Information and News for Majors
Hello from the History Department:
We would like to welcome you to our information page for prospective students. Each year, more than 1,000 new students arrive on our campus in search of an education. Of these, many are very interested in history, but often complain, "I won't be able to do anything with it." This is untrue.Former History Majors:
- Chris Berman, ESPN anchor
- Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation
- George W. Bush, President of the United States
- Eric Kandel, Nobel Prize winner in Physiology
- James Kilts, President and CEO of the Gillette Corporation
- Edward Norton, actor
- Adam Katz, sports agent
- Harry Pelz, President of Recycle America Alliance
- Marv Levy, (M.A., Harvard), Four-time Super Bowl coach
- Charles Kuralt, news anchor
- Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States
- Bill Bradley, former NBA player, U.S. Senator, presidential candidate
- Katharine Hepburn, Academy Award winning actress
- W.E.B. DuBois, founder of the NAACP
- Carly Fiorina, President and CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Even Cornell University's premedical studies website suggests that "students pursue [their] own intellectual interest in an academic major, such as history, chemistry, biology, psychology, nutrition, or some other field" rather than thinking that a specific undergraduate major will offer some professional advantage.
Another thing that prospective students should understand is that the purpose of a college education is to develop skills in writing, speaking, and cognitive thinking. These are the staples of an education in history.
Finally, you are going to spend four years of your life with us here at Angelo State, so you should spend your college years studying the topics that make you happy. Understand, many studies have found that only about 25% of college graduates work within the field of their major anyway, so enjoy your college experience.
Cumulatively, this is what you will find in our department:
- More than 200 years college teaching experience.
- Nearly 20 books authored.
- Dozens of scholarly articles.
- Opportunities to intern in places like Fort Concho and the West Texas Collection.
- An active Phi Alpha Theta chapter which encourages student attendance at regional and national conferences.
- A long history of producing top-quality graduates. See link labeled "Student Achievements"
Come visit us in the History Department. We think you'll like what you see.
What can I do with history?
Preparation for Careers in- Public Schools
- Law School
- Graduate School: History, Government, Archaeology, Museum Studies, Business
- Library School
- For example, the National Park Service, Civilian Intelligence Service, Archives
- For example, Military Intelligence
- For example, The Boy and Girl Scouts Red Cross, Environmental Groups, Philanthropic Organizations
- For example, Publishing, Historical Writing for Periodicals, Media, Public Relations
- For example, Museums
See further www.historians.org/jobs/index.htm