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History alumni are successful in a wide range of fields and faculty proactively advise students and encourage them to plan ahead for future success.

Successful and meaningful lives What can you do with a History major?

A very great deal, as it turns out. The success of Ursinus History students and alumni agrees with the latest data on the career success of history majors nationwide. Contrary to stereotype, history students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for lifelong success.

The achievements of our department’s alumni are recognized by the college and external organizations. The Rising Star Alumni Award was given to alum Kelly Becker ’10 in 2018. In 2019, Elizabeth Iobst ’19 was one of two students awarded a Charles Rice Post-Graduate Research Fellowship. In 2020, Garrett Bullock ’20 was awarded a highly-competitive Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.

The further academic success of numerous Ursinus history alumni.

Wide-ranging career paths

Every year, some of our students pursue certification in secondary education with the Education Department. However, the great majority of our students take their historically refined knowledge of the world and analytical and communication skills to diverse careers, including law, business, government, public service, public history and museum studies, diplomacy, journalism, and publishing.

Careers for History Majors - a data-driven 2018 report from the American Historical Association

Proactive advising and networking events

Helping students prepare for life after college is a top priority for the department. Our department partners closely with the Office of Career and Post-graduate Development to offer a number of information sessions and alumni networking events each year.

Alumni and Faculty, Spring 2018

History Careers Dinner

What alumni have to say about UC History and their careers:

“In terms of life after college, the Ursinus History Department aided me in figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I always knew I wanted to be a history teacher, but I was never sure as to how to make the subject interesting to those who do not love the subject the same way I do. The History Department opened my eyes to how wonderful historical discussion and analysis can be, which pushes me every day to be the best teacher I can be. I try to push my students to explore historical questions without fear, argue with one another, ask questions instead of accepting “truths,” look at what is missing to find answers, and, most importantly, bring the past in connection to their own lives. I wholeheartedly believe that this Department has played a major role in the teacher I am today and the teacher I want to become. Even now that I have graduated, the Department inspires me to be a better version of myself and to bring history alive in the same way they do. I will never forget that.”

Morgana Olbrich, Class of 2020

“I truly believe that had I not been taught and mentored by this staff I would not be anywhere near where I am right now. I think that the UC History Department is hitting all of the major items that should be hit in a history class in a college setting. I was exposed to all different types of research materials and methods. My writing skills were enhanced. My ability to articulate complex ideas was strengthened. I was pushed at every turn to grow in my understanding of History as a discipline and beyond.”
Kevin Bench, Class of 2009

“The education I received as a history major has been instrumental in my career as an attorney and was extremely helpful in preparing me for law school.”
Owen Weaver, Class of 2006

“My History 401 thesis and my internship at a DC documentary company, along with some freelance newspaper writing, each taught me how to write in a different way for a different purpose. Together they have helped me succeed in jobs ranging from reporting, to grant writing, to government policy.”
Joanna Doyle Shane, Class of 1999

“The abilities to think inferentially and intuitively have helped me immensely in my career as an educator. These are skills honed in my classes at Ursinus. As an administrator in education I must work constantly to relay pertinent information to my teachers. I break down data, interpret laws, and research trends in our field. None of this would have been possible without the skills I learned from the History department at Ursinus…Whether you plan to become a teacher, lawyer, member of the many parts of our country’s law enforcement, or work in a foreign embassy, the skills honed as a History major or minor lay the foundations for a successful career.”
Ed Kloss, Class of 2000

“I am a firm believer in the importance of a liberal education because of the foundation in provides an individual in understanding the world in which s/he lives. History is the most all-encompassing academic discipline for a liberal education and I believe the most useful academic major for anyone who wants to be a well-informed participant in society.”
Aaron Ranck, Class of 2002