History
"I love learning where we come from."
"We need to understand the past if we want to create lasting social change."
"History offers the most versatility in terms of learning about science, art, religion, politics and culture."
Our students say it best—history is the key to understanding what happened, why it happened, and the impact it has on our lives today. And it’s one of the most flexible majors, since it lets you explore so many different interests. Ready for a bright future? Keep scrolling.
What will I learn?
Politics in Latin America. Science in Europe. Buddhism in East Asia. Gender in Africa, LGBTQ history in the U.S. and international relations in the Atlantic world. At UB, your classes will cover different a variety of time periods and regions. Whether you're debating in a small seminar class or creating podcasts with friends, you’ll learn to think analytically, consider context and make use of history for engaging in today's society. As one student said, "the history classes I’ve taken at UB have stayed with me long after finishing them."
What can I do with a history degree?
A history degree is designed to give you skills that employers look for, including the ability to find information, think critically, discover connections and communicate clearly. "Majoring in history does not limit one to becoming a history teacher,” explained one grad, who works as a banking analyst. The process you use to write a history paper, he noted, can apply to many of the activities you'll do throughout your career. "While the information may not be the same, the skills and approach are."
At UB, you'll find our graduates working in many different types of careers, including:
- Academia.
- Archival and library management.
- Banking.
- Civil service.
- Communications.
- Education (including teaching in schools and educating people at historic sites and museums).
- Financial analysis.
- Foreign service.
- Government and cultural organizations.
- Health care.
- Investment services.
- Law.
- Marketing and advertising.
- Military.
- Museums.
- Newspapers/media.
- Non-profits.
- Public history.
- Public relations.
- Publishing.
- Social work.
- University teaching and administration.
Want to be a teacher?
Be prepared to teach grades 5-12 by getting your bachelor's and master's in just five years through our UB Teach program.
- Save time and money.
- No need to apply to graduate school.
- Be eligible for New York State professional teaching certification.
Visit the department website (at the top of this page) for more details, or see the for a list of all available majors.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $47,950.00 | $23.05 | Rapid Growth, Many Openings |
| Historians | $111,410.00 | $53.56 | Rapid Growth |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $103,030.00 | N/A | |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,500.00 | N/A |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.