History

With a History degree from Castleton University, you will acquire insight into the ideas and events that shaped the beliefs, desires, practices, institutions, and lives of men and women of earlier societies.

A thoughtful examination of the past can also reveal a great deal about the contemporary world. You will learn to appreciate the diversity of the human experience and to perceive the meaning of events from multiple perspectives.

As a history major at Castleton, you will benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the department by taking classes in Economics, Geography, and Political Science. The history program especially emphasizes the value of hands-on learning, as each student develops and carries out his or her own original research project before graduation.

Highlights of the History Degree

• Follow your interests with a curriculum covers a broad variety of regions and eras, and you will be free to follow your interests wherever they may lead
• Engage in critical analysis of your own cultures and assumptions, a skill which is of great value in our increasingly complex, multicultural, and globalized society
• Benefit from a globally orientated approach to studying the past. The members of the award-winning faculty offer courses in each major region of the world, allowing students to explore the histories of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States

History Honors Program

Castleton offers a History Honors Program, which provides a more rigorous curriculum for motivated students and those interested in pursuing graduate studies, and allows you to work more closely with faculty. Participation in the program results in an original piece of historical research in the form of a thesis.

Career Opportunities with a History Degree

A History degree from Castleton University opens up numerous career opportunities.

The critical reading, analytical thinking, persuasive arguments, and clear writing techniques you learn in history courses are skills that will be useful no matter what career path one might follow.

After four years of writing book reviews, producing research papers, giving oral reports, and composing essays, our students have built the skills for careers in journalism, government, teaching, public service, law, research, business, or other fields they aspire to pursue.

Most History majors seek employment in one of the following fields:

Teaching

Castleton has a proud history of developing excellent educators.

Non-Classroom Education

Many of our graduates want to teach outside of a school setting.

Potential places of employment include:

• National and state parks
• Historic sites and visitor centers
• Historical societies

Types of jobs include:

• Ranger
• Guide
• Site educator
• Re-enactor

Historic Preservation

Many history-related jobs do not involve teaching at all.

Places of employment include:

• Museums
• Archives
• Libraries
• Historic sites and historical societies
• Art galleries
• Research institutes

Types of jobs include:

• Archivist
• Curator or collections manager
• Conservator or restorer
• Librarian
• Corporate historian
• Research assistant

Law

Majoring in History is one of the best ways to prepare to gain entrance into law school.

Writing

History majors develop strong writing skills, which can be employed in a variety of ways.

Places of employment include:

• Publishing houses
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Radio and television news bureaus
• Research organizations
• Law firms
• Movie studios
• Political campaigns
• Government agencies
• Corporate communications offices
• Historical societies
• Cultural heritage organizations

Types of jobs include:

• Journalist
• Researcher
• Screenwriter
• Speechwriter
• Editor
• Fact checker
• Copy editor
• Grant writer
• Ad writer

Government and the Public Sector

Federal and state governments hire History majors in a variety of capacities.

• Places of employment include
• Government agencies
• Intelligence organizations
• Military
• Public officials and political parties
• Public interest groups and think tanks
• Law firms
• Advocacy groups
• Arts and humanities councils

Types of jobs include:

• Researcher
• Grant reviewer
• Policy advisor
• Legislative staffer
• Lobbyist
• Campaign worker
• Foreign service officer
• Intelligence analyst

Successful outcomes of the History Program

Recent Castleton History graduates have found employment as:

• Teachers
• Lawyers
• Librarians
• Park rangers
• Politicians
• Museum professionals
• Financial consultants
• Intelligence analysts
• Sales and marketing representatives