Government agencies and private businesses alike are turning to their past in order to develop better policies for the future.  Many federal departments and state and local governments are now mature enough to have historical data banks on which to draw, to analyze the impact of past programs and policies as a basis for new legislation.  Business executives are increasingly aware of the need to organize their archives and corporate records, and to take more initiative in public relations by developing museums and related outreach activities.

For history majors at Western Michigan University, these developments translate into an unprecedented variety of opportunities to practice history professionally.  The field needs outstanding, committed teachers at every level.  Public and private sector jobs in research and interpretation are almost bewildering in their diversity.

Examples of Job Titles for History Majors: 

*Please note that some of the listed positions require education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Examples of Employers of History Majors:

Careers Links

• WMU Career and Student Employment Services
• American Association for State and Local History Job Dispatch
• American Library Association Education & Employment Page
• Art History Jobs
• Art Staffing
• Education Employment Center
• Federal Government
• H-Net Job Guide
• Library of Congress
• Museum Employment Resource Center
• Museum Jobs
• National Archives and Records Administration
• National Park Service
• Organization of American Historians Jobs
• Smithsonian Institution
• Society of American Archivists Employment Bulletin
• Society for Historical Archaeology Employment Opportunities
• What can you do with a degree in history? A miniguide about careers in History from the American Historical Association