graduate resources
The History Graduate Student Association (HGSA)'s goal is to serve the graduate community of Stony Brook's History Department. Organized by and for the graduate students themselves, it hosts a variety of professional, academic, and social opportunities each semester. Recent activities include workshops, field trips, an annual graduate student conference, and friendly gatherings. For more information, see our Facebook Page.
Stony Brook's Career Center offers career counseling and practice interviewing for MA/MS/PhD students and postdocs seeking jobs in private industry, government, and the nonprofit sector. The main contact person there for the History Department is Alfreda James, Assistant Director of Graduate Students and Postdocs (and also a History PhD!).
The Graduate School oversees the PhD Career Ladder Program (PCLP), an eight-step grad student-led career mentoring program for PhD students. Developed by graduate students, for graduate students, PCLP helps students set aside a few hours each month to focus on their career plan. The eight monthly meetings guide students "up the ladder" of career exploration from self-assessment to career research and skill identification, to resume building and job search preparation. For information about upcoming sessions geared towards Humanities and Social Sciences, contact: Dr. Kathleen Flint Ehm.
ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool designed especially for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences. ImaginePhD allows users to: 1) assess their career-related skills, interests, and values; 2) explore careers paths appropriate to their disciplines, including beyond academia; and, 3) create self-defined goals and map out next steps for professional development success. Note: While you need to set up a membership account, ImaginePhD has no fees or paywall. One of the experts involved with launching ImaginePhD is Stony Brook's own Alfreda James, under the auspices of the Graduate Career Consortium (GCC).
The Graduate Career Consortium (GCC), a national network of staff and administrators who provide professional development for PhDs and postdoctoral scholars at their universities, also has a useful lineup of career resources on its webpage.
The American Historical Association (AHA) is the leading professional organization for historians. Its website includes many relevant resources for graduate students regarding careers in academia and beyond. The AHA Annual Meeting is held in a different location each January. If any graduate student wishes to attend, faculty members who are attending can sponsor them for a reduced Registration Fee.
Versatile PhD is another online resource for career exploration geared towards applying Humanities and Social Science students who are considering employment beyound academia and in non-faculty positions.