Open University Course

I started a history course with the O. U. last year and I have a couple of months to the finish of this module (60 credits)

If I spend a few years and a lot of money, can anyone tell me what kind of job I could expect to get with a B.A. in History. That is, expect to get, rather than be qualified to do. I'm driving a van at the moment, so I just don't want to be white van man with a B.A.
Also I phoned the Dept in Athlone to see if a B.A. with the O.U. would allow me to go to full time education to do a M.A.
The person I spoke to said they thought the M.A would have to have Irish History as it's main content,something which the O.U. course does not have.

Does anybody know what a B.A in History would do for my job prospects.

Am not very au-fait with degrees, but can an OU BA be followed up with an Irish H-Dip in education, allowing you to teach?

Alongside the above, would many employers recognise the attaining of any degree as an indication of a high standard of education and discipline, especially when one follows the OU path?

Also I phoned the Dept in Athlone to see if a B.A. with the O.U. would allow me to go to full time education to do a M.A.
The person I spoke to said they thought the M.A would have to have Irish History as it's main content,something which the O.U. course does not have.

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You would be better talking to the colleges directly rather than the dept of education. If you were asking can you do a post grad in Ireland after getting a BA with the OU, I think the person in the dept of education was talking out of his ass.

an arts degree in any subject shows that you have academic ability, self-discipline, ability to work towards long-term goals, time management skills, etc etc. All the above plus, if you do it the OU route, in my opinion. History is also a teaching subject, if you want to go in for that.
Doing a Masters is often less to do with the subject you studied, as you can often do conversion courses if you want to do a Masters in a very different subject. But conversion courses aren't always necessary. Even if you wanted to do your Masters in Irish history, you should be able to do so without problems though you might need to do a bit of catch-up for yourself. Also, Masters' courses tend to be quite specialised, so your undergraduate work is nothing but a basis as you will be learning new stuff about a very small area and also generally learning how to do research for your thesis/dissertation.
Talk to lecturers in the university history depts yourself, they'll often have a quick word of useful advice. And I believe the OU has a very good career guidence service which you mihgt try.

General apology. Itwas a H-Dip that I asked the person in the Dept in Athlone about.

Thanks for the common sense suggestion of asking the University for some information.

Can I just throw out the job question again.?
Has anybody any personal experience of getting a job with a B.A in History that they would otherwise not have got. I'm just inclined to think that it would not have the same potential as a B A in say, Sociology,Business, or whatever to bring to the job market. Why I'm thinking of History is because I have an interest in it, (and Law), it is maybe the only one I would have a prayer of seeing through to the end.

What about a job as a ?

Hi sluice44

Perhaps The Craic forum would be a better outlet for your obviously witty talents.

Wouldn't a diplomat need a good understanding of history?

- Anglo-Irish relations - 600yrs and all that
- Ireland-EU - Ireland vs the Franco-German axis; WW2
- Ireland and the Middle East - Who really 'owns 'Jerusalem'?
- Ireland and America - 150years of emigration etc
- Ireland & Africa - We've soldiers in Ethiopia (?). Using one's historical knowledge about our non-colonial past could give Ireland an advantage in the African continent.

Maybe I should use the Craic forum to tell AAM about the vital role that our soldiers/Gardai have played in many hotspots around the world.

Why are they useful in these hotspots? Because the locals are aware of our history.

Why were they sent there? Because the Govt or the Dept of Foreign Affairs decided to. Who advised them? The Diplomatic Service??

A history degree is highly thought of (although having one I am a bit biased!).

It shows deep analytical abilities, curiosity, an ability to wade through tonnes of information and extract a few salient points. Unlike a lot of other degrees which shall remain nameless, it actually teaches you to think and develops your critical faculties rather than just teaching you to parrot the latest sociology-babble or management speak.

I can't remember where I read it, but I remember being struck by the fact that the most common primary degrees in the City of London are in History and Politics.

If you really want to get into business etc. it might be worth your while doing some kind of one year diploma, as Irish employers sometimes seem wedded to the notion that the 3 year BComm is the only degree to have if you want to work in business.

I have worked in a number of very 'non-history' professions and have found my degree to be nothing but a huge help.

Ditto to that (from a non-History grad, but who wishes he hadn't had such a crappy teacher in secondary school that he gave it up after Inter Cert. level... :rolleyes )

A degree in History would IMHO be an immense asset to anyone pursuing a career in Law/politics/journalism...

I should finish this off with some learned quote about 'those who do not learn the lessons of history, etc.' but instead I'll just wish you luck!