Graduate Bridge Certificate in World History

Wayne State's world history certificate prepares current and future teachers to teach world history in middle school, high school, college or university. Demand for world history teachers has increased over the past several years and our program provides you with the knowledge and credentials needed to teach in the field.

As a coursework-only degree (students do not write a thesis or complete a capstone project), this certificate program is also an ideal option for lifelong learners who want to know more about the history of world events, but who are not ready to commit to a longer and more intensive master's program.

Students already admitted to the master's in history, master's in public history, any joint master's degree programs in history or the doctorate in history may earn the world history certificate concurrent with their primary degree by completing a change of status form and filing a certificate program plan of work.

About the program

World history certificate students complete four classes for a total of 12 credits, which include a graduate seminar and three electives. You can earn the certificate in as few as two semesters or take up to three years to complete the coursework. After completing your certificate, if you decide you'd like to continue for an advanced degree in history or public history, all of your coursework will count toward a master's or a doctorate in our department.

Curriculum

All students pursuing the World History Bridge Certificate must complete HIS 8310, Seminar in World History, and at least three electives for a total of 12 credits. View all program requirements.

• Courses

  All of the courses listed below are approved electives for the certificate. Not all of the courses are offered regularly. At the discretion of the world history coordinator, history courses with relevant content but not listed here may be used to satisfy certificate requirements (e.g., a special topics course).

  Course	Title
  HIS 5130/7130	U.S. Foreign Relations
  HIS 5210/7210	Peopling of Modern America
  HIS 5251/7251	History of Feminism
  HIS 5385/7835	History of Christianity to the Reformation
  HIS 5386/7836	History of Christianity from the Reformation to the Present
  HIS 5480/7480	Nazi Germany
  HIS 5490	Russia and Eurasia
  HIS 5500/7500	Soviet Union
  HIS 5530/7530	History of WWI and II
  HIS 5535/7535	History of Terrorism
  HIS 5555/7555	Britain in the Age of Empire
  HIS 5556/7556	Modern Britain
  HIS 5665/7665	Global Cities
  HIS 5825	Modern China
  HIS 5855	Premodern Japan
  HIS 5865	Modern Japan
  HIS 5875	Gender in Modern East Asia
  HIS 6000	Jews, Christians, and Muslims
  HIS 6000	Zionism
  HIS 6000	History of Genocide
  HIS 7855	History and Memory

Guolin Yi, visiting professor, Providence College, Ph.D., 2013

The World History Certificate gave me a leg up in job interviews due to the emphasis on diversity and inclusion in universities.

My teaching highly emphasizes global and comparative perspectives because of my systematic training in World History theories. Therefore, I tend to use the histories of India, Latin America, Africa and especially China to present non-Western perspectives and particularly think it important to compare contemporaneous developments in the East and the West.

Career insights

A certificate in world history can enhance and support a variety of career paths. Here are just a few of the many opportunities available in this field.

This data provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.

Explore career outlook