You Don’t Actually Need a Degree to Be a Historian

Short answer?

No, not always.

Longer, more honest answer?

It depends on what you mean when you say you want to be a historian.

This is one of those questions I wish I had seen answered clearly years ago… before I started researching graduate programs, before I assumed there was only one legitimate path, before I quietly wondered if I was already “behind.”

If you’re here, chances are you love history, reading, art…

All of the wonderful things that truly make us “human.”

I mean they’re called the “HUMANities” for a reason, right?!

You’re likely already reading and learning for fun, so you’re feeling that pull towards more – towards something deeper.

That’s definitely how I’ve felt these past couple of years when it comes to history.

Now more than ever, I believe that studying and knowing the past matters.

But you’re also practical.

And you’re not rich, right?

So you know that you need to make decisions with finances in mind.

If you’ve landed on this blog post, what you’re probably wondering is:

Is a master’s degree actually required to be a historian? Do I have to??
Is it worth the time and cost?
Is there another way to do meaningful historical work without going into debt?

That’s exactly what we’re covering today.

Table of Contents

About the Everyday Historian

Heeey! I’m Brittany – the writer and researcher behind The Everyday Historian.

This blog and my YouTube channel are documenting my journey to and through grad school.

I’m a married woman in my 30s, and it’s a different game making these big kinds of life decisions when you have a husband and a home to consider.

So if you can relate, be sure to join our free Facebook Group full of fellow Everyday Historians!

First, We Need to Define “Historian”

When people hear historian, they usually picture:

A university professor
An academic researcher
Someone publishing peer-reviewed articles

And, yes… for some historical careers, a master’s (or these days, likely a PhD) is required.

But that definition is far too narrow.

A historian is, at its core, someone who:

Researches the past
Interprets evidence
Communicates meaning from history to others

That work happens in many settings; not just universities.

And truly, aren’t you already a historian??

Someone who studies history, and shares their findings?

Even if it’s on a personal level, you’re already on your way.

Once you understand that, the question changes from

“Do I need a master’s?”

…instead, to…

“What kind of historical work do I want to do?”

When You Do Need a Master’s in History

There are paths where a master’s degree is basically non-negotiable.

You’ll almost certainly need one if you want to:

Teach history at the college level
Apply to PhD programs in history
Work as an academic researcher
Compete for certain museum or government historian roles

In those cases, a degree isn’t just some credential you’re getting like a means to an end.

You actually have a pretty set plan of what you’ll be studying and when.

Including, but not limited to:

Historiography (how history is written)
Research methods
Academic writing
Source criticism

If your goal is to be a paid academic historian, then yes; a master’s is often a necessary step (or part of a direct-to-PhD route, which I’ve written about here).

When You Don’t Need a Master’s to Be a Historian

Here’s the part that surprised me the most when I started digging into this.

There are many historical careers and income paths that do not require a master’s in history… or any graduate degree at all.

And really, I sort of knew that already. I’d just forgotten it.

My undergraduate degree was in Parks & Recreation Management.

So without realizing it, I actually met several people living as paid historians, who didn’t go the “traditional historian route” for their careers.

But being an education or interpretive park ranger isn’t your only option.

You could consider:

Public history (I’m loving the trend of integrating this with independent media, like podcasting)
Local and regional historical work
Archives and collections support roles
Research, writing, and content creation
Educational resource creation (I do this in my TeachersPayTeachers store!)
Digital history projects

In fact, some of these paths value experience, clarity, and communication more than formal credentials.

Many of these careers are more accessible than people realize, especially for nontraditional students.

Leverage the education, work experience, expertise, and enthusiasm you already have!

Experience Can Matter More Than Degrees

One of the biggest myths around history careers is that education always comes first.

But there are other ways to get experience and gain credibility as a historian.

Whether or not you get a master’s degree, start looking for opportunities to learn more, and show what you know!

As soon as this weekend, or even a few weeks from now, you could:

Volunteer at archives or museums
Intern with historical societies
Complete independent research projects
Publish essays, blogs, or educational materials
Speak, teach, or present publicly (and eventually, even get paid for your speaking gigs)

I’ve seen people spend years accumulating degrees without ever asking:

“Do I actually enjoy this kind of work day to day?”

Sometimes the fastest way to clarity is actually trying the work for yourself

(btw – this is also what I highly recommend for anyone looking into being a teacher!! I sooo wish I would have shadowed someone’s classroom first before starting a program)

That’s especially important if you’re married, raising young kids, or deeply rooted in your community.

Or even if you’re just concerned about finances (which, in this economy, who isn’t?!).

In those seasons, strategic experience can be more valuable than formal schooling.

The Nontraditional Student Reality

This is where my heart really is.

I know there’s a huge temptation to think about how prestigious a university is, or to even get caught up in the curated aesthetic of academic (trust meeee it draws me in, too).

But if you’ve got other responsibilities, you need to be asking bigger and better questions – and getting so real with yourselves around the answers for those questions.

One big one being:

“Is this the wisest use of my time, energy, and money right now?”

A master’s degree can be a beautiful, meaningful pursuit, for sure.

But it’s also expensive, incredibly time-intensive, and emotionally demanding.

I’ve found it really interesting from doing my own research on universities that so many people struggle with depression in grad school, and when they’re pursuing PhD programs.

Sometimes the most faithful, grounded choice isn’t the traditional, academic route.

But if it is, you want to go into your program knowing that it’s one step closer to the path that you’re pursuing.

The Path I’ve Chosen

It really makes me so sad that finances need to so greatly impact anyone’s future.

But it’s been a consideration of mine for sure.

Originally, I wanted to start in the Fall of 2026.

So 2025 was a year of deep research, learning, and figuring out specifically what I wanted to specialize in with the field of history.

I’d been so torn – because in history, I’m interested in so many periods. The Viking age, the early medieval period, the American Revolution, the Gold Rush (interactions between settlers and Native Americans in the Southwest), the Industrial Revolution, the Reformation, and ancient history across the Mediterranean.

But I also have interests in the classics, music, ethnomusicology, and travel.

So my greatest question has been, “How can I blend them all together?”

Along with something more like, “Is it even possible to blend all of those together?”

Practically, monetarily, it would absolutely makes sense for me to focus on what I have personal experience with, and/or where there’s funding.

Current public interest is a consideration, too

With national funding being cut left and right here in the United States, it’s entirely possible that I’d have to have some kind of patronage by someone wealthy to go (I’m not even joking; that’s where we’re at).

Based on what I’ve learned so far, the most heavily funded programs seem to focus on:

United States History (18th century to present day)
Modern Europe, World War II & The Holocaust
Early Modern & Renaissance (c. 1450 – 1750)

And PhDs can be fully funded.

But don’t let that list discourage you!!

I truly do believe that, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

We just need to get creative.

Personally, I’m growing several websites and YouTube channels right now.

My current financial plan is to pay off my student loans for my undergraduate degree, and the rest of my consumer debt (mostly credit cards at this point).

That should take me another 12-18 months as of when I’m writing this (January 2026).

So keep following along it you want to see how it goes!