A History major includes coursework in u.S. history, world history, historical methods, research seminar, and regional and thematic history and more. You build skills such as research, writing, critical reading, and argument. Typical degrees: bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
- Typical degreesBachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees
- Colleges reporting awards1,355U.S. schools, IPEDS
- With online programs1,131Schools reporting fully online programs
About the History major
History majors read primary sources, write research papers and study periods and regions around the world. Graduates work in education, museums, archives, law, government and writing, and many go on to law or graduate school.
Classes you take
- U.S. history
- World history
- Historical methods
- Research seminar
- Regional and thematic history
- Public history
Skills you build
- Research
- Writing
- Critical reading
- Argument
- Working with archives
Career paths for history majors
Careers connected to this major. Each profile explains the work, how to get started and what the job is like day to day.
Historian
Research and interpret the past for governments, museums and the public.
- Typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s
Archivist
Preserve historical records and help people find them.
- Typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s
Curator
Build museum collections and plan exhibitions that tell stories.
- Typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s plus experience
Museum Technician
Handle, install and care for museum objects and exhibits.
- Typical training: Bachelor’s plus internships
High School Teacher
Teach teenagers a subject and prepare them for college, careers and life.
- Typical training: 4 years plus licensing
Librarian
Help people find information, discover books and build skills.
- Typical training: Bachelor’s plus 1–2 year master’s
Minors that pair well with History
| Minor | How it complements History |
|---|---|
| Education | Prepares you to teach social studies. |
| Political Science | Connects history to policy and law. |
| Professional Writing | Opens writing and editing work. |
Start building practical skills now
These short online courses from Career Education Institute connect to history careers. You can take one alongside your classes or before you choose a program.
A self-paced online course on what historians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: historical research, archival methods, and writing
Why it fits: Connected to careers that History majors pursue, such as historian.
A self-paced online course on what archivists do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: archival arrangement, description standards, and preservation
Why it fits: Connected to careers that History majors pursue, such as archivist.
A self-paced online course on what curators do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: research, exhibition planning, and writing
Why it fits: Connected to careers that History majors pursue, such as curator.
A self-paced online course on what museum technicians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: object handling, packing and crating, and mount making
Why it fits: Connected to careers that History majors pursue, such as museum technician.
Where to study history
1,355 U.S. colleges and universities reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field (IPEDS completions, awards conferred July 2023 to June 2024 (C2024_A)).
- Certificate: 72 schools
- Associate: 200 schools
- Bachelor’s: 1,156 schools
- Master’s: 337 schools
- Doctoral: 140 schools
States with the most: California (175), New York (83), Pennsylvania (80), Texas (76), Ohio (57).
Find colleges that offer History
Why consider career training alongside college?
Your college major gives you an academic foundation. Short career training can add practical knowledge of a specific job: what the work involves day to day, its vocabulary, common tasks, tools and safety rules. You do not have to wait until graduation: many students take a short course to test a career before choosing a major, to prepare for an internship or a part-time job, or to show employers they understand the work.
History major FAQ
What is a History major?
A History major studies the past to understand how people, societies and ideas changed over time. History majors read primary sources, write research papers and study periods and regions around the world.
What does a History major include?
A History major includes coursework in u.S. history, world history, historical methods, research seminar, and regional and thematic history and more. You build skills such as research, writing, critical reading, and argument. Typical degrees: bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
What classes do you take as a History major?
Typical courses include u.S. history, world history, historical methods, research seminar, regional and thematic history, and public history. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.
How long does it take to get a History degree?
It depends on the level. History is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.
What degree levels are available in History?
Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. In the latest federal data, 72 colleges reported certificate awards, 200 colleges reported associate awards, 1,156 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 337 colleges reported master’s awards, and 140 colleges reported doctoral awards.
What can you do with a History degree?
Career paths connected to history include historian, archivist, curator, museum technician, high school teacher, and librarian. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.
What jobs can you get with a History major?
Examples include historian (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s), archivist (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s), curator (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s plus experience), museum technician (typical training: Bachelor’s plus internships), high school teacher (typical training: 4 years plus licensing), and librarian (typical training: Bachelor’s plus 1–2 year master’s).
What skills do you learn in a History major?
History majors build skills such as research, writing, critical reading, argument, and working with archives.
What minor goes well with History?
Good pairings include Education (prepares you to teach social studies), Political Science (connects history to policy and law), and Professional Writing (opens writing and editing work).
Is History a good major?
It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as historian, archivist, and curator, and enjoy subjects like u.S. history and world history. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.
Is History a hard major?
How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes u.S. history, world history, and historical methods; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.
How many colleges offer a History major?
1,355 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.
Which states have the most colleges offering History?
California (175), New York (83), Pennsylvania (80), Texas (76), and Ohio (57), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.
Can you study History online?
1,131 of the colleges that offer history also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.
What is the difference between History and Psychology?
History studies the past to understand how people, societies and ideas changed over time. Psychology studies how people think, feel, learn and behave. History leads to careers such as historian and archivist, while Psychology leads to careers such as psychiatric technician and human services assistant.
What is the difference between History and Social Work?
History studies the past to understand how people, societies and ideas changed over time. Social Work prepares you to help individuals, families and communities facing challenges. History leads to careers such as historian and archivist, while Social Work leads to careers such as social worker and healthcare social worker.
Can I take career training while I study history?
Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.
Does Career Education Institute offer a History degree?
No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to history, such as Historian Training.
Related majors
- Psychology: Studies how people think, feel, learn and behave.
- Social Work: Prepares you to help individuals, families and communities facing challenges.
- Sociology: Studies societies, groups, institutions and social change.
- Human Services and Counseling: Prepares you to support people through social service and counseling programs.
- Political Science: Studies government, politics, public policy and international relations.
- Public Administration and Policy: Teaches you to manage government agencies and nonprofit organizations.