Careers for CHID Majors & Minors

What can you do with a degree in Comparative History of Ideas?

The careers of our alumni reflect the interdisciplinary, self-directed nature of CHID. As graduates, our community members use their unique skills and expertise to find success and drive change in a wide variety of fields.

Our alumni are valued for their ability to understand complex systems from multiple viewpoints, communicate clearly and persuasively, and break down complex problems through research and analysis. Using their skills for self-reflection and critical thinking, CHID alumni are well prepared to find career environments where they thrive.

In short, our graduates excel as entrepreneurs, scholars, and skilled professionals. Below are a few of the roles they hold around the globe.

Sample Alumni Job Titles Sample Alumni Employers
  • Attorney
  • Business owner
  • Cartographer
  • Children’s Program Coordinator
  • Data Analyst
  • Diversity Facilitator
  • Legislative Aid
  • Marketing Manager
  • Medical Director
  • Professor
  • VP Product Development
  • Amazon
  • Change.org
  • Citizen Code
  • FC Sport Group
  • Kickstarter
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Microsoft
  • NOAA
  • Seattle Public Schools
  • Vimeo
  • U.S. Department of State

Alumni Profiles

CHID alumni teach English around the world, work as interior designers and personal trainers, run their own pottery studios, are librarians, musicians, dentists, social workers, and museum curators. They’ve joined the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Marines. Read our graduates’ profiles to see some of the career paths our alumni have pursued:

  • Alumni News — Read the latest news about the accomplishments and adventures of our alumni to see the diverse possibilities for what you can do with a CHID major.
  • There's a Job for That! — Take a quick quiz (only three questions!) to learn what College of Arts & Sciences alumni with similar interests have done since graduating.
  • UW LinkedIn — See career trajectories of UW graduates who studied CHID as well as other fields.
  • CHID LinkedIn - Connect with current students and graduates from our program.
  • Alumni Spotlights
    • Maureen Trantham - Senior Vice President, Head of Strategy and Social Impact & Philanthropy Operations at Sesame Workshop.

Internships

Through the CHID internship program, our students constructively engage with a local organization, combining rigorous analysis with hands-on experience.

Career & Job Resources

University of Washington offers diverse resources to help students build the skills to launch their careers:

  • C21: Center For 21st Century Liberal Learning — Offers immersive learning experiences, partnerships both on campus and in the community, and a network of mentors to help guide students in the College of Arts and Sciences on the pathway toward selecting a major and preparing for a career after college.
  • Career & Internship Center — Educates and supports students as they explore and choose academic majors and career options, obtain and reflect upon career-related experiences, and develop professional presence and essential skills for workplace success.
  • Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center — Coordinates and connects students to community-based experiences in and around Seattle.
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