This guide contains only a partial list of occupational titles and career fields that may be of interest to students considering a history major.  In addition to the skills and knowledge gained through your college course work in this major, you may also need to acquire career related work experience, additional work related skills and/or additional education.  Some of the occupations require an advanced degree to enter the field.

After you have identified possible occupations of interest to you, it is important to investigate the nature of work; education and training requirements; skills and special talents needed; types of employers; future trends and employment outlook related to each of these careers.  You may also want to research these occupations by reading the books and literature available in the Philadelphia House Career Resource Library, by talking with individuals working in the career field, and by contacting related professional associations.

This guide also provides information about obtaining related work experience including links to possible internships. However for the best information on current, local internships contact Sally Cardenas, Director of Internships and Community-Based Learning at 562-464-4533 or email her at scardenas@whittier.edu.

Career Options

Theatre Related Occupations
Account executive, advertising agency Acting coach Actor/actress
Advertising, (2) Agent Announcer
Art director Attorney, entertainment, (2) Audio/visual specialist
Booking agent Broadcast journalist Business manager (theatre)
Camera and light engineer Casting agent Casting director
Children's television producer Choreographer Cinematographer
Comedian Copy writer Costume designer
Critic Dancer Drama coach
Education program specialist Film director Film editor
Film historian Film/video production Fund raiser
Impersonator Lighting director Lighting technician
Make-up artist Media planner Media salesperson
Movie theatre manager Music editor Narrator
Newspaper entertainment editor Performing arts administrator Photojournalist
Playwright Press agent Producer
Production assistant Prop manager Public affairs director
Public relations Puppeteer Recreation therapist
Resort management Scenic designer Screenwriter
Script manager Scriptwriter Sound and special effects specialist
Special events coordinator Stage manager Stage technician
Stunt coordinator Supervisor - prop maker Talent manager
Talent scout Teacher, elementary Teacher, high school
Television program production Television sales Television researcher
Theatre manager Theme park manager Tourism director
Traffic manager Training and development specialist Videographer
Writer/editor    

Note: (2) refers to second information link for occupational title

Typical Employers

Colleges and universities, drama conservatories, film studios and production companies, private and public schools, radio and television, recreation departments, and theatrical production companies.

Liberal Arts Related Occupations
(click here for more options)

Marketable Skills Associated with a Theatre Arts Major

  • Communication:  supervising people, conveying ideas, writing copy; interviewing;
  • Organization:  establishing timelines; delegating assignments; motivating groups; assessing needs; organizing equipment, establishing priorites
  • Artistic:  creating new approaches, concepts; designing scenery; giving visual form to ideas
  • Technical:  operating visual and audio equipment; lighting; installing and maintaining projecting and receiving systems
  • Other:  ability to think creatively; using critical analysis; comparing and contrasting ideas; budgeting and cost analysis for programs/services; fundraising

Getting Career Related Work Experience

To be competitive in today's job market and to improve your qualifications for graduate school, gaining career related work experience while you are a college student is very important.

Career related work experience can include various forms of paid and volunteer experience (i.e. internships, some work study positions, summer or part-time jobs in your career field of interest, possibly fellowships, and some volunteer positions)

Theatre Related Internships

Sources of Career and Employment Information

Career Information Links on the Internet

Employment Links on the Internet

Graduate School Resources

General Graduate School Resource Links
Theatre Arts program links

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 Last revised: June 02, 2004