Studying history in college can help you prepare for jobs in history as well as other fields such as education and law. Those interested in history should be aware of the various types of history degree programs available. Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Arts (MA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are the most common history degrees (PhD). The length, intensity, and types of careers for which these programs prepare graduates set them apart.
The BA in history, an undergraduate program that typically takes four years of full-time study, is one of the most popular history degree programs. Most BA in history programs require students to successfully complete a variety of historical topics as well as a small number of elective classes. It should be noted that a BA in history may not be sufficient to qualify graduates for a career in history. Students who want to work in this field should either go to graduate school or enroll in a BA program that combines history classes with elementary or secondary education training. It is common for students who want to go to law school to first earn a bachelor’s degree in history.
The MA in history is a graduate-level degree that takes two to three years to complete. Students pursuing an MA in history are typically required to select a specialization, such as early American history or European Renaissance history. They usually take several classes in that field as well as more general topics like archival research methods. Toward the end of their program, students are frequently required to submit a thesis or a major research project. Graduates with a master’s degree in history may be qualified to teach at the secondary or community college level, work for government agencies or historical societies, and a variety of other history-related jobs.
A PhD in history is typically the most difficult and time-consuming of all history degrees, taking five or more years to complete. The first stage of this degree program usually entails taking a number of historical seminars as well as passing one or more exams. PhD candidates must then write a lengthy dissertation outlining their original research on a topic of interest, which they must then defend in front of a panel of experts. While this program is usually demanding, it can prepare graduates for a variety of jobs in the history field. Graduates can work as researchers, university educators, or museum curators, for example.