Online History Degrees
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Historians are the professionals who use primary and secondary documents to make sense of the past. They may work in government agencies, policy institutions, museums, or historical preservation societies, to interpret historical events and incorporate them into the public understanding. Everything from our nation's foreign policy to your personal place in the democratic process depend on an understanding of history. Historians are the experts who research historical happenings, in order to make sound intellectual interpretations that inform our understanding of the world. They work in academic institutions and policy centers. Most historians specialize in a very focused historical area, such as the intellectual, cultural, or political history of a certain region or group of people. Some may be employed in museums or historical societies, to curate historical artifacts and other documents like pictures, newspapers, and books.
The bachelor's degree in history is the requirement for a few entry-level positions in history, such as writing or research assistant positions. Bachelor's degree holders have a broad knowledge of many historical eras and have widely applicable skills. Master's and doctoral degree holders will have more employment opportunities in true historian positions, with governments or in private consulting positions. PhD holders will have the opportunity to land a coveted tenured professorship at a college or university, although the number of qualified candidates still outweighs the number of available spots. Historian positions in private industry pay more than those with government or academic institutions.
Accredited Schools Offering Online History Degrees
Learn more about Grand Canyon University
What are some of the specializations within this degree program?
- Archivists: These historians work in educational institutions or museums to care for archived materials, such as maps, books, or photos.
- Curators: Curators are employed by museums, libraries, and private collectors to select artifacts that send a coherent historical message or represent a particular historical theme.
- History Teachers: History majors can take their expertise to the classroom and inspire students just like them.
- Archaeologists: History buffs are often also interested in archaeology. These social scientists examine human society, usually by looking at old artifacts, structures, bones, etc.
What degree levels are available?
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree: 2 years to complete
- Doctoral Degree: 5-6 years to complete
What are the educational and certification requirements?
Those with only a bachelor's degree in history may have limited employment opportunities directly in the history field, but they will have the skills to find jobs in related areas. For example, positions as research assistants, elementary and secondary school teachers, market analysts, or writers are open to graduates of history bachelor's programs. The bachelor's degree in history requires students to get an introduction to a variety of historical periods and regions, from ancient Egypt to the American Civil War to WWII. They are also required to take classes in English, math, natural science, and other liberal arts areas.
Master's degree holders may be able to find positions with government agencies, museums, think tanks, or policy institutions. A master's program in history allows students to specialize in a particular history area, such as the history of science or Middle Eastern history. Students do extended readings and research over a period of two years, and write up their findings in their thesis. Doctoral programs in history take five to six years to finish and will afford graduates the largest number of employment opportunities in the history field. Graduates of these programs may be able to enter academic positions in colleges and universities. Student in these programs graduate as experts in their niche historical area. (BLS)
There are no mandatory or voluntary certifications which are important to a historian's professional career. There are a number of skills and attributes, which can help historians succeed in the field. Excellent writing and oral communication abilities are necessary, as historians spend much of their time writing reports about their research findings; oral communication is key for describing this work to colleagues and funders.
What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?
- Western Civilization: This is a core class that literally every history major will have to go through at some point. The breadth of the topic frequently demands that it be split into multiple classes, covering everything from ancient Greece up to the present day.
- European Renaissance: Another classic offering in history education is the opportunity to study this incredibly important time period in a specific course setting. "The Prince" by Macchiavelli and Erasmus' "The Praise of Folly" may factor into the course's syllabus.
- The Vietnam War: Undergraduate history students will likely delve into this contemporary topic in the latter half of their studies. Cold war diplomacy, military strategy, and the struggle for peace are cornerstones of the course.
- Historiography: This concept essentially describes the exact nature of what historians do in their research. Historiography is frequently offered as a core fundamental course for freshmen and sophomores.
- The Modern Middle East: Current events have helped this course's popularity to skyrocket. A course in the subject will typically start with the Abbasid Empire's consolidation and conclude with the War on Terrorism.
If I pursue this program online, will I be required to complete any on-site training?
This largely hinges on the type of degree that you would like to pursue. On-site training is a relatively unlikely occurence for those earning their associate or bachelor's degree in history. Higher level degree candidates may be called upon to meet their professor advisers in person, and / or to present their theses and dissertations before a live expert committee.
What are some other degrees that are related to this program?
There are many degrees that are related to history because history is such a broad area of study. For example, one area of study that is similar to a degree in history is anthropology. Anthropology majors study different cultures throughout specific periods of time to learn more about why humans are the way that they are. Another similar program to a degree in history is a degree in art history. Art history allows students to examine and analyze the ways in which art has been used and developed throughout our history.
