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Your Future

Your Future

History students develop research and analysis skills, cultural awareness, and communications expertise that are valued by employers and help you become an active citizen in global society. The career value of undergraduate degrees in liberal arts such as History is widely recognized (external link) . The broad-based skills developed by humanities graduates, such as critical thinking, effective communication, and cultural awareness skills, are vital to the success of employees in a very broad range of careers, including at high-tech companies such as Google. (external link) 

History stands out among liberal arts subjects. For example, an American study found that History was the most common undergraduate degree held by Forbes 500 CEOs and History graduates feature disproportionately often on the boards of Britain’s top 100 companies (external link, opens in new window) 

What can I do with a History BA? Almost anything!

A History BA supports many career paths:

  • Work in business, the creative industries, government, foreign service, international agencies or non-governmental organizations, military or national defence.
  • Become a professional researcher in fields such as media, film, law, and heritage.
  • Manage heritage sites or a cultural agency.
  • Pursue further education in fields such as law, library and information management, teaching, advertising, human resources, business, journalism, or museum curation or management.

Well-known History graduates include former American Presidents John F. Kennedy and George Bush Sr., former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, musicians Shakira, Lauryn Hill, Bruce Dickinson, and Neil Tennant, author Salman Rushdie, comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, actress Amanda Peet, Anita Roddick (founder of the Body Shop) – and even Prince Charles.

The Department of History actively supports students who want to pursue graduate studies in History or other fields, and provides regular opportunities to meet History graduates working in a wide variety of careers. Ryerson History students can also access individual career counselling and customized workshops through the Faculty of Arts Career Counselling Services (opens in new window)