Careers in History

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There are many options available to students who graduate with an undergraduate major in history. Whether in the public or private sector, historians can use their liberal arts-based training in a variety of situations and careers. Trained to be effective communicators, history majors learn to sharpen their critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills as they learn the facts and nuances of the vast time span of human existence and gain the breadth of a global perspective.

Transferable skills

Many of the skills historians develop while in school benefit the workplace in a vaiety of ways. Research skills are just one example. Researchers need to formulate questions, create methods to find the correct answers, and apply the findings to contemporary society.These skills are essential to the history profession, but also serve other careers in the public and private sectors. Historians with these qualities can find placement in the corporate setting, in a private history firm, or as a journalist. Historians also are taught to be effective communicators, and good writing is essential in any profession. Below you will find more specific career paths for those with history degrees.

BUSINESS AND THE HISTORY MAJOR

Many people have majored in history and succeeded in the business world. The Loyola History Department’s survey of hundreds of its graduates revealed that 39% of them followed careers in business and management.

A history major's training includes practice in the clear oral and written formulation of problems and solutions, analyses of causes and effects, experience with concise written arguments supported by empirical evidence, and a sensitivity to different social and cultural points of view: all important skills and attitudes for a business career. The Loyola history major has a specific opportunity to study the modern urban cultures in which many contemporary businesses operate.

Students interested in both history and business, or in pursuing a business career while majoring in history, might consider a “minor” in the School of Business Administration. The following courses, recommended by the School of Business, would give history majors an attractive grounding for business employment:

Accounting 201: Introductory Accounting I
Economics 201: Principles of Economics I, and/or
Economics 202: Principles of Economics II
Information Systems 247: Computer Concepts and Applications
Finance 332: Business Finance
Legal Environment of Business 315: Law and the Regulatory Environment of Business
Management 301: Managing People and Organizations
Marketing 301: Fundamentals of Marketing

HISTORY MAJOR FOR THE PRE-LAW STUDENT

A Major in History provides you with an outstanding background for a career in law. Listen to the words of several lawyers (and former History majors) practicing today:

The study of history enhanced my skills as a lawyer by requiring close reading and careful writing, and teaching me that, in arguing a point, eloquent phrasing is no excuse for inadequate support.

J. T., Chicago lawyer, Bankruptcy and insolvency law

Much of the law is based on precedent, reviewing and analyzing what previous courts have done under similar circumstances. A lawyer has to understand the decisions of those prior cases, appreciate the context and trace the development of the law through to its current holdings. This is the historical method, par excellence, for which the undergraduate study of history provides, if not the only, then the best preparation.

T.D.R., Chicago lawyer, Intellectual property law

My undergraduate study of history served me well in law school--and beyond. It required me to consider a particular set of facts (or, in many circumstances, competing versions of "facts"), draw conclusions as to their causes and effects, explain away or, at least, criticize alternative theories, and articulate my thoughts in writing.

E.D.J., Chicago lawyer, Professional liability insurance

Loyola's History Department provides an excellent background for both law school and the legal profession. History 372 and History 373 are devoted to American constitutional and legal history. Moreover, apart from specific courses, historical research in every history course is very close to legal research; in history you use "primary sources" from the time period you are studying; in law, you work with the "case law" of the past to argue your present points. Close reading of texts and the analytic skills needed to make sense of them are the same for both. This is probably why HISTORY MAJORS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF ADMISSION to law school of any of the ten most frequently chosen majors during 1998-2001.

The American Bar Association advises against specifically "pre-law" courses. Instead, history majors prepare for legal careers by developing their research, writing, and analytical skills. The department's 300-level courses' small size allows close interaction between students and faculty, which is very useful when you need letters of recommendation.

History majors interested in law school are strongly urged to engage in law-related internships during their junior and senior years. Some such internships can gain academic credit through the Department’s Internship in History Program. Such work experience (1) helps you decide whether you really want a legal career, (2) makes it easier to find legal work after graduation, and (3) helps you get into a good law school.

A number of organizations in the Chicago area have student internships in law and government. They include:

--Government agencies, such as the U.S. State Department; the Mayor’s Office’s Department of Policy; Cook County State’s Attorney; U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

--Legal Assistance agencies: Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago; Loyola University Community Law Center and Child and Family Law Clinic; Centro Romero (immigration assistance); Cabrini Green Legal Aid Center

In order to obtain the most desirable internships, you should plan ahead. History majors interested in a pre-law internship should meet with the Department’s Internship Coordinator as well as their departmental advisor for assistance in finding an internship and preparing a resume.

Sample History program for those planning on a career in law:

Freshman Year:

Fall       History 101

Spring   History 102-106

Sophomore Year:

Fall       History 201
             History ___ (300 level Pre-1700 European History)

Spring   History 202
             History ___ (300 level elective)

Junior Year:

Fall        History ___(300 level course in U. S. History)

Spring    History ___ (300 level Post-1700 European History)
LSAT Preparation: Send in your registration for the June
LSAT by April; take a course in LSAT preparation (optional)

Summer:
Take LSAT in June; Release college transcripts to LSDAS; Request applications from law schools.

