What Can I Do With a History Major?

Major in History??
Of Course!

FORMER STUDENTS SAY THAT HISTORY COURSES HELPED THEM PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE IN MANY WAYS.

• “I have to say that I have never regretted majoring in History, and I tried out a lot of different majors before settling on History!  I found the classes to be challenging and fun and the faculty top-notch.  I learned to think critically, to gather all the evidence before jumping to conclusions, and to argue my position in a convincing way.  And let me tell you, I can write circles around those Business majors.”  (1990 Grad now in MBA program)
•  “First, I think a History degree provides a lesson in the importance of context.  Nothing has struck me more working in and around government circles as people’s general lack of understanding about how current trends fit (or don’t fit) with longer term trends and experiences.”  (1984 Grad now with Minnesota Private College Council)
• “The best assistance came from the writing skills I developed. Obviously, you can be an intelligent person, but if you cannot convey this quickly, clearly, and concisely, you will be in trouble in law school.”  (1992 Grad now a lawyer)
• “History Professors helped me learn the value of “taking a second look” at the context in which things are written and said.  This allows me to give good advice to the clients I serve.”   (1985 Grad who now manages $45 million in assets for investors)
• “I remember very well the regular writing you had us do — it was the subject of many complaint sessions among the students in that survey course.  Writing got me my job here, I am sure of that, and made graduate school a lot easier than it would have been. I might just add that it was important to have the individual attention that the History Department afforded me...it was challenging to sit in a prof’s office and defend my ideas.  In retrospect, it was good practice for what I got through her: convincing people to trust my advice.”  (1992 Grad now on staff of U.S. House of Representatives, International Relations Committee)
• “I cannot say enough about the quality of the instructors and their willingness to make themselves available to the students.  They helped me perfect skills that have been very useful throughout my graduate studies and in my various areas of employment.” (1991 Grad now working in the United Kingdom.)
• “When faced with seemingly momentous tasks of knowledge acquisition — anything from law school to learning about setting up computer networks (one of my many between school jobs) — History research taught me how to usefully sift through something vast.”  (1991 Grad now in Law School)
• “The breadth of History courses I took provided me with the historical background necessary to excel as a graduate student.  But more important for my career than the subject matter I learned were the general intellectual skills I developed in my History courses.  Through the large number of papers I wrote for my courses, I honed my skills in synthesis, analysis, and evaluation, as well as polishing my written and oral communication skills.”   (1992 Grad now finishing graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin)
• “History teaches you to critically question what you see, read, and hear.  When you analyze material and ascertain the author’s bias, you can make better use of the information provided.  This skill applies to business and the military since we both spend countless hours reading reports.  If you can analyze the information well, you make better decisions.”   (1990 Grad, now a Captain in the U.S. Army)
• “The B.A. degree that I earned at SJU/CSB in History prepared me for my career and life.  Little of the subject matter I learned is specifically practical in my current position in the computer and networking field.  However, the thought processes, critical thinking, and writing skills I acquired in the classroom at SJU/CSB help me everyday, at home and at work.  The result of my education is that I can acquire new concepts, and apply them quickly to many areas.  This has made me a valuable asset to my employers, and they in turn have provided me with a rewarding career.  Computers are cool, and they pay the bills, but History will always be my hobby.”  (1995 Grad now Computer Specialist)

DID YOU KNOW THAT CSB/SJU HISTORY MAJORS HAVE GONE ON TO HOLD THE FOLLOWING JOBS? 

• Account Assistant, Padilla, Speer, Beardsley, Inc.
• Advertising Manager, Cullinan Group
• Analyst, Andersen Consulting
• Assistant Director of Admissions, New York University
• Assistant Manager, Rizzoli Bookstore, New York City
• Assistant Property Manager, Trammel Crow Company
• Assistant State Archivist, Connecticut State Library
• Associate editor, City Pages
• Baliff, St. Paul County Courthouse
• Broadcast and Media Assistant, Campbell, Midthun, Esty
• Committee Administrative, Committee on Agriculture, Minnesota
• Data Base Coordinator, West Group
• Development Officer, Bush School
• Director of Operations, Cub Foods
• Director of Underwriting, MCC Behavioral Care
• Draft Manager, Miller Brewing Company
• Eastern European Analyst for Scudder Kemper Investments
• Editor, Publications International
• Environmental Consultant, Wenck Associates
• Executive Director, Stearns County Historical Society
• Export Sales Manager, Trident Enterprises
• Facility manager, University of Saint Thomas
• Financial Analyst, US Bancorp
• Graphic Artist, Annin and Company
• Historian, Civil War Library and Museum, Philadelphia, PA
• House of Representatives
• International Internal Auditor, Manpower Inc.
• Latin America/Narcotics Staff Specialist for International
• Legal Editor, West Group
• Licensed Psychologist, Brainerd
• Manager, Barnes and Noble
• Manager, Century 21 Realty
• Manager, Personnel Administration, Medtronic
• Medicaid Eligibility Specialist, Allina Health Systems
• Money Market Coordinator, Prime Vest
• Museum Assistant, Crow Wing County Historical Society
• Museum Curator, National Park Service
• Owner, Lakeshirts, Inc.
• Partner, Vector Financial Network
• Pastor, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
• Pharmaceutical Representative, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
• President, Cullen Cigar Company
• President, Farmers and Merchants Bank
• President, First Preferred Financial Services, Inc.
• Print Production Manager, Minnesota Historical Society
• Probation Officer, Carver County
• Product Manager, Keebler Company
• Public Relations, Potash Company
• Purchaser, Herberger’s Department Stores
• Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Senior Budget Examiner, State of New York
• Senior Product Analyst, Comdisco Network Services
• Senior Software Analyst, Health Systems Integration, Inc.
• Sports Editor, Seattle Times
• Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mercury Records
• Youth Minister, Church of St. Mary

Hundreds of former History majors have gone on to be successful lawyers, and a number of our alums are judges.  In addition, dozens of former History students have served as officers in the U.S. military. Even though it seems less likely, several have combined History with Pre-Med, and have become physicians.  Finally, many History majors have also gone on in education, teaching in secondary schools and colleges, as well as serving as principals and even college presidents (Five of the last nine presidents of CSB and SJU have been historians!)