Masters Degree in History

There is a common perception that job opportunities for people with history degrees are limited. In fact, there are many jobs open to those with a master´s degree in history in both the public and private sectors. Jobs as researchers, archivists, editors, writers, teachers and college instructors are all open to candidates with a Masters Degree in History. Even film companies require history experts as technical consultants for period movies. In the public sector, historians may work as curators or researchers in museums and archives.

Masters Degree in History – Facts

Before enrolling in a master´s degree program, applicants have to take and pass the Graduate Record Exam. Proficiency in reading at least one foreign language may be required. Most masters degree in history programs require two to three years to complete and include at least 30 hours of formal course work and a master's thesis. Taking a dual master´s by coupling history with a more specialized interest like women's studies, religion or library science can provide additional job opportunities for graduates. Most masters programs assign an advisor, usually a professor, to assist students with their master´s thesis.

Top Schools Offering a Masters Degree in History

U.S News and World Report ranked masters degree in history programs at many colleges and universities and named the top four schools as Princeton University, Stamford University, University of California at Berkley and Yale University. The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and UCLA were ranked in the top ten and were also chosen as top schools by education portal.com. U.S. News noted that not all schools offering masters programs were rated in their survey. Students should conduct their own research on schools before deciding which program to enter since factors like cost or location can limit choices.

Work Possible with a Masters Degree in History

A master´s degree in history prepares graduates for careers as researchers, curators and archivists and some may find positions in information technology since their education and training prepares them to manage and retrieve information with data systems. Organizations dedicated to the preservation of historical sites employ historians as consultants to evaluate sites and materials. Historians may chose to work in the political arena since their knowledge of the past offers an excellent perspective on pending policy decisions. Graduates who wish to share their knowledge may work in secondary or post secondary education.

Job Outlook and Salary in History

The job growth in this field is expected to be slightly lower than the national average for all jobs. Many jobs for historians are in cultural institutions and cutbacks usually occur during times of economic recession. Historians with education and experience in information technology will have the best job opportunities. Competition for jobs in this field is keen since there are more qualified applicants than available positions.

The median salary for graduates with a master´s degree in history was $45,000 per year. Most entry level positions have salaries of about $30,000 a year except in the field of education which generally has higher entry level salaries. Salaries for top positions exceeded $83,000 per year. Archivists and curators working for the federal government had median salaries of between $83,700 and $90,205 per year.

In short, getting a master´s in history is a means to open doors to a number of career opportunities. There are very few degrees that can provide this sort of compatibility. In addition, many history degree holders are content in their decision so why not find out more about it today.