History - BA

Students who wish to major in History do so because they understand that the problems of the present are fundamentally rooted in the choices made by past peoples. History majors, therefore, do not memorize names and dates. Instead, they are detectives, busily scrutinizing and actively interpreting the historical record for a deeper understanding as to why the world looks as it does and how our society might be improved. And in doing so, history majors acquire a number of practical skills that many different employers look for in job candidates. Our majors become experts in both written and oral self-expression, argumentation, and advocacy. In addition, history majors acquire the skills necessary to conduct thorough research, assess evidence, and effectively present one’s findings. It is no wonder, then, that our majors go on to succeed in the fields of education, law, law enforcement, public service, consulting, and business, among many other careers. In today’s global economy, there is persistent demand for job candidates familiar with diverse cultures and points of view. History majors, who take courses specializing in countries and regions around the world, are ideally positioned to succeed in such a job market. This is particularly true of majors who take advantage of our department’s numerous opportunities for study abroad and foreign language instruction.

In the History major, students take courses specializing in many different cultures and time periods. This array of classes helps to familiarize students with human diversity while imparting the marketable skills that make our graduates competitive in any number of career fields.

Teacher Certification

Some history majors may wish to pursue a career in education at the elementary, middle-, or high-school levels. The History Department is proud to welcome and help train the future teachers of both Texas and the nation. Students wishing to meet certification requirements to teach history or social studies in the secondary schools of Texas should contact the College of Education and Human Development for more complete information about the certification options available at Texas A&M University. To be eligible for these options, students must also consult with, and have approval of, their field advisor in the Department of History.