History – More than Wars, Generals and Politicians

History confronts a student with worlds, times, places, and cultures in ways he/she never before considered. History enables students to learn about their world in light of the past. In an ever-changing world, understanding history brings a sense of the complexity and contingency of events. It provides students with rich and diverse perspectives. History informs us about the prevalence of unintended consequences.

The Department of History offers a wide range of coursework and training for undergraduate and graduate students in fields from antiquity to the present. These courses, an essential part of a liberal arts education, are also designed to train students to be teachers of history and professional historians. Faculty and students in the department participate in many of the university’s interdisciplinary programs such as African American studies, women’s studies, Latin American studies and Asian studies. The Department of History offers a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a Master’s of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degree.

What skills does studying history develop?

- competence in research – using facts, ideas and arguments
- synthesize large and diverse quantities of information
- proficiency in communicating effectively in oral and written presentations
- knowledge and evaluation of past and present incidents and persons
- aptitude to formulate and deliver persuasive arguments
- ability to assemble, choose and translate information
- ability to form assumptions from study

Undergraduate education requirements

Graduate education requirements

Career Opportunities

A history major prepares students for postgraduate education as well as preparation to work in any field such as business, law, government, social services and education. Other occupations include but are not limited to the following:

- appraiser of antiquities and art
- archaeologist
- archivist
- biographer
- campaign worker
- CIA/FBI agent
- correspondent
- criminologist
- cultural affairs director
- cultural resources management
- historical organizations
- historic preservation think tanks
- documentarian
- educator
- foreign services
- foundations
- journalist
- lawyer
- legal research
- legislative work
- librarian
- marketing
- museum curator
- publishing

For more information about careers, go to the following:

American Historical Association
National Trust for Historic Preservation
American Association for State and Local History

For more information about career opportunities, contact career counselor Nicole Keenan at nicole.keenan@uky.edu or (859) 257-4023.