Senior Year:

Fall        History ___ (300 level course in Africa, Asia. Latin America or the Middle East)
             History ___ (300 level elective)

Last chance to take LSAT or retake LSAT

September - solicit three faculty members to write letters of recommendation on your behalf.

October (if possible) - submit law school applications

Spring History 395 (Senior Colloquium)

February - File forms for financial assistance; Check law schools to be sure your application is complete.

Important Pre-Law Links

1. Loyola University Recommended timetable for pre-law majors

2. Recommendations for prelegal education from the American Bar Association

3. Information about the LSAT exam, including on-line registration and sample exam: Law School Admission Council

4. An excellent on-line pre-law student handbook, by Dr. Ellis West of the University of Richmond

5. Internet Legal Resources Guide links to many pre-law websites including several related to financial aid, law school rankings, and LSAT commercial preparation programs.

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHING AND THE HISTORY MAJOR

Students interested in teaching history at the secondary or junior high levels can complete their State of Illinois Secondary Teaching Certificate at the same time as their history major. (Note that secondary certification in Illinois requires a major in an academic discipline such as history.) Students who do so will be qualified for a teaching job immediately after graduation.

It takes careful planning to complete certification and a major within four years. If you’re interested, speak with your department advisor as well as Robbie Jones at the School of Education (773-508-8284) as soon as possible.

Recommended timetable for certification

Freshman year:

Core courses (for direction in choosing courses that will meet the Social Sciences Requirements for certification - see Robbie Jones)
History 101 and 102-106
English 105-106
Cmun 101 (Public Speaking)

At end of freshman or beginning of sophomore year, take Basic Skills Test; applications and study materials may be found outside SKY 305.

Sophomore year:

Core courses
History 201-202 (fulfills both major and Illinois history certification requirements)
1 or 2 300-level History courses
CPSY 342 (Identity and Pluralism)
PHIL 285 (Ethics for Teachers)
CIEP M13 and M14 (Techniques of Teaching in Secondary Schools)
CIEP 362 (Literacy Instruction in Content Areas)

Junior Year:

Core courses
4 or 5 300-level History courses (the major requires a total of 8 300-level courses)
CIEP M60 (Secondary Social Studies Methods)
CIEP 351 (Middle School Methods)
CIEP 364 (Classroom Assessment and Teaching)
Submit applications for student teaching in October (for fall of senior year) or March (for Spring of senior year)
Take History Content Area Test, spring of junior year (study materials in SKY 305)

Senior year:

History 300-level courses if needed to complete major
Hist 395 (fall semester)
CIEP 339 (Exceptional Child)
CIEP MU6 (Student Teaching)
(Student teaching is a full-day, five-day-week experience; you should attempt no more than one other course in that semester, and that one must be in the evening.)

INTERNSHIPS

The History Department encourages its students to consider internships in the course of their academic careers, and facilitates internships in several ways.

1. The Department’s Internship Coordinator maintains a file of internship opportunities available.

2. That file includes internships for which students may receive pay, and/or academic credit, or simply valuable experience.

3. Academic credit may be arranged in one of the following scenarios:

a. The Department’s Internship Coordinator requires from the student an amount of scholarly writing, related to the topic of the internship, consonant with a three-credit course. In each case the course is arranged on an individual basis, allowing flexibility.

b. The Internship Coordinator, or another faculty member whose expertise is pertinent to the subject of the internship, structures a tutorial around the subject. The student and the faculty member would meet periodically to discuss and review papers produced by the student.

c. If a number of students are engaged in internships that have some common features, an internship seminar will meet several times during the semester, and scholarly writing will be required.

ADVANCED DEGREES IN HISTORY

History majors should also consider graduate study in history at Loyola. Loyola' s graduate program offers master's and doctoral level degrees in American and European history. Students may also want to consider a career in Public History, a discipline which entails the application of the skills and methods of history to the study, management, preservation, and interpretation of historical records and artifacts. Public historians put their skills to work in a variety of professional situations: archives, museums and historical societies, historic preservation and cultural resource management program, local, state or government research, or neighborhood and community projects. Recipients of advanced degrees in history can teach at the secondary, high school, or university level, and have the option to apply their masters or doctorate to any number of professional careers.

Volunteer/Internship Opportunities

Art Institute of Chicago. Call Elizabeth Mather in the volunteer department: 312-443-3574. An application is sent out after they are contacted, and they set up a personal interview.

Chicago Historical Society. Call Marne Barios 312-642-5035 ex. 345. This site leads you into the choice of volunteer positions or internships.

Du Sable Museum 773-947-0600. This site has wonderful links to museums in the Chicago area; also links to other museums in the United States and aboard.

Field Museum. Call Patricia Stratton, Volunteer Services Manager, 312-665-7277.

Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois Call Lillian Gerstner 847-677-4640.

Museum of Science and Industry 773-684-1414 or 9844.

Web Resources for Careers with a History Major:

American Historial Association's web site about careers with a history major:

Good description of potential careers with a history major from University of Texas at Austin

Museum Employment Resource Center

Resource for Archivists and Record Managers

Jobs for Living History Specialists

For more information on careers in general, and for help with resume preparation, visit Loyola University's Career Center.

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