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History
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
History majors study the human experience over time and in the context of broader political, economic, cultural, and demographic trends and events. The emergence of new data as well as a richer understanding of the past requires that each generation re-evaluate historical trends and events.
The history program at Penn State provides a comprehensive survey of the field, while allowing enough flexibility for students to concentrate in a particular area of interest such as American, Medieval, or Asian history. Students may also combine a History major with specialized courses from other disciplines to pursue a minor or concurrent major in a related field. Examples of such fields include American and African-American studies, Middle East or East Asian studies, international relations, political science, women’s studies, Jewish studies, and Classics and ancient Mediterranean studies. The department also offers a History minor, which can be tailored to accommodate students’ broader academic interests and career plans.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
Students may earn credit toward their History major by pursuing internships at historic sites, libraries, museums, and other institutions. Internships allow students to explore career paths and enhance the academic study of history. Internships can take place during a fall or spring semester or during the summer. Students are also encouraged to study and travel abroad through Penn State's International Studies programs. Living and studying in a foreign country can help students acquire a deeper appreciation of the history and culture of a region, as well as improve foreign language skills. The history honors program provides select students an opportunity to complete a research project and write an honors thesis in close consultation with one or more professors.
CAREER DIRECTIONS
The study of history opens the possibility of careers in many fields such as business, law, consulting, communications, government service, the Foreign Service, elementary and secondary school teaching, museums and libraries, and journalism. Whether chosen as a major or minor field of study, the history program fosters strong writing and analytical skills, as well as the ability to interpret data, articulate informed opinions and hypotheses, and evaluate arguments. Some occupations in which history graduates are employed include archivist, attorney, biographer, development officer, editor, Foreign Service officer, historic preservationist, journalist, legislative aide, market research analyst, management trainee (banking, retail, finance, etc.), museum curator, political aide, public administrator, public relations analyst, graphic artist, and urban planner.
History is an excellent major for those planning to pursue graduate study in law, library science, or museum management. Some history majors also attend medical school. To become a professional historian or to teach at the college or university level, further study and research at the graduate level are necessary.