Careers
History Careers
A history degree at Southern will provide a student with a broad spectrum of marketable skills. Whether you plan to seek out careers in history, or you want to be a medical professional, businessperson, teacher, lawyer, or almost any profession you can think of, history is a great choice. Why? Because with history you learn how to think critically, to analyze evidence, and to write in such a way that you are an effective communicator. You hone skills that every employer desires. Few other majors combine into one single degree the skills that a history degree can help you develop. The National Institutes of Helth reports those skill in this article. The American Association of Colleges and Universities reports similar findings here. So even if you don't think you want to pursue a career as a historian, consider choosing history as a second major for no other reason than to develop invaluable workplace skills.
Why History?
In our classes students often ask what they can do with a history major, to which we reply, "What can't you do with it?!" This response, while not terribly helpful on its face, is nonetheless very much true. Unlike nursing or pre-med, theology, or social work, or any professional degree where you are trained for a more narrow career trajectory, history majors are trained in a set of specific skills, not for a specific job. We believe this is important because most people change careers a few times in their worklife. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics does not define what a "career change" actually is because no one else agrees how to define this, but there is consensus that what you major in during college will not necessarily be the career that you retire from forty or fifty years down the road. So if you train to become a nurse, pastor, or social worker, and that is the only thing you study in college, and if you have a career change at 35 years old, will you have the skillset needed to make that change? The skills you will develop as a history major make the chances that you'll answer "yes" to that question much more likely.
There are many history majors that never plan to practice in that field. In our department we have pre-med, pre-law, nursing, business, English, biology, music, language majors, and just about any other major you can imagine. They add history as a second major but they have no plans to work in the field of history. There is no limit to the sort of career a history major can pursue, but many of those that are directly related to history are:
- History educators
- Researchers
- Paralegals
- Museum curators
- Information managers (libraries)
- Lawyers
- Diplomats and those who work in political careers in government service often major in history or political studies.
- International Development workers
One of our recent graduates immediately began teaching high school history, but many go directly to graduate school. From our most recent graduating classes, we have one pursuing a master's degree in health care administration, several have entered law school, and one is pursuing a masters degree in history.
Career Links
The National Museum of American History. This will take you to a page with continually updated job postings for this museum.
Check back again. Links will be added regularly.
Useful Links on History
Entering the Job Market with a BA in History
What to Do with a BA in History
Check back again. Links will be added regularly.
Careers for Political Science
Political science focuses on the theory and practice of government and politics at the local, state, national, and international levels. Southern Adventist University is dedicated to help develop understandings of institutions, practices, and relations that constitute public life and modes of inquiry that promote citizenship.
If you are intrigued by current events, political science is worth considering as a major. Political science majors study how laws are made, and the comparative structures of governments across the world. They learn how public policy is formulated and the impact of policy on the social and economic status of the populace.
Top Ten Careers for Political Science Majors:
1. Policy Analyst
2. Legislative Assistant
3. Public Relations Specialist
4. Social Media Manager
5. Marketing Research Analyst
6. Political Consultant
7. Attorney
8. Intelligence Analyst
9. Political Campaign Staff
10. College-Student Leadership and Activities Directors
Careers for International Development Studies
An International Development Studies (IDS) degree will be, for many students, an entry point into the field of politics, law, or international development. Some students will major in IDS because they want to go to law school and practice law; more specifically perhaps, international or immigration law. Some will study IDS because they want to be the first on the scene after an earthquake, and IDS is a great degree to get their foot in the door of NGOs like ADRA, World Vision, and USAid. Some will choose an IDS degree because they want to combat issues like sex trafficking or global health and human rights issues.
Why IDS?
Often students will major in IDS and another complimenting area, such as nursing. One of our current students is a double major in nursing and IDS. Her dream is to use her nursing skills in the development field to help tackle global health issues. Some students may want to add a major in social work, physical education, or business. All of these strengthen your resume and make you vastly more marketable to potential employers for whatever given track you choose to pursue.
But many of our students also choose to continue on to graduate school after finishing an IDS degree. Some attend law school, some obtain masters degrees in development, and others choose completely unrelated fields of work and study. Whatever your career path, an IDS degree will make you more marketable.
Our graduates will enter the marketplace with theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and a broad grasp of global policy and development issues. There are few career paths IDS graduates would not be prepared to take, but many students who choose an IDS degree desire to work in law, international and community development, politics or policy planning, missions, and government service. Career paths include:
- Advocacy / Outreach, both locally and globally
- Government and diplomacy (Civil Service, the Foreign Service, FBI, CIA, the military, the Environmental Protection Agency, Departments of Energy, Agriculture, State, Defense, Interior, Justice, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Education, and Homeland Security)
- International aid / development
- Local community development
- Policy planning and research
- Development and policy consulting
- Field project management
- Disaster rescue and relief
- Law
- Immigration agencies
- The Peace Corps
- Missionary
- Political fields
Career Links
Relief Web. This link will be of interest to all of our majors, but IDS majors may find it especially useful. On this page, you will find a searchable database of disaster relief, human rights, and development-oriented jobs. These jobs include the full spectrum of possible development careers and include many NGO job-postings.
The U.S. Department of State. This will be useful to those seeking careers in government service, especially those interested in a career in the US Foreign Service.
ADRA Job Opportunities. Adventist Development and Relief Agency jobs will be of interest to both history and GPS majors.
Check back soon. New links added regularly.
Useful Links on International Development
Below are just a few useful websites that should get you started and give you an idea what you can do with an IDS degree within the development field.
Getting a job in international development
Prepping for an international development career
What can I do with my studies in International Development Studies?
Advice on entering the ID field
Sustainable Development Events page (continually updated)
Academic Invest (with lots of useful information on development)
Check back soon. New links added regularly.