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History Degree

Focus Areas

Academic Focus

Co-Curricular and Engagement

Career Development

Milestone

First Year: Explore

Academic Focus

  • Meet with your academic advisor and build your academic plan 
  • Complete foundational courses, like HIST 1004: Intro to History 
  • Enroll in Pathways courses aligned with your interests 
  • Explore potential minors or second majors 
  • Visit office hours to talk with faculty

Co-Curricular and Engagement

Career Development

  • Begin developing your professional resume 
  • Create a Handshake account 
  • Attend a career exploration workshop or event and consider enrolling in a career exploration course (e.g., UNIV 1004) 
  • Research career goals and internship opportunities; meet with Career and Professional Development to discuss

Milestone

  • Identify initial academic interests and potential career paths 
  • Complete Gallup CliftonStrengths 
  • Establish a connection with at least one faculty member

Middle Years: Focus and Connect

Academic Focus

  • Update your academic plan with your advisor 
  • Take HIST 3814: Historical Methods, HIST 3914: Historiography, and upper-level major electives 
  • Engage in independent undergraduate research or support a faculty-led project 
  • Consider submitting research to be published in the VT UHR 
  • Apply for a History award 
  • Develop a complementary skill, like digital history or public history 
  • Declare a minor, concentration, or second major, if applicable 
  • Review your Degree Audit Report (DARS); apply for your degree in Hokie Spa

Co-Curricular and Engagement

  • Engage in service-learning or community-based experiences 
  • Develop a mentorship relationship with a professor while exploring undergraduate research 
  • Serve in a leadership role in a student organization, such as editor for VTUHR 
  • Attend lectures and guest speaker events 
  • Join Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society 
  • Study abroad or participate in a global experience, if aligned with academic plan

Career Development

  • Update your resume and have it reviewed; complete mock interviews 
  • Build connections with alumni, faculty, and professionals in field of interest; reach out to a VT alum for an informational interview 
  • Explore internships with the department's Community Engagement Coordinator 
  • Attend a career fair, department career development events, and pursue a summer job or internship related to your major 
  • Build your LinkedIn profile 
  • Identify 2–3 potential post-grad pathways (grad school, fellowships, jobs) 
  • Apply for internships, fellowships, or research opportunities

Milestone

  • Gain first professional experience 
  • Make a connection with a VT alum or professional in your career path 
  • Complete an experiential learning opportunity (internship, study abroad, research) and add to your resume

Last Year: Launch

Academic Focus

  • Enroll in HIST 4914: Senior Seminar or equivalent 
  • Ensure all remaining degree requirements in DARS are planned and completed 
  • Consider presenting research or attending a conference (e.g. American Historical Association)

Co-Curricular and Engagement

  • Continue to serve in a leadership or mentorship role 
  • Help plan department events or alumni panels 
  • Volunteer for university outreach or recruitment

Career Development

  • Update resume and LinkedIn profile with experiences 
  • Apply to jobs, graduate programs, or fellowships 
  • Reflect on experiential learning and leverage in interviews 
  • Attend department, college, and university professional development events 
  • Complete First Destination Survey

Milestone

  • Graduate with a plan and a network 
  • Engage with alumni association in your hometown

Finding
Your Future
in History

Our graduates have the skills to:

  • Connect how events of the past shape the present 
  • Analyze and ethically interpret complex information and datasets 
  • Communicate ideas and research clearly and effectively 
  • Understand and explore global perspectives

Common job titles include:

  • Museum Curator 
  • Teacher 
  • Attorney 
  • Law Associate 
  • Communications Manager 
  • Legislative Staffer 
  • Intelligence Analyst 
  • Director of Operations

Top Employers & Graduate Schools:

  • Virginia Tech 
  • University of Virginia 
  • George Washington University 
  • College of William and Mary 
  • Wake Forest University 
  • Local, State, and Federal Government 
  • CACI International

Personalize Your Path

Every student’s path is unique. Use this resource as a guide and work with your academic advisor, faculty mentor, and career advisor to customize your experience.

Find Out More About the Careers of Our History Graduates