What Can You Do With a History Degree?

History Undergraduate students from Carleton are prepared for a wide array of careers.

As the profiles on this site show, you can accomplish far more than you think with a History degree. This is precisely because historical training teaches you how to think, analyze, communicate, write, organize and create. History nurtures our curiosity, our openness to new ways of understanding our world, both past and present. As we read, research and write about history, we question taken-for-granted ideas, assess the complexities of social change, dissect evidence and sources, and probe the why, when, and how of human evolution across temporal, spatial and global boundaries.

Like other humanities and social sciences degrees, History is a passport to many opportunities and careers, especially those involving problem-solving, creative intelligence and excellent communication and writing skills. Some students use their History degree as a pathway to further training (such as law), but others employ the skills and knowledge acquired with a BA to work in areas such as heritage and museums, business, government, policy, advocacy, politics, non-profits – to name only a few areas. Not only do studies show that a university degree in History/Humanities opens up employment opportunities, but historical knowledge, ever-changing, ever debatable, ever fascinating, is also our invitation to lifelong curiosity, learning and reflection.

What Can You Do With a Degree in the Liberal Arts?

We have put together resources to help you research if History is the right career path for you.

• Careers in History (University of Victoria)
• What Can I Do with a Degree in History? (George Mason University)
• What Can I Do with a History Degree? (Concordia University)
• Soft skills, critical thinking (BBC.com)

Check out her zine!

Using Your History Degree

We have gathered information from both the American and Canadian Historical Associations as well as the book “The Entrepreneurial Humanities”, which explores how a humanities background can enable entrepreneurs to thrive.

The Entrepreneurial Humanities

“Stop Repeating Age-old Stigmas: Careers in the Arts and Humanities are Plentiful and They Pay.”

AHA Career Centre

Check out the American Historical Association Career Centre for resources.

Browse Your Degree, Your Future

Like other humanities and social sciences degrees, History is a passport to many opportunities and careers, especially those involving problem solving, creative intelligence and excellent communication and writing skills.

Employment Sector Distribution

Sample Job Titles in Each Sector

• Management, Coordination and Administration (Program & Project Coordinator, Deputy Project Manager, Project Support, Junior Project Administrator)
• Education (Archivist, Collections Technician, Teacher)
• Policy, Law and Public Safety (Parliamentary Assistant, Policy Analyst, Political Organizer) 
• Marketing, Sales and Entrepreneurship (Chief Marketing Officer, Media Strategist, Accounts Executive) 
• Human Resources and Finance (Human Resources Coordinator, Underwriter, Financial Advisor)
• Communications, Arts and Media and  (Communications Manager, Communications Writer, Author)
• Hospitality, Retail and Tourism (Store Manager, Shift Supervisor)
• Technology, Engineering and Innovation (Project Engineer, Junior Developer)
• Social Support  (Counsellor, Midwife)
• Graduate Studies
• Post Secondary Education
• Other (Agriculture, Medical Profession, etc.)

Alumni Job Titles and Positions

Where Our Grads Work

• George Brown College
• James Madison University

• Canadian Coast Guard
• City of Ottawa
• Fort Erie Public Library
• House of Commons Canada
• Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• National Assembly of the Republic of Angola
• Transport Canada
• Public Health Agency of Canada

• Canadian Museum of History
• City of Ottawa Archives
• Diefenbunker 
• Osgoode Township Museum
• Peel Art Gallery, Museum, and Archive
• Wallaceburg & District Museum
• Winspear Centre / Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
• The Museum of the Highwood
• National Air Force Museum of Canada

• Canadian Association for Graduate Studies
• Canadian Museums Association
• Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North
• Volleyball Canada

• De Bousquet PC
• Geomedia Inc
• Indigenous Bar Association
• Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb
• Self-employed
• Lockheed Martin Canada