Department of History

What is History?

History is your gateway to understanding the human experience across time and cultures while developing the critical thinking, research excellence and analytical skills that drive success in countless careers. As one of UofL's original departments since 1907, we empower you to explore the processes that shape societies while building practical expertise through hands-on internships at prestigious institutions like Churchill Downs and the Filson Historical Society. 

Our programs connect classroom learning with real-world application, preparing you for careers in law, education, museums, government and business — including our distinctive 3+3 Program that accelerates your path to legal careers at the prestigious Brandeis School of Law. 

Whether you're drawn to social sciences or humanities concentrations, our distinguished faculty guide you through transformative learning experiences using Louisville's rich historical landscape as your living laboratory. Here, your curiosity about the past transforms into the expertise and leadership that preserves human stories, informs wise decision-making and creates lasting impact in communities worldwide.

Career Prospects

Where the Past Becomes Your Professional Power

A History degree gives you more than knowledge of events and eras — it gives you the research discipline, analytical writing and contextual thinking that today's most demanding careers are built on. Whether your path leads to law, education, public history, government, business, journalism, nonprofit work or cultural preservation, a history education prepares you to understand complexity, argue from evidence and communicate with clarity.

History majors are among the highest earners in the humanities and arts, with prime-age graduates earning a median of $73,000 — the highest of any humanities and arts field tracked by Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce. Our graduates work in law, education, museums, archives, government, media, consulting, nonprofits and beyond. Many pursue the 3+3 accelerated path into the Brandeis School of Law.

You'll graduate with research skills, writing fluency and the capacity to think historically — skills that hold their value across every career change and that employers across sectors consistently identify as among their most critical needs. Our graduates turn their understanding of the past into careers that interpret, preserve and shape what comes next.

Explore Career Pathways in History