MSc Global History

About the MSc programme

This programme is intended for graduates in history, geography, anthropology and other arts degrees as well as related social sciences, such as economics, politics and sociology (prior knowledge of economic theory is not essential).

Applicants should have at least an upper second class honours degree or its equivalent in a social science or humanities subject and a desire to explore change in a global perspective over the long term.

The programme was developed in response to the maturation of global history as a field; by the contribution of economic history and social science based approaches to the framing and content of the field; and by the increasing involvement of members of the Department in this area. To achieve coherence and rigour, the focus is specifically on economic change considered in its cultural, social and political contexts.

The MSc is comprised of compulsory courses to the value of two and a half units, and either optional courses to the value of one unit and a half unit dissertation, or optional courses to the value of a half unit and a dissertation to the value of one unit. The compulsory half unit course introduces central debates and key analytical tools and the full unit courses provide a general grounding in major processes in global history over the last millennium.

Please note that some options have prerequisites and some have a restricted intake. The range of options available in any one year may vary.

Compulsory courses

(* half unit)

• Economic Change in Global History: Approaches and Analysis*

Choose one from

• Essay/Dissertation* (6,000 words)
• Dissertation (10,000 words) 

Choose two from

• Pre-modern Paths of Growth: East and West Compared, c1000-1800
• The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries
• Empire, Colonialism and Globalisation 

Options

Depending on the type of essay/dissertation chosen, select a total of 0.5 or one unit from 

• Pre-modern Paths of Growth: East and West Compared, c1000-1800
• The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries
• Empire, Colonialism and Globalisation
• Economic Development of East and Southeast Asia
• Latin American Development: political economy of growth*
• Latin American Development: case-studies in growth, poverty and social change* 
• Japan and Korea as Developing Economies* 
• African Economic Development in Historical Perspective*
• Political Economy of Late Industrialisation*
• Great Depressions in Economic History*
• Economic History of Southeastern Europe and the Middle East, 1820-1970*
• India and the World Economy*
• International Migration, 1500-2000: From Slavery to Asylum*
• Research Topics in Economic History A*
• Research Topics in Economic History B*
• The British Economy in Global Perspective, 1000-2000* 
• Research Issues in African Economic History*
• Scientific, Technical and Useful Knowledge from Song China to the Industrial Revolution*
• Shipping and Sea Power in Asian Waters, c1600-1860*
• International Economic Institutions since World War I*
• Turkey: Political Economy and European Integration* 
• Labour and Work in Pre-industrial Europe*
• Epidemics: Epidemic Disease in History, 1348-2000*
• Economic Globalisation: Long-term trends and consequences*
• Research Design and Quantitative Methods in Economic History*
• Topics in Quantitative Economic History
• The Long-Run Analysis of Firms and Industries*
• The Historical Context of Business*
• The Rise and Decline of Economic Policy in Twentieth Century Europe
• History of Economics: From Moral Philosophy to Social Sciences 
• Quantitative Topics in Economic History I: Cross-Section and Panel Data* †
• Quantitative Topics in Economic History II: Time Series and Economic Dynamics* †

† Cannot be combined with Topics in Quantitative Economic History