History
What Can I Do In My Major?
Overview
Appalachian’s history students develop valuable analytical skills that they take with them into many careers, and their experience in evaluating ideas and information, examining and interpreting evidence and developing a world view helps them become expert decision-makers. They’re also cool people to talk with because they can speak on many different topics. The Applied and Public History degree helps make history more accessible to the public. It is ideal for students who want careers working with archives, museums, national parks and landmarks. The degree can be used to pursue teaching as well. Students also have the opportunity to tailor their education to a specific interest by taking 24 credit hours in any department with courses related to public history, such as art history, history of furnishing, business and management, or public administration courses. The Multidisciplinary degree is ideal for students with diverse interests or who wish to tailor a history degree to their specific career aspirations, or who are particularly interested in public service. Students have pursued business, law, criminal justice, national security, foreign service, the promotion of Appalachia, public service, public relations, religion, technology and the arts, public relations, teaching, educational administration, law, business, library and information science, the caring professions, government and more.
Concentrations:
Applied and Public History
Multidisciplinary
Social Studies Education
Related Careers
Archivist
Biographer*
Congressional Aide
Curator*
Demographer*
Editor*
FBI/CIA Agent*
Foreign News Correspondent*
Foreign Service Officer*
Historian
Historic Preservation Specialist
Historic Site Tour Guide
Historical Society Staff Member
International Relations Specialist
Lawyer*
Legal Assistant / Paralegal
Media Consultant
Museum Curator
Museum Technicians & Specialist
Nonprofit Coordinator/Manager
Peace Corps/Vista Worker
Professor*
Research Assistant
Teacher, Social Studies
Urban Planner
Writer/Author
*additional experience or advanced degree may be required
Relevant Skills
Analyzing ideas and information
Decision making
Developing a world view
Examining evidence
Explaining Ideas Explaining the present by referring to the past
Interpreting events and ideas
Seeing relationships between factors
Writing and presenting information
Internship Hosts of AppState Students
Appalachian State University
Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
Blowing Rock Historical Society
Digital Watauga Project
Environment for the Americas
Foothills Heritage Farm
Given Memorial Library and Tufts- Archives
Hickory Ridge Living History
Iredell Museum
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Kristen Baldwin Deathridge
Leeds Castle
Museum of the Cape Fear
National Archives
Newseum
North Carolina Historic Sites
North Carolina State Historic- Preservation Office
NC Collection Gallery - UNC
Preservation Soceity of Chapel Hill
Pennsauken Historical Society
Place Economics
River Road Historical Society
The Elizabethan Gardens
The United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumEmployers of AppState Grads
Americorps
Appalachian State University
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
Blue Ridge School
Cabarrus County Schools
Charleston Tea Plantation
Citrix
City Of High Point
Doosan Portable Power
Duke University School Of Medicine
Embassy of Jordan
Historic Brattonsville/Culture & Heritage Museums
Historical Association Of Catawba County
Iredell Museums
Kentucky Historical Society
Lakeside Heritage Society
Lowe’s Companies, Inc
Maryland Science Center
Microsoft
MYMOVE LLC.,
National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
Navex Global
North Carolina Democratic Party
Odyssey School
Pamplin Historical Park
The College Board
United Way
US Army
US Department of State
US Holocaust Museum
Watauga County Library
Washington County Board Of Education
Watauga High School
Wilkes Heritage Museum Incorporated
Various law offices
Various local, state, and national government offices
Various secondary schools, community colleges & universities
Professional Organizations and Associations
The World History Association: WHA
Oral History Association
Preparing for Your Career
•Look for internships and jobs in to gain knowledge and experience
•Participate in internships and summer jobs in a relevant setting
How can I know if a History degree is right for me?
•Complete a self-assessment inventory at the Career Exploration Office in the Student Union to see how your interests, values, and personality match this major and related career fields.
•Schedule an appointment with a career counselor on careers.appstate.edu/Handshake
•Obtain direct experience by doing a job shadow
•Conduct an informational interview with a professional in the field
For more information on careers & job outlook: onetonline.org