Growth Trends for Related Jobs

Career Path With History Major & Psychology Minor

careertrend article image
GaudiLab/iStock/GettyImages

Although a four-year degree in a discipline like history or psychology equips you with analytical skills, communication skills, critical thinking abilities and other job-relevant experience, what you don't leave college with is a clear-cut career path. Fortunately, you don't need a degree in accounting or business to find an exciting, real-world career, but you do need to think outside of the box to get the most out of your degree.

Law and Teaching

Law and teaching are more traditional choices for students graduating with both history and psychology degrees. History equips people with the research and reading skills required to succeed in law school and beyond. Psychology provides a basic understanding of people, useful for interacting with clients and convincing juries. People with these degrees can also teach at the primary or secondary level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specific teaching license requirements vary by state, but you'll need to complete teacher education courses. If you didn't take these classes while in university, you'll need one or two additional semesters of full-time study to make up the requirements. Prepare for a long haul in law school if the bar is calling you. Law school takes three additional years to finish on top of your undergraduate education.

Interpreting, Marketing and Communications

History majors who want to teach should also consider work with museums and cultural organizations that offer tours. Working as a guide combines a love of people with an interest in the past. Opportunities in marketing or public relations with similar organizations are also fitting careers. According to the University of Toronto at Mississauga's Career Center, psychology majors often pursue careers in writing, marketing and communications. Universities and non-profit organizations look for communications staff who can tell the entities' stories compellingly, attracting students and donations. Other grads move into the media, finding work as journalists or as researchers and fact checkers.

Human Resources

Working with employees to create a better workplace will motivate your people-oriented side, while keeping paperwork in order will draw on the organizational skills developed during your history studies. According to the BLS, employers like applicants with social and behavioral science backgrounds. Experience is everything in HR, so expect to start with administrative duties and work your way up gradually. Taking internships while still in college can help you get your foot in the door.

Finance

According to Stanford University's page for history majors, some graduates move into finance careers after graduation, working as financial analysts and auditors. Financial analysts have to be able to integrate information to make investment strategy decisions, so rest assured that you'll be putting your critical thinking skills to work. Courses in statistics that you took as part of your psychology minor will help when you're trying to understand what the numbers are telling you.

References
Writer

A professional writer since 2006, Colleen Reinhart has held positions in technical writing and marketing. She also writes lifestyle, health and business articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Business degree from the University of Waterloo, and a Master's degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Toronto.

Photo Credits

GaudiLab/iStock/GettyImages