Career Pathways
You can do just about anything with a degree in history. Our students learn how to think critically and independently, analyze sources, and write clearly. These skills are not only useful, but essential in all walks of life. Our alums are teachers and professors, librarians and archivists, entrepreneurs, activists, lawyers, health-care professionals, and pursue many other exciting professions.
On this page:
Internships
History majors at Wheaton choose internships at museums, archives, libraries, and more.
History majors have interned with:
- Old Sturbridge Village
- The New England Ski Museum
- Plimoth Plantation
- Historic New England
- Martha’s Vineyard Museum
- Massachusetts Historical Society
- The New York Historical Society
- Senator Jeanne Shaheen
- Atlantic Records
Featured Internships
Everett Bertrand
Androscoggin Historical Society
As a Wheaton College Summer Fellow, Everett interned with the Androscoggin Historical Society during the summer of 2015. He transcribed letters from Edward Little, a famous landowner in central Maine from the early 1800s, to his father Josiah Little. These were published in a book: Dear Parent: A Biography and Letters of Edward Little, by Douglas I. Hodgkin.
Current Internships Available
Roman Provincial Settlement Excavation and Survey – Life by the Imperial Roads
Description: The project integrates Classical excavation approaches with various exploratory field techniques, ranging from STP (shovel test pits), geochemical soil analysis (phosphate spot testing), and surface field collection coupled with topographical total station assisted mapping. We will be looking at the transformation of the countryside in relation to the development of the Imperial road river infrastructure, and the role of our “palatial villa” in the development of a creolized Roman landscape.
Roman Villa Excavation – Identity and Wealth on the Roman Frontier
Description: The integrated results of our various field techniques have yielded extraordinary results: a rural built space of ca. one hectare, with massive fortification walls decorated with exterior frescoes, with richly built two stories buildings, containing exceptional artifacts (well preserved bronze statues, jewelry, pristine condition coins, writing implements, etc.). Our target excavation, the central building of the “villa” has already presented us with a very complex and surprising occupation sequence and practices.
Applied Field Geophysics Workshop – Ground Penetrating Radar Workshop
Description: Our program offers intensive training in Ground Penetrating Radar exploration techniques, both field and laboratory analysis, as it applies to the anthropogenic transformation of a historical landscape, in this case, the hinterland of the “palatial villa” and associated structures, roads and land use. All participants registered to two field sessions of the above can participate to the Geophysics Workshop free of cost.
Fellowships
Our majors win a variety of post-graduate fellowships.
Neill Brandon won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Jinju, South Korea, working at a science high school for gifted students. “I had a chance to travel around Korea and make Korean friends. Living and working in Korea, I had to adjust on the fly and understand centuries-old traditions. Being a history major taught me to assess multiple viewpoints and to refine communication skills for any situation. Studying history helped me explore cultures across the globe. History Department faculty fostered my passion for education with their contagious enthusiasm and dedication to their work.”
Albert Kramer was a fellow in New York City’s Urban Fellows Program working at the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. “I studied and analyzed possible solutions to the threats currently facing New York City’s wetlands. I also helped OLTPS update New York City’s comprehensive sustainability plan (PLANYC 2030) by Earth Day 2011. Studying history has allowed me to develop the research, critical analysis, and writing skills necessary to locate, weigh, and assess different policy options.
Graduate School
Our majors enter graduate programs of all kinds.
Lacey ChrystalAfter Wheaton, Lacey completed a masters degree in American History at the University of Texas at Arlington where she taught college history courses. She plans to start a doctoral program. “My desire to be a college professor came 110% from my education at Wheaton – I wanted to be the kind of supportive, inventive, and passionate teacher that had influenced me so much as a student.”
Marie Jamieson
After graduation, Marie worked at the Dallas Heritage Village on Texan-American history from the Civil War to 1909. She then entered a masters program in special education at Simmons College in Boston and worked at Brookline High School. “I love helping students push themselves intellectually. Just the other day a student needed a book for an economics class, and I suggested Nickel and Dimed from my Labor History class! Wheaton taught me to think more analytically about history, that it’s not all just facts. I try to help students by connecting history to the present. It’s a challenge, and I love every minute of it!”
Featured Alumni
Stephen Penney
I work as an analyst in the expanding asset management division of Barclays, called Barclays Wealth. I am exploring how the financial sector operates, and building relationships in the business. Studying history at Wheaton has opened my eyes to many things most finance majors never learned in college, such as the manifestations of society and culture in the business world.
Charles Allen
I am currently the Career Program Manager for the Posse Foundation’s Boston office. Posse helps outstanding high school students succeed in higher education through scholarships and other types of support. I was inspired by my history courses to work for more access to professional leadership for people of all backgrounds.