As a student in college, the number one question I am asked is: "What is your major?" When I respond, I always get reactions that are quite degrading to me. "What can you do with a degree in History besides teaching?" People automatically assume that I'm going to teach. Although teaching is one of my career goals, it's not my only one. History majors have multiple career options.

History majors learn skills that are greatly beneficial in the workforce. They develop the ability to think critically, which allows them to adapt ideas, explain and interpret events and ideas, summarize information and have developed world views while understanding interrelatedness. In addition, history majors excel in creativity. They are excellent in troubleshooting and problem solving, analyzing data, developing new agendas for old problems and offering new perspectives. Research is a specialty for history majors; they are experts at comparing and synthesizing theories, gathering information, and evaluating theories and evidence. Lastly, one of history majors' many strengths is their ability to communicate. This includes things like presenting information using written and spoken media, informing/explaining to others, and effectively writing and editing.

Many people don't realize the extent of what history majors really learn, rather than just history.

The list of careers that history majors can pursue is endless. A few examples would be a research associate, information specialist, law enforcement officer, government relations specialist, lawyer, teacher, education coordinator of a museum, academic advisor, human service worker, archivist, curator, preservation specialist, editorial assistant, newspaper reporter, travel agent, paralegal, and even a human resources specialist. The capabilities of a history major in the workforce is incredible.

In addition, studying history takes a lot of discipline. It involves writing extensive papers, reading enormous amounts and a lot of analyzing.

It is important that we are given the same amount of credit that is given to mathematic, criminal justice, and business majors, etc. Just because someone majors in history, it doesn't make them any less of a contribution to society, whether that be through teaching or any of the other career options.

So, the next time someone informs you that they are a history major, applaud them, rather than offend them. We are important, too.