BA History

The History program at Portland State University offers excellent training for a variety of occupations through the development of key skills such as critical thinking, research, analysis, oral and written communication, presentation delivery and problem solving.

You can develop a concentration in public history as part of your major by completing specific courses in consultation with your advisor. Students in public history strive to discover and make known the unsung heroes and heroines of our past.

Students at the History program at Portland State University build strong relationships with faculty members who are experts in their particular fields, not only through our courses. These connections are strengthened through opportunities for career and academic advising, directed research and internships in the local community

Career

History degree holders often find employment in the field of law, in government and nonprofit agencies, in education, and in business. Many history majors go on to become teachers, but there are many possible career paths that naturally follow a degree in history.

History majors can become historians, librarians and museum curators, which all require a great deal of analytical skill, research acumen and the ability to connect the past to the present. Our students have also gone into careers in marketing, human resources, translation, legal studies and writing.

The skills students gain in PSU’s history program prepare them for a wide range of careers including those not specifically associated with history, such as college admissions and financial aid, business consulting, fundraising for political and nonprofit organizations, technology, auditing, social work, community organizing and advertising.