4 Top Career options to consider after completing a Degree in History

Are you wondering what your career options are after studying History? People often think that there are no career options besides academics for students pursuing humanities. But if explored, there are actually a lot of opportunities waiting for you. Let’s have a look at some of the prospective career options that one can get into after pursuing History honors.

1. Archaeologists

Every culture and civilization has its own history. Archaeology is the study of seals, monuments, edifices, inscriptions, etc., from the past which have been buried for several centuries. If history interests you, then a career as an archaeologist can be one of the best job opportunities. The field of study helps in exploring the scientific side of culture and generations. There can be a varied range of archaeologists like Historical Archaeology, Ethno Archaeology, Forensic Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, etc.

Responsibilities of an Archaeologist:

• Compile and keep a track of written, photographic records and electronic databases
• Examine, study and preserve artefacts
• Analyse and interpret data collected
• Mathematical, statistical and computational modelling to reconstruct history from the available archaeological information

PG Courses in Archaeology or related fields that you can pursue:

• Master of Arts in Archaeology
• Master of Science in Archaeology
• Master of Arts in Ancient Indian History and Archaeology
• Master of Science in Ancient Indian History and Archaeology
• Master of Arts in Anthropology
• Master of Science in Anthropology
• Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology

Job opportunities:

Both private and government sectors hire archaeologists in large numbers. Organisations like the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), National Museum, Government and private museums and cultural galleries. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) hires professionals, and an assistant archaeologist at ASI can earn anywhere between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month approximately. The average salary of an ASI professional is about 3-4 LPA.

2. Museologist

Preserving heritage in museums has been of grave importance and pride. If you have a keen interest in collecting ancient artifacts or preserving them, then a career as a museologist can prove to be the right track for you. The main skill required here is to have a great aesthetic sense. Museology is the study of museums and their history as well as their role in the society and the activities they engage in, including curating, preservation, public programming, and education. Those pursuing museology are collectively called as museologists.

Responsibilities of a Museologist:

• Maintaining and tracking the items and artefacts in the museum
• Keeping a record of different information about artefacts, such as origin, age and conservation status
• Organising artefacts in the museum, labelling them, writing the relevant information about it
• Arrange exhibitions at the museum

PG Courses in Museology or related fields:

• Master of Arts in Museology
• Diploma in Museology and History of Indian Arts

Job Opportunities

Museology can land you multiple job opportunities like Museum Director, Gallery Assistant, Curator, Design Consultant, Collections Assistant etc. After the completion of a Masters, candidates can take up a job in various museums, art galleries, and other related fields.

This career option does not only have job opportunities in the private sector but also in government sectors as well (public museums) and even abroad.

Salary is an important concern before stepping into any career. Unlike other jobs, the initial pay package is low which is around Rs. 15, 000 to Rs.30, 000 per month. However, the salary increases with the increase in experience and post. The private sector packages for this job are significantly better than government packages.

3. Archivists

Archivists are information experts trained to preserve source data and assist people in obtaining it. Paper documents, videos, photos, digital data–everything is handled and studied by archivists. This increases the chance of public research. Because of the growing demand of archivists, specialised degree courses are now being designed both in public and private sectors.

Responsibilities of Archivists:

• Acquire, access and preserve digital materials
• Update and maintain the archival database
• Create heritage research files relevant to business target
• Arrange exhibitions and participate in outreach programmes

PG Courses you can pursue:

• Masters in Library Studies
• Masters in Humanities
• Masters in Social Science

Job opportunities:

Archivists have multiple job opportunities in archival units of government agencies, local governments, industrial and commercial firms, hospitals, museums, historical societies, libraries and other educational institutions. The salary range for archivists in the public sector ranges from INR 5 LPA to 6 LPA while in the private sector the salary ranges from INR 7 LPA to 8 LPA.

4. Historian

Historians analyse history and facts and then share the information with the public. They are responsible for interpreting historical documents and sources and maintaining the authenticity of information being shared.

Responsibilities of Historians:

• Research and complete a historical project with relevant facts and information
• Educate the public with historical information
• Give relevant informations and opinions on government policies

PG Courses:

• Master of Arts in History
• B.Ed in History
• M.Phil in History