Build skills. Gain experience. Explore your future. Students in Cal State East Bay's Department of History & Global Cultures develop valuable skills in research, critical thinking, communication, cultural understanding, and problem-solving. These skills prepare graduates for a wide range of careers in education, business, public service, museums, technology, and other professional fields.

Our graduates demonstrate the versatility of these degrees. A study of more than 800 History BA and MA alumni found that graduates pursue careers across business, K–12 education, public service, science and technology, higher education, and cultural heritage. Explore their diverse career pathways and professional achievements.

Students can also explore professional opportunities and career resources specific to their fields:

• Anthropology Careers

• Careers for History Majors

• Careers in Public History

• Global Studies Careers

Personalized Career Support

Our faculty work closely with students to help them explore professional interests and prepare for opportunities beyond graduation. Support includes:

• Career exploration and graduate school planning.

• Resume and cover letter guidance.

• Faculty mentorship and letters of recommendation.

• Internship planning and professional connections.

• Referrals to university career services and community engagement opportunities.

Students can also access resources through Cal State East Bay's Career Empowerment Center and Center for Community Engagement.

Internships and Professional Experience

Our department helps students identify internships that connect their academic interests with practical professional experience. Students have pursued opportunities in education, government, law, business, museums, archives, and community organizations throughout the Bay Area.

Recent internship placements and experiences include:

• Legal Department of a global biopharmaceutical company.

• District Office of an East Bay congressional representative.

• Oakland Unified School District.

• Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California.

• Bay Area JusticeCorps.

• San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library.

• Oral history, public history, and community-based research projects.

Students have also gained experience through archaeological fieldwork, museum collections, and cultural heritage projects, including opportunities associated with the Clarence E. Smith Museum of Anthropology.

Interested in an internship? We encourage students to explore organizations and professional fields that match their interests. Faculty can help identify opportunities, develop connections with potential partners, and determine how an internship might fit into a student's academic program.

Research and Professional Development

Beyond internships, students can gain valuable experience through original research, scholarly publishing, public presentations, and leadership opportunities.

• Student Research: Collaborate with faculty on historical, anthropological, and interdisciplinary research projects.

• Scholarly Publishing: Gain editorial and publishing experience through East Bay Historia, our student-run scholarly journal. The department is also the editorial home of California History, a peer-reviewed journal published by the University of California Press.

• Academic Conferences: Present original research at the annual Wanda Washington Student Conference and develop professional presentation and networking skills.

• Public History and Museum Projects: Participate in digital history, archival research, museum exhibitions, archaeological projects, and community collaborations.

• Student Leadership: Develop professional skills by serving as student tutors, peer mentors, departmental ambassadors, or participants in student organizations such as Phi Alpha Theta.

These experiences allow students to apply classroom learning, build professional portfolios, and prepare for employment or advanced study.