Why Study in History?
1) Researching skills:
History students develop superior researching skills through exploring primary and secondary sources. Mastering the use of search engines, databases, archival collections and other such domains, they provide employers with the means tolocate a wide variety of information on virtually any topic.
2) Organizational skills:
History students develop strong organizational skillsby arranging vast amounts of information to present explanations of complex issues, events and themes.
3) Analytical skills:
History students learn to assess the strength of different types of information, both to advance and criticize arguments. They become experts at explaining the “who, what, when, how and why” of a topic to deepen our understanding of it and to explain how it links to other themes.
4) Writing skills:
History students devote a considerable amount of time to working on essays and thus develop superior writing skills. They must present clear and credible arguments supported by strong documentation, and marshal evidence in a logical and convincing manner.
5) Public speaking skills:
History students are often called upon to present their work in class, at conferences, and before other public forums. They gain valuable experience both in conveying and defending their interpretations.
The skills history students acquire and hone are fundamental to success in numerous careers. In some cases, students build upon these competencies to enter professional programs, such as law and education. Historians today are found in all manner of careers because their skills are highly transferable. Newspapers, archives, museums, think tanks, universities, government departments and even the House of Commons are among the many places in which one will find highly successful people who got their start by studying history.