Making the Case for a Graduate Degree in History

Entering a graduate program is an important decision that will affect your life for 2-3 years and should not be taken with a grain of salt. There are an immense number of options available to you, and when you look closely, a degree in history makes its case.

The World is Your Oyster

Versatility is one of the most beneficial aspects of earning an MA in history. Prospective employers view most graduate degrees in terms of skills acquired and accomplishment; and history provides us with a perfect example of how flexible a graduate degree can be. For starters, earning one shows that you’ve mastered investigative and research skills, which can be very attractive to companies in the higher pay sector. Lastly, it is among academia’s hardest to earn, which serves as another plus to employers. So now that you’re convinced, let’s take a look at some of your options.

Online Route

Unlike a law or science degree, history MA candidates spend a lot of time away from the classroom, and many choose to take online courses as a result. For example, a Norwich University online master in history is an extremely flexible program suited for working professionals wishing to enhance their careers. So if you’re already working at a museum or have an in with someone, the online route might be the way to go.

Check out Onlinecollege.org’s ranking of online academies that offer Master of Arts courses in history.

Traditional Methods

Some history MA candidates opt for the more traditional route of attending a brick and mortar institution. This is especially true for those historians on a PhD path. As of 2014, there are no accredited online programs offering PhD candidacies in the field of history. Perhaps that will change in the future, but in the meantime, if your goal is to eventually earn a PhD, perhaps the traditional path suits you best.

Careers for Historians

Historians go into a number of professional fields outside of history. With that, you won’t be stuck in any particular profession, per say, as the history MA opens up an immense number of opportunities. These opportunities include:

• Becoming a teacher
• Curating a museum
• Editing and publishing
• Working in public history
• Consulting
• Contracting

For a complete description of opportunities available to historians, check out the American Historical Association’s website.