History is interesting. History deals with the human past, in all its many varieties. History can be traced in nearly anything--a nation, a group, or an individual; jazz, medieval cathedrals, cooking utensils; sexuality, warfare, or education; folk tales, salsa dancing, or baseball. Engagement with the past is very much part of our present--in movies, school curriculums, historical novels, the History Channel. As a history major, you can follow a favorite subject or a topic of personal interest. History is something that you can enjoy while studying in college and continue to enjoy for the rest of your life.

Historical knowledge is important, while historical ignorance can be dangerous. Philosopher George Santayana famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." While history never repeats itself precisely, lessons from the past can be learned. Understanding where we came from can help us to understand who we are and where we would aspire to go. In contrast, distortion of the past, whether through ignorance or through purposeful manipulation, often gives rise to conflict.

History teaches practical skills. While a BA in history (like other liberal arts) does not provide you with a professional degree, such as accounting or engineering, it does teach many skills that are important in the working world. The study of history teaches you to read efficiently; to think critically and rigorously; to write clearly and precisely; to search out, organize, and assess evidence; to analyze problems and interpret complex events. These skills may not prepare you for a particular job, but they provide you with the tools to succeed at a wide range of occupations. UH history majors have gone on to careers in law, government and politics, journalism, technical writing, business, archives management, teaching (at all levels), and optometry. Some (but only a small percentage of the total) have gone on to take advanced degrees in history. The basic skills in critical thinking, analysis, and writing you will gain as a history major will be put to good use in whatever career you choose.

 

 

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