Degree Overview

Why a History Major?

The history major at Ohio Wesleyan University seeks to provide students with both breadth and depth of historical knowledge. It also seeks to provide students with the tools essential to historical inquiry as well as career advancement in fields such as law, education, publishing, journalism, government, and media. Among the skills stressed are historical research, critical analysis, and logical presentation (both written and oral).

A history major is useful in any number of fields. Some students choose to further their education at graduate school, many in history, but many more enter professions not directly related to history. One of the strengths of becoming a history major is that it will provide you with the writing and communication skills required for a variety of jobs. Many graduates enter law or business. Others work in government. Still others have found employment with historical societies, archives, libraries, museums or publishers. Finally, students choosing to teach elementary, middle, or high school can take advantage of the department's history major for teachers, which combines history core courses with requirements for an education certificate. For more information about the History Major for Teachers program, go to the Education Department's Adolescence to Young Adult Web page, choose Licensure areas and then click on “Integrated Social Studies”.