Studying history gives you a window into the world. It makes you a critical thinker, gives you a well-informed lens for current events, and helps you understand other cultures on a deep level. When you study history at Southern, you'll be exposed to amazing faculty, hands-on research, and study-abroad options. The History Department's faculty members are committed teachers and nationally recognized researchers whose broad expertise will help you gain an understanding of American, European, and non-Western history.
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in history value the investigation of the human experience. They choose to study history because they possess great enthusiasm for research into the origins, nature, and effects of historical change. They seek to understand particular events and to know how and why things happened. This course of study prepares students to enter a variety of fields and industries that value critical thinking, the ability to conduct research, and ease of communication.
Upon the completion of the degree, some of our graduates pursue master’s-level or doctoral work in the field or in allied studies, while others find employment in administrative positions; social service work; business operations; national and international sales; local, state, and federal government; or nonprofit endeavors.
Careers
People who study history are prepared to enter a variety of fields and industries that value critical thinking, the ability to conduct research, and a facility of communication, written or oral, that enables the individual to relay complex ideas in ways that a non-specialist can understand. A degree in history can help anyone learn and refine these abilities. In addition to following the obvious career paths of teaching, law school, and graduate school, history majors have found jobs working as researchers for insurance agencies, human resources managers, sales and marketing personnel, and as civil servants, including positions with the FBI.
Typical Job Titles
- Historian
- Museum Curator
- Archivist
- Researcher for Government Agencies or Nonprofits
- Historical Consultant for Film or Television
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Writer or Editor for Historical Publications
- Preservationist for Historical Sites or Buildings
- Public Historian
- Historical Interpreter or Educator