To become an economic historian, a graduate program is usually required, with undergraduate degrees in economics and history being beneficial. Economic history combines economic modeling with historical approaches and focuses on analyzing past events. Employment opportunities include academia, government, and business. Mathematical and analytical thinking, as well as effective reading and writing skills, are essential. Part-time lecturing and adjunct professor positions are also available. Economic historians can also work in the industrial or government sectors.
Economic history is an academic field and anyone wishing to become an economic historian should plan for a graduate program. An adequate undergraduate degree is usually required to enter a graduate program in economic history, although there may be some flexibility for students with exceptional backgrounds. After graduation, economic historians often work for government, business, or academia, although specific qualifications vary somewhat between these fields.
The discipline of economic history blends some of the economic modeling techniques and theories of conventional economics with some of the techniques and approaches used by academic historians. The field focuses much of its attention on developing economic trends and forces in the past, and pays particular attention to the history of specific events. This discipline generally employs rigorous statistical modeling in the course of its work, analyzing past events.
Entry into the field of economic history typically requires a graduate education. Some schools, particularly in the UK, offer degrees specifically in economic history. Other school systems offer economic history as an area of study that can be undertaken within history or economics departments. Terminal master’s programs are available and can be combined with other degrees, such as in business administration.
Graduate economics programs select students with a wide range of abilities. Mathematical and analytical thinking is crucial, but the ability to read and write effectively is also required. An undergraduate student seeking to become an economic historian must focus his studies on economics and history and demonstrate ability in mathematical and analytical work. Undergraduate courses in economic history, which teach just these skills, are available at some schools.
After obtaining a proper education, a candidate who wants to become an economic historian can look for employment in the academic field. These positions are very valuable, and a successful candidate for a teaching position will typically have a very strong track record as an undergraduate, along with excellent references from their mentors. A publication history in peer-reviewed journals is also very useful for a student who intends to become an economic historian.
In some cases, a student working to become an economic historian may not want to pursue a career as a full-time academic. It is possible for these students to find part-time work lecturing on economic history. Many universities now employ adjunct professors to teach many of their classes and are happy to hire professors on a per-course basis. This type of work may also be suitable for economic historians who are primarily employed in other sectors but are interested in being part of a scholarly community.
Economic history training can also prepare a student to become an economic historian in the industrial or government sectors. The skills of economic historians are useful to companies for a variety of modeling purposes. Governments can also use these skills to improve their ability to carry out their planning and regulatory functions.
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