History: Study the Past to Improve Your Future

Are you interested in Genghis Khan? Do you wonder if Van Gogh actually cut of his own ear? Do you sometimes wander around museums for hours on end? If so, you may want to consider enrolling in a history degree program. Looking backwards it seems, can ultimately have you looking forward.

There are various programs, both online and campus-based that offer degrees in history. Today, new online degree programs are available that are making it easier than ever to earn your degree. Degrees are available at several levels, including bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees.

History Degree Programs: Becoming a Social Scientist
Whether you enroll in an online degree or campus-based program, you should expect a diverse array of coursework that can prepare you to research and analyze the past. As a student, you may analyze and record data from films, letters, newspaper, photographs, and more. Some programs may take you into history itself, teaching you how to study and preserve historical archives, sites, or artifacts.

While you may qualify for a number of jobs with a bachelor's degree in history, most professions in the field typically require a master's or PhD. Master's and PhD programs traditionally allow you to specialize in particular countries or regions, a period of history (such as the Enlightenment or Renaissance), or field (such as diplomatic or military history).

History Degrees: Preparing You for Career Opportunities
If you do not fancy yourself as an Indiana Jones type explorer, then you may prefer to teach. Teaching is one of the leading career opportunities for individuals that complete degrees in history. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for secondary teachers is expected to increase by 23 percent between 2006 and 2016--good news for history students.

If you do want to pursue a career as a historian there are a wide range of job prospects available. After earning your degree in history, you can find employment in museums, editing and publishing, archival work, historic preservation, as well as local, state, and government organizations.

While your specialty can affect your overall earnings, historians earned a median salary of $54,530 in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.