Alumnae Testimonials
My degree from Rosemont gave me a well-balanced perspective of History. The professors are highly regarded members of academia, not to mention genuine down-to-earth and approachable people dedicated to their craft and profession. As a social worker, all the knowledge about people, civilizations, and societies I gained from my History major will come in very handy. I would choose History all over again - if given the chance!
Tara Sinclair, '99
The history program at Rosemont is outstanding. Choosing to major in history was the best decision of my college career. I not only learned the material from the classes, but I feel I also learned important lessons in being a human being - thinking for myself, aiming to understand other peoples and cultures, and knowing the importance of history to humanity. The professors in the history department made history interesting and exciting, and I am grateful for all that they taught me about history and about the skills necessary for lifelong learning.
Julie (Swierczek) Klotz, '00
In every job I've had since graduation, I've been able to use the research skills the history major taught me. I also think part of the reason I've done so much traveling in the last few years is because the professors really encouraged intellectual curiosity & showed an obvious interest in their specialties, which gave me a passion for learning about other cultures.
Rebecca McMenamin, '99
What can you do with a College Degree in History?
Information Provided by: World Wide Learn
Career options for aspiring history major graduates
- Arts Foundation Manager. Combining a deep understanding of the importance of the arts throughout history with the interpersonal skills required to run a large charity organization, many arts foundations and other nonprofit organizations recruit history graduates for leadership positions. A history major's organizational skills and attention to detail makes him or her ideal to keep an eye on complex financial transactions, especially the transfer of assets from family endowments. Likewise, a professional with strong storytelling skills can more effectively recruit major donors during capital campaigns by putting a potentially large contribution in an attractive context.
- Executive Coach. A growing number of history majors have put their strong interpersonal communication skills to work as advisors to corporate leaders. Executive coaches help their clients weigh important decisions in the context of past successes and failures. Coaches must also use their interviewing and research skills to quickly assess the real truth of a situation before offering guidance. Most importantly, executive coaches help professionals write their own histories by encouraging clients to look at the longest possible historical view of current events. Historian and consultant Steven Covey often advises students to "begin with the end in mind" and address today's decision by envisioning the bullet points in your own future obituary.
- Financial Auditor. In the wake of financial misdealing and ethical violations at many publicly traded companies, banks, and auditing firms have started to hire an increasing number of history majors to help improve their research and investigative operations. Though a career as an auditor can be highly rewarding, professionals with a background in history tend to be motivated by their search for the truth, as opposed to business school graduates who may want to find the quickest route to profits. History majors who work as auditors can apply their storytelling skills to relate critical information to company leaders and shareholders in a format that is easier to digest than just a raw set of numbers.
- Foreign Service Agent. You may not find yourself slinking around European nightclubs in swanky clothing like the stars of the television series Alias, but the United States Government does want your help if you understand the history and culture of foreign countries. Numerous government agencies employ history majors to provide valuable insight and context for potential policy and partnership decisions. Helping our leaders better understand the customs of our friends and foes around the world can open up new opportunities for trade and cooperation, or it can defuse the military fallout of potential misunderstandings.
- History Professor. Some history majors thrive in academia so well, that they make perfect candidates to train tomorrow's generation of historians. Tenured history professors don't just recite copy from old textbooks, however. Many faculty members spend most of their time writing about history and culture while leading research teams that investigate new leads about specialized subjects. By uncovering new information and reaching new insights, history professors help refine the stories we tell about past civilizations while helping us write a better story for ourselves.
- Judicial Clerk. History professionals with a passion for the law can find their true calling as clerks in a variety of court settings. In today's highly litigious culture, clerks combine their ability to look up information in online databases with their skills for hunting down obscure references in the stacks of law libraries. Students with powerful memories can launch lucrative careers as assistants and advisors to judges. By relating current court cases to previous precedents, clerks can speed decision-making and keep the wheels of justice moving swiftly.
