2021 History Degree Guide
For students interested in studying, preserving and learning from the past, History is an ideal field of study. Most students either major in General History or choose a concentration in an area of interest. This allows you to explore in depth the history of a particular time period, region or subject. Some examples are American History, European History, Military History, Women's History or Modern World History.
Coursework will involve various history classes in your subject of interest. Other classes history majors might take are English, language, philosophy and anthropology. The goal of the major is to discover the truth of the past and apply the lessons learned to improve our present world.
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History Degrees Remain Stable
In 2018-2019, history was the 22nd most popular major nationwide with 32,806 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 32,644 graduates the prior year.
The United States has 1,404 different schools where you can get a degree in history. This year's Best Colleges for History ranking compares 309 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom history rankings further below.
What Are The Requirements For a Degree in History
History majors tend to have great attention for detail and delight in learning obscure facts and dates. Be prepared to memorize vast amounts of information and spend a lot of time reading primary source documents, analyzing artifacts, visiting museums and writing lengthy research papers. Some of your assignments will involve conducting interviews, working on group projects, creating presentations and writing reports.
Some of the critical skills history majors need to succeed are strong reading, writing and analysis skills. Students will read a variety of texts including fiction works, biographies, first-hand accounts and historical journals. They will also visit museums and analyze artifacts from the past. Assignments will involve critically analyzing and researching material to find out the true story of what happened in the past.
Prior Education for a History Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific history careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Types of History Degrees
History degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a research / scholarship based doctorate's in history to something that takes less time like a associate's. How long it takes to complete some common history degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to history, with approximately 35.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for history workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 35.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 33.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 12.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.0% |
About 85.4% of workers in careers related to history obtain at least bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in history careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the history career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for A Degree In History Graduate
History is a broad field of study that can lead to a variety of career paths. Many history majors go on to become teachers or college professors. Other career paths are that of historian, curator, museum director, writer or researcher. History is also a common background for students who go on to receive advanced degrees in law. Graduates can easily use their skills for careers in business, politics, or nonprofit work.
Growth Projected for History Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your history degree? History careers are expected to grow 7.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to history.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| History Professors | 29,700 | 10.4% |
| Curators | 14,100 | 13.7% |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | 13,300 | 12.7% |
How Much Money Do People With a History Degree Make?
Recently graduated history students earned an average of $29,593 in 2017-2018. Earnings can range from as low as $15,700 to as high as $57,700. As you might expect, salaries for history graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid History Careers
Salaries for history graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top 5 highest paying careers history grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| History Professors | $83,990 |
| Historians | $66,380 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Curators | $58,490 |
Getting Your History Degree
With over 2,968 different history degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased history school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for History
History Related Majors
History Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| History | 32,806 |
View All History Related Majors >
Majors Similar to History
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Education | 306,739 |
| Social Sciences | 203,399 |
| Psychology | 177,655 |
| Communication & Journalism | 122,154 |
| Family, Consumer & Human Sciences | 59,281 |
View All History Related Majors >
References
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Image Credit: By Abraham Ortelius under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
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