M.A. in History: Scope and Employment Opportunities

History graduates usually find plenty of lucrative career positions in both government and private sectors. Some of the most promising government job arenas are museums, libraries, archives, tourism, heritage consultancy & planning, and foreign affairs departments. Apart from this, History majors can also opt for Academia, Law, Journalism, Politics, Civil Services, and Public Relations. 

The scope of M.A. History is rich and varied:

1. Archeology 

Archaeology is a highly research-oriented field of study. Archaeologists are experts who investigate the different facets of human, cultural, and material development. They excavate and unearth things of historical importance like coins, inscriptions, monuments, etc., and analyze them to find out which period they belong to, their purpose, how they were used, and so on.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for maintaining heritage buildings, museums, sites, and historical research institutions. So, for an aspiring Archeologist, ASI is the ideal employment institution.

2. Museology

As the name suggests, Museology refers to the study of museums. A Museologist studies and investigates the History of museums, their societal importance, and the activities they propagated. This branch of study will teach you how to curate and preserve a museum.

Furthermore, Museologists perform detailed documentation work concerning artifacts and museum management. They work in museums, heritage galleries, and also in various non-governmental organizations.

3. Academia

The teaching profession is the best career choice for History graduates who want to educate the next generation and infuse their knowledge back to society. This is undoubtedly one of the most respectable jobs.

As a History teacher, you can work in schools, colleges, universities, and online learning institutions. A B.Ed degree is necessary for the school level, whereas for colleges/universities, you must pass the UGC NET exam.

4. Research

Research is another excellent fit for History graduates. As a researcher, you will learn to understand past civilizations and societies’ History by studying, examining, and interpreting evidence (texts, pictures, paintings, maps, physical remains of historical sites, etc.).

Researchers find well-paying jobs in historical research organizations like the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR) and the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).

5. Civil Services

History makes up a crucial part of the prelims and main exams of the Indian Civil Services. Naturally, if you are a History major, you will possess in-depth knowledge of Historical events, dates, and concepts.

This will be a significant help when you appear for the Civil Services exams. If you clear the Civil Services exams, you will join the ranks of the most prestigious and respectable officers in the country. 

Jobs Opportunities for M.A. History Candidates

1. Historian

Historians are academics, and researchers rolled into one. They mainly deal with studying the events of the past. Historians research, analyze, and interpret historical events and write their inferences about them.

They collect data from libraries, archives, and artifacts, determining the authenticity and importance of historical data, translate historical documents into human languages, preserve artifacts and documents in museums, and publish their writings in academic journals. 

2. Archivist

Archivists are primarily responsible for acquiring, curating, and managing a permanent collection of documents, artifacts, other materials of historical and cultural importance. Their archive generally includes historic books, papers, maps, photographs, prints, films, videotapes, and computer-generated records.

In essence, Archivists preserve the past for the present and future generations of learners, researchers, and the general public. Apart from this, Archivists liaise with donors and depositors of archives and maintain computer-aided search systems.

3. Curator

Curators take on a managerial role in museums, art galleries, or heritage centers. They develop collections of valuable exhibits such as artworks, paintings, sculptures, scriptures, etc. Curators organize events like exhibitions, conferences, and audio-visual presentations to display their collections.

They buy exhibits, negotiate the prices of objects, arrange for the restoration of artifacts, maintain records and catalog acquisitions, and raise funds and grants for museums/art galleries.

4. Archeologist 

Archaeologists study human civilizations to find out how they impacted the present world. They inspect and examining historical artifacts, ranging from prehistoric tools and objects to monuments and buildings. Their prime duty is to recover and analyze the remains extracted from excavation sites.

Archaeologists’ job demands that they travel extensively within the country and globally to find pieces of historical significance. According to their specialization, they can also settle for tenured academic positions like lecturers, professors, conservators, and museum curators.

5. History Teacher / Professor

While History Teachers work in schools, Professors teach at colleges and universities. School teachers are responsible for imparting foundational History knowledge to students. They teach students about the important historical events in brevity, prepare lesson plans, grade papers, develop class activities schedule, and accompany students on field trips to historical sites.

History Professors teach specialized and advanced history courses to students in their undergraduate/postgraduate degree programs. They offer lectures on different historical periods, events, theories, etc., and write detailed research papers, articles, and books. 
 

Admission Process

Kindly follow the steps mentioned below to complete your Admission process

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates applying for admission in MA course will need to fit the eligibility criteria before applying. Aspirants who are ineligible will be rejected at any time of the admission process and will not be entertained further. The following points are the eligibility criteria which is to be met by the candidate.
• Candidates should have successfully completed their Bachelor's degree (preferably arts) of a minimum 3 or 4-year duration with its equivalent (10+2+3 or 10+2+4). The bachelor's or master's degree should be from a university that is recognized by the UGC (University Grants Commission) of India.
• Before applying, candidates studying a three-year degree program will have needed to pass all subjects from the 1st to 4th semester, while applicants who pursued a four-year course, should have passed in all subjects from the 1st to 6th semester.
• Candidates need to note that if the information provided on the application is incorrect or misleading at any point of the admission process, the candidate's admission will be canceled.