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Thread: History degrees

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    Banned ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88's Avatar
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    Default History degrees

    Are useless unless you plan on teaching or getting lucky and working in a museum.

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    Ranting madman of the .org Senior Member Fly Shoot Champion, Helicopter Champion, Pedestrian Killer Champion, Sharpshooter Champion, NFS Underground Champion Rhyfelwyr's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Well I've just got one (a joint one with politics that is), and I've been looking up the employment prospects.

    Levels of employment for history graduates 6 months after graduation seem to be pretty similar to those in other fields.

    Contrary to popular opinion most do not work in museums or go into teaching, most start out in administrative/clerical stuff and work their way up from there.
    At the end of the day politics is just trash compared to the Gospel.

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    Default Re: History degrees

    Write.

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    Oni Member Samurai Waki's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Better a History degree than a philosophy degree, the very nature of philosophy means sitting around and pondering the questions of the universe, and then complaining about it.

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    Grand Patron's Banner Bearer Senior Member Peasant Phill's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    I'm more of the opinion that a degree shows you can achieve something. Up to a point, it doesn't matter what degree you have but rather that you have one. I suspect that more than half the working populace aren't doing a job that matches their degree.
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    Member Centurion1's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by Samurai Waki View Post
    Better a History degree than a philosophy degree, the very nature of philosophy means sitting around and pondering the questions of the universe, and then complaining about it.
    actually philosophy degrees are highly valued by employers. It is not an easy major and it demonstrates intelligence and cognitive thinking. History degrees demonstrate critical thinking abilities and are far from useless.

    That being said I am a dual economics mathematics major and quite pleased with my future prospects.

  7. #7

    Default Re: History degrees

    It's largely about how to market yourself, not solely about what your degree is in.


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    Little Mons†er Senior Member Secura's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by ELITEOFKINGWARMAN88 View Post
    Are useless unless you plan on teaching or getting lucky and working in a museum.
    Having studied history at degree level myself, I've heard this little ditty dozens of times and it's a shame really; it just makes a person look ignorant, even if they aren't, simply because it's just a subjective statement that doesn't even have any sort of factual basis. A history qualification is so much more than becoming a teacher or curator.

    Using this train of 'logic', you could ask what the use of a French or German degree is, as one would think that anything you really needed to know how to write/say/read would have been picked up when you were 11-18? What about drama/music/performing arts qualifications, since you could argue that the ability to sing or act is an inherent skill rather than something entirely taught?

    The majority of people from my history course have actually gone on to work in the business and finance sectors... out of thirty-six students, I believe that I'm one of only four that is steering towards teaching, and even then, that was a massive u-turn that occured late into my course as I was originally set to go down the business route too.
    Last edited by Secura; 07-13-2011 at 23:34.
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    Pleasing the Fates Senior Member A Nerd's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    There is alot to be said in preparation for the future when studying history, at least in my situation. I breezed thru college and earned a BA in History, but failed to do anything else. Upon graduation, I was a duck out of water. No direction and no opportunities that were even remotely apparent. JuJuBee and mediocre jobs became nice bedfellows. Plan ahead. That is the key. Hindsight is 20/20 afterall.
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    Sovereign Oppressor Member TIE Fighter Shooter Champion, Turkey Shoot Champion, Juggler Champion Kralizec's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    What is the point of this thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by Peasant Phill View Post
    I'm more of the opinion that a degree shows you can achieve something. Up to a point, it doesn't matter what degree you have but rather that you have one. I suspect that more than half the working populace aren't doing a job that matches their degree.
    Pretty much - I was surprised when I read once that the majority of people with art degrees actually end up with decent jobs - wich of course, have nothing to do with art.

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    Senior Member Senior Member Reenk Roink's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by ELITEOFKINGWARMAN88 View Post
    Are useless unless you plan on teaching or getting lucky and working in a museum.
    Trolling the Frontroom has really gotten poor lately... By the way, though I love the subject, I would myself shy away from get a degree in history (unless you're going to grad school). BUT, you do realize that a significant amount of history majors are people who have great financially security and are going to be spending their college years doing something they want and not have to worry about getting a job instantly. They must look upon non history-major plebeians spending their college years trying to get a 'trade' and work a crappy first job in IT or something.

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    But it was on sale!! Member Scienter's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    I have a history degree and went on to law school. History teaches research, writing, and analysis. All good things to have when looking for a job (or applying to grad school).
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    Old Town Road Senior Member Strike For The South's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Meh, I know it's uselss and I know there is a glut of lawyers

    But it's what I love, it took a year of Biology to figure that out

    I had the same grades but I came home and wanted to swallow gun metal

    Not to mention if the youth on this forum is any indication of my compition in the job market, I feel pretty safe.
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    Member Member Tuuvi's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    I'm majoring in biology and I receive a similar treatment to the history majors, whenever an older male customer at work asks me what I'm majoring in (they're the only people who ever ask) and I tell them I'm majoring in biology, they say "what're ya gonna do? teach?"

