History MA and PhD students put their training and expertise to use in a wide range of careers. Our graduate alumni have gone on to pursue successful careers in government, law, journalism, education, public service, business, public history, and international commerce. Queen’s PhD graduates can be found on the faculty of many Canadian universities and several international institutions. With the contraction of the academic job market, an increasing number of our graduates are opting to pursue other career paths.
Explore the range of resources available below and learn how our alumni have put their training in History to use through our Alumni Stories and our Alumni Archives Podcast.
Follow Queen’s University on LinkedIn to learn more about where our alumni are now!
Professional Development Opportunities
We strive to provide opportunities for professional development that will help position our graduates for jobs both within the academy and beyond.
As part of their coursework, MA students take HIST 811: Introduction to Historical Research, which includes a series of workshops intended to help MA students develop the skills required for conducting and presenting historical research. It is also intended as a forum in which to discuss the profession, career opportunities, and to foster intellectual community in the M.A. cohort. The course helps prepare students for writing their cognate essays or thesis.
PhD students enroll in HIST 901: Approaches to History, an examination of major historical debates, schools of historical research and writing, and historical methodologies to train students in the discipline.
Additionally, the department organizes a number of professional development events and workshops throughout the year. These include graduate student writing retreats, networking events, job fairs, TF Talks, grant application workshops, and more. See our Events page for all upcoming events.
We also regularly advertise and encourage our students to attend the professional development workshops and training opportunities organized by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA), Student Academic Success Services (SASS), and Career Services in our weekly digital newsletters. You can register for upcoming SGSPA Workshops & Opportunities on the SGSPA Event Calendar.
See Graduate Resources for a full list of academic and professional resources at Queen's.
Professional Networks and Job Search Tools
American Historical Association (AHA)
The American Historical Association is the largest professional organization serving historians in all fields and all professions. The AHA is a trusted voice advocating for history education, the professional work of historians, and the critical role of historical thinking in public life.
Canadian Historical Association (CHA)
Founded in 1922, the Canadian Historical Association | La Société historique du Canada is a bilingual not-for-profit and charitable association devoted to fostering the scholarly study and communication of history in Canada.
The Association seeks to encourage the integration of historical knowledge and perspectives in both the scholarly and public spheres, to ensure the accessibility of historical resources, and to defend the rights and freedoms of emerging and professional historians in the pursuit of historical inquiry as well as those of history degree holders who utilize the analytical, research, communication, and writing skills they acquired during their studies to pursue a variety of career paths inside or outside of academia.
The CHA hosts an annual meeting each spring in conjunction with the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Between 350-500 historians gather to share their research on themes representing the full diversity of the discipline and to network with colleagues. Travel grants for students and the precariously employed are available. See the CHA Annual Meeting website for more details.
A great resource for History graduate students is Employing History: A Guide to Graduate School and Navigating the Job Market (edited by Carly Ciufo, Jenny Ellison, and Andrew M. Johnston, with Lindsay Bilodeau, Michel Duquet, Sean Kheraj, Brittany Luby, and Allyson Stevenson) published by the Canadian Historical Association and the American Historical Association in 2020.
Canadian Museums Association (CMA)
The Canadian Museum Association (CMA) is the voice for Canada’s vibrant museum community, from small, volunteer-driven organizations to cherished national institutions, and for the millions of Canadians whose lives are enriched by museums.
Government of Canada
Many of our graduates pursue fulfilling careers working for the Government of Canada, particularly in the heritage sector. See GC Jobs for all current opportunities.
The Federal Student Work Experience Program is also a great opportunity to develop your professional skill sets. Full-time university students returning to full-time studies in the next academic term are eligible to apply.
Humanities & Social Sciences Online (H-Net)
H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online (H-Net) is an independent, non-profit scholarly association that offers an open academic space for scholars, teachers, advanced students and related professionals. H-Net’s digital platform, The Commons, provides a dynamic array of functions that allow academics to engage with each other, collaboratively produce knowledge, and disseminate information to its subscribers and the general public. Built around an online system of networks moderated by certified editors, H-Net is uniquely situated to encourage technological innovation in the humanities and social sciences while safeguarding academic best practices.
See H-Announce for announcements related to conferences, calls for papers, events, funding opportunities, fellowships, and more.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a news publication dedicated to covering colleges and universities that features professional development opportunities and resources and academic and academic-related positions. See the Chronicle of Higher Education Jobs board for all current opportunities.
Work in Culture
Work in Culture supports the professional lives of artists, creatives and cultural workers, and the organizations that support and engage them, through skills development, research, and career resources. See the Work in Culture Job Board for current opportunities.
WorkInNon-Profits.ca
WorkInNonProfits.ca is committed to help build and strengthen Canada's non-profit sector by connecting non-profits across the country with job seekers and volunteers. See the Regular Jobs Board and the Volunteer Jobs Board for all current opportunities.
Young Canada Works Program (YCW)
YCW creates meaningful youth employment in the built heritage sectors, by helping employers who offer student summer jobs and internship positions in such areas as historic research, heritage site interpretation, Doors Open events, and much more.
YCW is a collaboration between the National Trust for Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage. YCW also aids employers in creating and funding jobs and connecting them with a pool of eligible students from around the country who are looking for work.
Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or have refugee status in Canada; be full-time students in the semester preceding the YCW work assignment; and be between 16-30 years of age at the start of employment. See the Funding Eligibility criteria for more information.
