Valpo History majors know that the analytical thinking skills and contextual understanding they develop through their studies will allow them to succeed in any field. These students analyze both the great and forgotten events of world history and explore topics as diverse as witchcraft and China's Cultural Revolution.

Kinds of Work Available to Graduates in this Major:

The nature of training in History may help you to do better in any and every field. It has specific relevance to work as a historical writer/researcher in government and business; as a museum curator or archivist; as a teacher or professor; as a government official or worker at local, regional, state, national, or international level (in archives, embassies, consulates, or information offices). Many graduates today choose law schools or international studies to pursue their history-based careers.

What does a History major prepare students to do?

Law School

History and Political Science have traditionally been the accepted majors for admissions to Law School. History offers three prized skills that makes a History major particularly attractive. First, so much of law involves researching precedents, having well-honed research techniques before arriving at Law School makes it that much easier. Second, writing skills are a prerequisite of law and History majors have had an enormous amount of experience writing. Third, law requires lawyers to look at the extenuating circumstances. Likewise, History teaches students to look behind the facts at bias and authorship, or cultural and historical particulars. This third point is why I strongly believe that History is a worthwhile major for pre-law students. We are sending an increasing number of History majors to Law Schools.

Secondary Education

The current market for Secondary Education teachers appears almost insatiable. A growing number of History majors, both men and women are obtaining teaching certification in order to take advantage of the great opportunities. However many changes have been instituted that alter how students are certified to teach Hisitory. Therefore as a department we are working closely with the Education Department (http://www.valpo.edu/education/)and are committed to meeting state and nationwide accreditation criteria.

Graduate Studies

As a young faculty who have recently received their Ph.D.s, we know about applying to Graduate Schools and surviving once in. Some of our best students have gone on to the best programs in the United States and we believe that through our early identification of gifted students, the number of History majors going on to graduate studies will continue to increase.

Other Careers

Recognizing incredible variety of job opportunities, we encourage majors to double major, add minors, or individualize their undergraduate degree to best suit their career goals. On the other hand, as a faculty we believe that a History major is an excellent stand-alone major, for it embodies all the virtues of the best of a liberal arts education.