Overview of History

History is the study of past events and people as expressed through written record and material culture. This includes topics like political history, military history, social and economic history, cultural history, and technological history. A master’s degree in history provides a more focused and detailed exploration and analysis of a particular period or topic, enabling graduates to pursue a career as a historian, researcher, college instructor, or archivist, among others.

Career Opportunities for Graduates With A Master’s Degree in History

Historians use research and critical thinking to learn about past events and cultures. With an Master’s degree in History, you can pursue a career in various fields, such as museum curators, archivists, college professors, historical interpreters, authors, public historians, and more. Furthermore, with an Master’s degree in History, you can pursue a career in public policy, political science, and international relations.

Internship or Co-op Opportunities Related to a Master’s in History

Internship opportunities for History Master’s degree students can provide valuable work experience in a variety of fields, such as research, archives, or museum operations. Co-op opportunities can be found in consulting firms, educational institutions, archival services, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies. These experiences can compliment coursework and provide the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience at the same time.

Specialized Tracks or Concentrations Within a Master’s in History

A Master’s degree in History typically involves choosing a specialization or concentration. These can include Ancient History, Medieval History, and Modern History, as well as particular places or cultural groups. Specializations can also be found in African American or Asian history, international relations, or public history. Additionally, many Master’s degrees in History also allow students to create personalized concentrations, such as Digital History.

How Does A Master’s Degree in History Prepare Students for Their Career?

An Master’s degree in History provides students with research opportunities in archives and other specialized resources. Additionally, the degree qualifies graduates for work in education and research, including fields like international relations, public policy, political science, and teaching. Furthermore, History Master’s students gain strong critical thinking, writing, and information management skills, all of which are beneficial outside of the field of History.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on History?

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) is having a significant impact on the field of History. AI-based technologies can be used to analyze and interpret large amounts of historical data, helping to provide new insights into past events. Additionally, AI can be used to automate processes such as research and content curation for online reference sources. AI can also be used to uncover patterns and connections between events and data in the past.

The Career Outlook for Students with a Master’s in History

Graduates With A Master’s Degree in History have excellent career prospects, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating job growth for Historians to be much faster than the average job outlook. This is driven by an increase in demand for interventions in public policy and for research in archives and museums. Furthermore, graduates with a Master’s degree in History can find employment in multiple areas such as consulting firms, educational institutions, archival services, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

Here are the top reported starting salaries for graduates in History:

Monmouth University, Salary: $59,732

Ashland University, Salary: $53,609

American Public University System, Salary: $52,904

University of Nebraska at Kearney, Salary: $50,130

Norwich University, Salary: $49,698

Arizona State University Campus Immersion, Salary: $49,412

Arizona State University Digital Immersion, Salary: $49,412

Boston College, Salary: $49,394

Colorado State University-Fort Collins, Salary: $44,773

Sam Houston State University, Salary: $44,379

For privacy reasons, not all schools report the first year salaries for students who earned their master’s degree in History.