Your Future in History

At Carleton, students of history will have an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that helps them develop the skills necessary to tackle the challenges and issues that face us in the present day.

A training in History is a training in how people think and communicate. We now inhabit a world where are continuously asked to recognize and evaluate the claims made in advertising, blogs, YouTube videos and political websites. Everyday we must make use of our ability to distinguish between well supported and faulty arguments in everyday life. The tools, methods and practice of historical inquiry teaches us an ability to assess evidence, to see its strengths, and to understand its potential weaknesses.

Professional historians engage society in many forums –academia, museums and the culture industries– but they also undertake research for corporations, for government and for public interest groups that need to know the context of specific issues. But the discipline of history also provides strong vocational training for those who are not professional historians. Students of history gain the flexibility and broad perspective in their thinking required for many work situations. They develop research skills, the ability to find and evaluate information and the means to write, speak and communicate effectively. Historical study is unquestionably an asset for work in a variety of professions.

For more information on how a BA in History prepares students for future occupations, consult the website of or book an appointment at Carleton’s Career Centre. Get a start on a career in History while finishing your BA through Carleton’s Cooperative Education Option.