Historical Studies - Sample Occupations and Jobs

 

Sample Occupations and Jobs

“What can I do with my degree” and “How do I assess which job or career area will be a good fit for me” are questions that many university students ask themselves at various points during their time at university. Below is a sample of the many types of occupations and jobs that graduates of this program can consider. The list provided is intended to give students ideas of the many possible directions and career areas they can further research and explore.

 

 

Sample Occupations

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Detailed career profiles are available in the Career Resource Library. Some positions require further education and experience.

Archives, Libraries & Museums

  • Appraiser
  • Archaeologist
  • Archivist
  • Cataloguer
  • Collections Manager
  • Conservation Officer
  • Conservator
  • Curator
  • Digital Archivist
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Genealogical Specialist
  • Librarian
  • Museum Administrator
  • Museum Technician
  • Records Management Technician

Community & Public Service

  • Arts Administrator
  • Civic Engagement Coordinator
  • Community Development Officer
  • Diplomat
  • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Specialist
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Human Rights Officer
  • Indigenous Liaison
  • Non-Profit Administrator
  • Political Aide
  • Religious Worker
  • Settlement Worker
  • Sustainability Specialist

Education

  • Academic Advisor
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Education Policy Researcher
  • Educational Program Coordinator
  • Instructional Designer
  • Research Assistant
  • Teacher / Professor

Heritage & Culture

  • Cultural Consultant
  • Heritage Interpreter
  • Historical Consultant
  • Interpretive Planner
  • Oral Historian
  • Restoration Technician
  • Tourism Consultant

Law & Government

  • Judicial Clerk
  • Lawyer
  • Lobbyist
  • Mediator / Conflict Resolution Specialist
  • Paralegal
  • Policy Advisor

Research & Analysis

  • Demographer
  • Historian
  • Historical Projects Coordinator
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Legal Researcher
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Policy Analyst

Writing, Publishing & Communications

  • Biographer
  • Communications Specialist
  • Copywriter
  • Documentarian
  • Editor
  • Grant Writer
  • Journalist
  • Media Analyst
  • News Analyst
  • Publisher
  • Speech Writer
  • Writer

 

Sample Job Listings

Below is a sample of previous jobs. These sample jobs were found in the job postings and previous jobs on CLNx. This can provide some ideas of where jobs are or have been.

Note: It’s important to remember that job titles can vary depending on the company. Use keywords related to your field of interest when searching for jobs and concentrate on the skills listed in the job description.

  • Collection and Information Assistant, Multicultural History Society of Ontario
  • Coordinator - Volunteerism & Diversity, Toronto and Region Conservation
  • Coordinator, Public Affairs, Toronto International Film Festival
  • Customer Care Representative, Ministry of Government & Consumer Services
  • Editor, Popular Book Company
  • Gallery Attendant, Oakville Galleries
  • Historical Interpreter, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, City of Toronto
  • Historical Researcher, Public History Inc.
  • Municipal Affairs Reporter, NRU Publishing
  • Museum Curator, Dartmouth Heritage Museum
  • Research Assistant (Archival), Department of Historical Studies, UTM
  • Researcher, The History Group
  • Student Exhibition Coordinator, Blackwood Gallery, UTM
  • Technician - Greek & Roman Collections, Royal Ontario Museum
  • Toronto Public Library - Volunteer Tutor, Toronto Public Library

 

Sample Areas of Employment

The following is a list of areas where graduates from this program typically look for career opportunities. These sectors in the labour market can be explored to identify the businesses and organizations within these areas and to learn about the breadth of opportunities that can be found here. In your research, look for factors influencing these sectors, and how this relates to the broader economy – if there is growth in these areas, then there may also be interesting work opportunities.   

  • Cultural organizations
  • Educational institutions
  • Exhibit design companies
  • Government agencies
  • Government, private and religious archives
  • Inter-religious dialogue organizations
  • Legal services
  • Museums & art galleries
  • Newspapers & magazines
  • Non-profit agencies
  • Parks, nature centres & world heritage sites
  • Preservation boards & historical societies
  • Publishing houses
  • Science centres
  • Self-employed/freelance
  • Shelters, drop-in centres & community centres

 

Return to Historical Studies Careers by Major

Updated May 2025