I'm attending USNA next year with the class of 2015 and even though I don't have to decide until 2nd semester, I want to have a good idea of what major I'm going to do while in school. I'm wondering what alot of the history majors from USNA do after they graduate and fulfill their service committment if they choose to not stay in the Navy/Marine corp. Do most just end up becoming history teachers or are they still pretty employable for many other jobs since they have a bachelor's of science? I feel like a nob for even asking this but it would be cool to hear from some current history majors/history grads about what they are doing right now/what they plan to do with their degrees if they decided to leave after their service committment is up.
History majors at USNA
- Thread starter PaddyyD
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Whistle Pig
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Lots of history teachers, museum curators, and librarians (but only if one goes back to library school)!
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Ditto to usna1985's suggestion, and cruising the Life After the Academy threads.
The B.S. and military leadership and resource management experience, plus the SA background and powerful network, add up to many, many open doors in the future, regardless of major, in and out of uniform.
Of our USNA sponsor midshipmen who were history majors in the last 10 years, here's where some are now:
- Navy Surface Warfare (ships), then the Navy Law Education Program, got law degree at UVA, now a Navy JAG.
- Marine helo pilot, also minored in Chinese, following the USMC Foreign Area Officer (FAO) program, did an immersion year in China after gaining Master's, will eventually be posted to military attache jobs. At this very moment, flying missions for Japan disaster relief.
- Navy submarines, did his time, now works for major defense contractor as a program analyst.
- Four currently in Surface Warfare, either on ships or shore duty. One worked in the White House Communications Office for shore duty, got out at end of commitment, and easily found a job in DC after that.
- Marine infantry, got out at 6 years, used one of the many JMO (junior military officer) placement firms, and is in the management track at a major brand-name food industry firm.
- Naval aviator, did his time, now works with aircraft simulator defense contractor.
- Surface Warfare out of USNA, got med disqualified due to severe seasickness, came ashore, went to college at night to refresh on bio/chem, took MCATs, applied for lateral transfer to Medical Corps, went to USUHS (military med school), is now a Navy doc
- Naval Aviation out of USNA, DORed (dropped on request), was given an early out though he would willingly have served in another warfare community (Navy was releasing people from commitment due to too many junior officers), was placed by a JMO firm at a major airline, and is now Ground Operations Manager for them at a major hub, after starting as entry-level manager on the ground. He is due for another promotion soon. His GI bill and his company paid for his MBA with emphasis on business operations.
Not one of our history major "sons and daughters" are actively working in the history field. But that's not to say that might not be a third or fourth career...
The B.S. and military leadership and resource management experience, plus the SA background and powerful network, add up to many, many open doors in the future, regardless of major, in and out of uniform.
Of our USNA sponsor midshipmen who were history majors in the last 10 years, here's where some are now:
- Navy Surface Warfare (ships), then the Navy Law Education Program, got law degree at UVA, now a Navy JAG.
- Marine helo pilot, also minored in Chinese, following the USMC Foreign Area Officer (FAO) program, did an immersion year in China after gaining Master's, will eventually be posted to military attache jobs. At this very moment, flying missions for Japan disaster relief.
- Navy submarines, did his time, now works for major defense contractor as a program analyst.
- Four currently in Surface Warfare, either on ships or shore duty. One worked in the White House Communications Office for shore duty, got out at end of commitment, and easily found a job in DC after that.
- Marine infantry, got out at 6 years, used one of the many JMO (junior military officer) placement firms, and is in the management track at a major brand-name food industry firm.
- Naval aviator, did his time, now works with aircraft simulator defense contractor.
- Surface Warfare out of USNA, got med disqualified due to severe seasickness, came ashore, went to college at night to refresh on bio/chem, took MCATs, applied for lateral transfer to Medical Corps, went to USUHS (military med school), is now a Navy doc
- Naval Aviation out of USNA, DORed (dropped on request), was given an early out though he would willingly have served in another warfare community (Navy was releasing people from commitment due to too many junior officers), was placed by a JMO firm at a major airline, and is now Ground Operations Manager for them at a major hub, after starting as entry-level manager on the ground. He is due for another promotion soon. His GI bill and his company paid for his MBA with emphasis on business operations.
Not one of our history major "sons and daughters" are actively working in the history field. But that's not to say that might not be a third or fourth career...
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Whistle Pig
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Indeed, MANY career options open to USNA alumni. But those are mostly inspite of history, not because of it.
In contrast to engineers, language and international studies majors, sciences, maybe even English, poli sci.
Ah, there's always law school. "What the world needs now, is law, sweet law ..." ;-)
A history degree in the USA is analogous to a masters of judaic studies in Jerusalem.
I fully concur, study what turns you on. But live under little illusion about its specific value in the employment world of the future. It's the ring that'll ring the employer's bell.
In contrast to engineers, language and international studies majors, sciences, maybe even English, poli sci.
Ah, there's always law school. "What the world needs now, is law, sweet law ..." ;-)
A history degree in the USA is analogous to a masters of judaic studies in Jerusalem.
I fully concur, study what turns you on. But live under little illusion about its specific value in the employment world of the future. It's the ring that'll ring the employer's bell.
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