Many who study History are simply drawn to the field because of their fascination with the past. Some students bring their historical interest with them from high school; others discover it once they start taking CU classes. Because fact is often more intriguing than fiction, we have an opportunity to learn from the peculiarities of the past. We seek to understand historical actors on their own terms by keeping in mind the forces that influenced their lives. By doing so, we learn to understand the present from a broader perspective.
The study of History for many is not only entertaining, enchanting, and educational but also practical, useful, and insightful. It helps us to become more aware of our present and more cosmopolitan in our interaction with other cultures. When crises erupt, societies often turn to history to explain their challenges. Even without crisis, history cultivates awareness of the present forces of change. By doing so, we cultivate interpersonal skills and cultural awareness.
Perhaps now more than ever we feel that a thorough knowledge of history is vital for advancing civic discourse and political awareness in our society. Our students learn about the historical roots of modern government and society, cultivating a commitment to participatory citizenship. In short, the study of history fosters the fragile gift of a free political society.
In addition, business leaders often tell us that the study of history and the liberal arts have traditionally prepared students to think, to consider evidence, and to express themselves clearly. These critical thinking skills are increasingly in short supply and in high demand. History graduates can apply them to fields ranging from engineering to screenplay writing.
In the complex and contentious world in which we live, a History degree provides the tools for thoughtful public citizenship. Historians help us to navigate contemporary controversies, and the study of history cultivates the interpersonal skills and cultural awareness essential to heightening civic discourse and engagement. Importantly, students of History gain valuable skills that prepare them for careers in many fields. In this knowledge economy, employers increasingly want people who can write and speak clearly and persuasively, who can read deeply and critically, who can think independently and ethically, who can do complex research and make cogent evidence-based arguments, who can locate relevant sources and discern good information from bad, who understand how and why change occurs, who are culturally literate, and who can manage the diversity of the modern workplace in all of its forms. These are skills you will gain through the study of History, and they are highly valued by today’s employers. Some CU Boulder History graduates work in fields directly related to the discipline of History, such as historic preservation, archival and museum management, elementary and secondary education, and even academia. But most of our graduates take the skills they learned as History majors or minors to other professions such as government, the foreign service, marketing, publishing, journalism and digital media, business, communications, human resources, tourism, banking and investment services, and the law. We truly teach skills that will serve you for life