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    smell the glove Senior Member Major Robert Dump's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Undergrad Majors mean nothing.

    Nothing.

    And they have very little relevance in your acceptance into specialty grad courses. You don't need pre-med to go to med school. You can major in PE and go to law school just fine, as long as you have the test scores.
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    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump View Post
    Undergrad Majors mean nothing.

    Nothing.
    Unless it's a BS.
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    Senior Member Senior Member gaelic cowboy's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by ELITEOFKINGWARMAN88 View Post
    Are useless unless you plan on teaching or getting lucky and working in a museum.
    Hmm do you have a degree in anything?? to compare a history degree with.
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    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger View Post
    Write.
    Yup.

    Oh, and make sure you're good at it.

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    Near East TW Mod Leader Member Cute Wolf's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    at least, you can start applying scholarship for masters deggre in archeology. and start teaching at university.

    having experienced being (part time) lecturers myself, I can say a lecturer is a rather nice job to do, too bad, most of the time, I'm stuck in laboratory works

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    Member Member stratigos vasilios's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    I'm planning on doing one after my current studies, not for employment purposes, out of pure enjoyment. My current degree is in allied heath so I'll have a job based on the skills shortage of health workers ;-)
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    smell the glove Senior Member Major Robert Dump's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Yeah I'm going to go back to school and slum around and use up my GI Bill. Even though I can sign it over to a spouse/kids someday, I don't expect it to be worth anything in the future the way the economy is jacked and the way military entitlements change on a whim of Congress.

    I don't know what to major in, though, but I do think I will try to join a fraternity at age 40ish. When I go to parties I can ask Sorority girls if their moms are single......
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    Near East TW Mod Leader Member Cute Wolf's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump View Post
    I don't know what to major in, though, but I do think I will try to join a fraternity at age 40ish. When I go to parties I can ask Sorority girls if their moms are single......
    I suggest you try mail order bride

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    Banned ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by gaelic cowboy View Post
    Hmm do you have a degree in anything?? to compare a history degree with.
    My brother has a BA in History and a MA in Liberal Arts and he's working at Target's and never held a real paying history job since he graduated with the BA in 2004. He wrote a book about local history of the one town here and it's published already, that's about it.


    Success eh?

  24. #24
    smell the glove Senior Member Major Robert Dump's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Target is better than Wal Mart

    Unless you geta degree in something w/ actual practical applications (like engineering, geology, nursing) then the hunt for a job becomes less about a degree and more about the person, how they market themselves, where they are apllying and the local job market.

    His degree is not useless.
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    Member Centurion1's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by ELITEOFKWARMAN88GINGERBREADMAN View Post
    My brother has a BA in History and a MA in Liberal Arts and he's working at Target's and never held a real paying history job since he graduated with the BA in 2004. He wrote a book about local history of the one town here and it's published already, that's about it.


    Success eh?
    my father has a BA in history and his occupation is selling multi million dollar jets and troubleshooting other military jets; he essentially has free reign to do whatever he wants with one of those aircraft including sell it to foreign governments and retrofit it in numerous ways. He deals with hundreds of millions of dollars of military money.

    success eh?
    Last edited by Centurion1; 07-15-2011 at 17:30.

  26. #26
    smell the glove Senior Member Major Robert Dump's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by Cute Wolf View Post
    I suggest you try mail order bride
    Way ahead of ya, buddy.
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump View Post
    Way ahead of ya, buddy.
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  28. #28
    Pleasing the Fates Senior Member A Nerd's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Inflatable ones are made in China.
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  29. #29
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Quote Originally Posted by Centurion1 View Post
    my father has a BA in history and his occupation is selling multi million dollar jets and troubleshooting other military jets; he essentially has free reign to do whatever he wants with one of those aircraft including sell it to foreign governments and retrofit it in numerous ways. He deals with hundreds of millions of dollars of military money.

    success eh?
    damn can you get me one, luv jets

  30. #30
    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: History degrees

    Chuchip, Its funny that you mention the combination of biology and history. History as we know it (and as I studied it in uni around 1980) is gradually being replaced by Big History and by the history of the human race from the perspective of evolutionary biology. IN the words of francis Fukuyama: Darwin replaces Hegel. And it's a fascinating turn of events. No matter what sort of job you hold after you get that degree, there is a wealth of new territory and ideas to be explored. If you are lucky enough to be able to write about it and make a living that way, as Panzer suggested, you will never have a dull moment.

    AII
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