- Legislative Analyst. Attention to detail and keen insight into the effects of legislation make history majors valuable advisors to lawmakers, lobbyists, and nonprofit organizations. History majors can effectively predict the outcomes of government spending programs and other legislative initiatives, while recommending alternate solutions to current problems. History majors employed as analysts can also use their interviewing skills to lead teams of market researchers. Through personal interviews, polls, and focus groups, analysts can discover the most effective ways to tell stories about new programs to concerned voters.
- Magazine Editor. History majors that edit magazines rely on their strong memories and powerful fact-checking skills to prepare compelling reading for their subscribers. In the fast-paced world of publishing, many editors have to make coverage decisions based on raw instinct. A history major can immediately understand whether a story or an angle holds relevance for their readers in the context of current events. They can also help writers and contributors adjust their projects based on past coverage of a topic or an interview subject. By viewing their role through a historical perspective, magazine editors can create publications that accurately chronicle our current lives.
- Marketing Director. Like many liberal arts and humanities majors, history students make excellent candidates for the advertising and marketing sectors. Their deep understanding for common cultural references allows history graduates to tell stories to consumers that actively engage them in the messages of their products or brands. History majors can use their powerful storytelling skills to win over internal stakeholders like clients or company leaders. And their attention to detail comes in handy when preparing marketing budgets and analyzing the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and press releases.
- Novelist. Though novels are works of fiction, audiences crave authenticity in their entertainment. Many history majors who share a love of writing can put their knowledge of historical periods to use by crafting clear visions of days gone by. Because history majors spend so much time learning to decipher the causes and effects of major world events, they can craft elaborate scenarios that keep readers engaged from cover to cover. By couching their tales in accurate settings, historians can open up their favorite worlds to new audiences. Many readers pick up a historian's love of an era or of a character, while enjoying an entertaining story.
- Politician. History majors that enter the political arena often enjoy significant advantages against competitors who lack the insight into world events and the ability to communicate ideas effectively. Many politicians with history degrees can develop innovative new policies and strategies by emulating some of the world's most admired leaders. They can identify potential trouble more easily by matching up other legislators' ideas with historical precedent. Most importantly, they can approach their positions with the long view of history on their side. By envisioning positive results, they can effectively break down their goals into actionable steps that appeal to voters.
- Real Estate Professional. As groups of Americans move around the country to follow jobs and opportunity, real estate professionals that can tap into the higher end of the market can benefit from significantly larger commissions with little extra work compared to colleagues that hustle subdivision properties. History majors entering the real estate field can exploit their skills to translate the history and character of a building into an attractive story for potential buyers. Since many real estate purchases happen because of emotional feel rather than pure financial logic, a history major that creates the most compelling vision for their clients can reap huge rewards by adding significant value to each purchase.
- Sales Analyst. History majors can use their understanding of cultural cycles to predict market swings. By timing sales and promotions to match larger trends, sales analysts help their firm maximize profits during boom times and preserve revenues during lean periods. By applying their research skills to the study of short-term and medium-term sales, history majors working as sales analysts can recommend strategy shifts that help their employers compete more effectively in the open market.
- Sportswriter. If sports fans want to know the facts about a game, they can look at a box score. If they really want to understand the impact of a team's performance or an athlete's individual achievement, they turn to trusted sportswriters and columnists. History majors who love sports can chronicle today's stars by comparing them to history's most memorable athletes. By telling powerful stories, sportswriters with history degrees can engage sports fans in entertaining and sometimes passionate debates about the future of current players and the legacies of our most influential athletes.
- Television Producer. The proliferation of cable and satellite television networks in the past few decades has created an intense demand for fresh, yet inexpensive, productions. Many historians have jumped at the opportunity to tell stories about their favorite eras on networks like The History Channel or The Discovery Channel. As filmmaker Ken Burns reignited America's love for historical documentaries, many history majors use film and television to tell new stories from past eras. Using compelling storytelling techniques, historians can build powerful dramas from actual events more quickly and efficiently than Hollywood studios can churn out television shows and blockbusters.