value of tourism.

Archives (federal, state & municipal)

Preserve, arrange, service and exhibit public documents and manuscript collections. Plan and select archival acquisitions. Develop state-wide records management and archival policy. Promote scholarly research in archival records.

Departments of Education

Examine long-range trends that influence education at all levels. Draft budgets, prepare cost/benefit analyses. Examine ways and means to strengthen the curriculum. Promote public interest in education.

Department of State--Foreign Service

Analyze and report on foreign countries' political, economic, and social conditions. Present U.S. policies, culture and values to other nations.

Federal agency preservation offices

Coordinate the federal agency's activities under provisions of National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Determine effect of the agency's projects on property in, or eligible for, National Register of Historic Places.

Historical offices (general)

Write institutional and policy history. Prepare current issues studies, analyze policy performance and identify long-range trends. Preserve and organize institutional records; provide archival and records management. Edit public records and documents.

Historical offices (military services)

Prepare institutional histories and policy-related studies; lecture on military history. Direct historical editing projects; manage archival and records centers, museums and artifact collections.

Heritage/cultural agencies

Supervise and administer historical documents, artifacts, structures, and parks; produce exhibit displays; provide research and publication services.

Intelligence services

Employ historian's skills to gather and analyze economic, political and social data; relate trends and precedents from the past to present and future events.

National Park Service

Manage historical sites and parks, studying their history and promoting their use. Conduct tours and classes; interpret site and park history to public.

Legislatures

Administrative assistants

Research the history of policies and legislation; analyze costs and effectiveness. Respond to public inquiries on current political issues, laws and procedures. Manage institutional records and publish bibliographic material.

Elected officials:

Bring historical perspective to decision-making process. Apply objective scholarship to the examination of political, social, economic and military issues.

Libraries & museums (federal, state & municipal)

See Nonprofit entries for Libraries & Museums.

Planning agencies

Provide urban and rural planning services to preserve natural and historical resources; foster environmental quality. Recommend, review and enforce land use and development policies.

State Historic Preservation Offices

Plan state preservation efforts; educate public concerning preservation. Conduct cultural resource surveys, nominate properties to National Register, administer historic, archaeological properties, provide guidance on preservation legislation.

Credits

History Department, The University of Akron.

Howe, Barbara J., Careers for Students of History, Washington, D.C.: American Historical Association and the National Council on Public History, 1989.

Pomeroy, Robert W., and the National Center for the Study of History.