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95%
of our courses are taught by full-time faculty with PhDs in history.
5
faculty have won the Cox Award for Teaching Excellence; 2 were nominated for CASE Professor of the Year.
100%
of students complete an original research project with faculty mentors.
What can you do with a history degree?
As a history major, you’ll develop strong critical thinking, communication and analytical skills that employers value most, preparing you for careers in law and public service, education and journalism, business, entrepreneurship and more.
Graduates of our history degree have worked for the National Forest Service, served in public office and as foreign service officers, directed nonprofits, and become members of the bench and bar. They have taught high school students, reported from war zones, started small businesses, worked for major corporations and made history public through positions in archives, museums and historic preservation. Many of our history majors also continue on to advanced studies in some of the top graduate programs in the nation and the world. Learn more about what you can do with a history degree.
Jobs for history majors
What jobs can you get with a history degree? Here are just a few of your options:
- Archivist
- Lawyer
- Entrepreneur
- Lobbyist
- Editor
- Foreign service officer
- University president
- Nonprofit administrator
- Political analyst
- Market researcher
- Social justice activist
History major salary
Because the careers for a history major can be so diverse, salaries will vary widely for each person. However, we estimate that graduates of our bachelor’s in history program earn an average of $74,212, based on job data for this major.
History Alum in Leading Role at National Archives
A native of Conrad, ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú, Pamela Wright was inspired to attend UM by one of her older sisters. At first unsure what to study, Wright followed her love of history and reading and pursued a double major in history and English.
“The classes I took at UM gave meaning to my life,” she says. “At that age, I think you’re really looking ‘what’s the answer, what does life mean?’”
Today, Wright serves as Chief Innovation Office for the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.
“I love the job that I have, and I feel very fortunate that my career turned out this way,” Wright says.
She credits her UM education with helping her get there.
“I came out of UM with a work ethic and an understanding of quality,” she says. “UM really made me who I am.”
Experiential learning in the history degree program
We believe that history should be experienced in the world and the community as well as the classroom. If you like the idea of getting out in the field and getting hands-on learning opportunities through internships, service learning, research and study abroad, with UM, you’ve found one of the best colleges to major in history.
Undergraduate research in the history program
All of our history majors complete an original history project working with a faculty mentor. You’ll learn from our faculty’s own cutting-edge research on issues such as democracy, race, gender, social justice, war and violence, and international relations. You’ll also have access to resources for historical research, such as the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú Mansfield Library, which houses an impressive collection of archival and special collection materials, ranging from early modern English works to the papers of 20th-century politicians.
Internships for history students
Apply your classroom studies to real-world experiences in Missoula and around the world. Our internship programs (often with local museums, historical societies and other sites) are a great way to develop your professional skills and connect with potential career opportunities. History majors at UM have also participated in a wide range of community engagement projects such as the Black Solidarity Summit and the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú and Missoula County Covid-19 Oral History Collection Project. .
Experiential learning for history majors
In 2023, students in Professor Eric Zimmer's U.S. Environmental History class inventoried a collection of 75,000 slides (86 boxes worth) donated to the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú Natural History Center by the estate of nature enthusiast and photographer Dr. Herman William “Bill” Gabriel.
The class was designed to simulate a historical consultancy project. The students acted as a consulting firm, the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú Natural History Center was their client and Zimmer the project manager. Archivists from the UM Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections acted as advisers.
The project concluded with a presentation to MNHC staff on the student’s findings, which came wrapped in a massive and detailed spreadsheet that staff can use when making final decisions on the collection.
“The class was really about preparing students to continue in this field," Zimmer says.
Study abroad for history students
Take your major in history around the globe. Students in the history degree program at UM have engaged in study abroad programs in places such as Germany and Wales. .
Career development in the history major
History is a versatile degree that gives you the skills to rise to the top of your chosen fields as well as the flexibility to change careers later in life. Our goal is to provide you with the opportunities and support to hit the ground running when you graduate — to help you succeed in your career as well as in the classroom.
There are so many ways to get involved, network and make new connections in the history program at UM. Clubs such as the and host events and hold networking opportunities. Lectures, workshops, conferences and friendly get-togethers provide students, faculty and alumni with additional opportunities to share ideas and good times.
Many of our history majors gain specific career preparation (and often find employment opportunities) through internships in a variety of public history settings including:
- Museums and historical societies
- Libraries and archives
- Digital humanities projects
- Historical interpretive sites
- National and state parks
- Government agencies
- Local, regional and tribal heritage associations
- Historic preservation firms and agencies
Most of all, you’ll benefit from the close, personal mentorship of our faculty who, in addition to being leading researchers with national and international reputations, have won more teaching awards than any other department here at UM.
Scholarships for history majors
Get extra help paying for your history degree. Each year, we award more than $15,000 in scholarships to majors in history. .
History degree requirements
As a history major at UM, you’ll engage in a dynamic curriculum that connects past and present, studying the history of societies from ancient Athens to the early-21st-century United States. Our history faculty also offer innovative courses exploring unconventional topics such as the history of alcohol and the history of sex.
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