Introduction to Global History is a self-paced and fully asynchronous bachelor-level course open to bachelor’s and master’s students from all EDUC partner universities.
- Application deadline: 11 September 2026
- Course opens: 15 September 2026
- Final exam submission deadline: 13 November 2026
- Apply through the EDUC Course Catalogue: Introduction to Global History
- Course plan: Course plan for Introduction to Global History
Students who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate in the form of a micro-credential and 2.5 ECTS from the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN).
If you wish to have the course recognised as part of your study programme or degree at USN, you must clarify this with the programme coordinator for your study programme. Recognition into study programme or degrees on other EDUC universitites depends on the local regulations.
History Beyond National Borders
With no prerequisites, the course offers an accessible opportunity for students from different academic backgrounds to gain new perspectives on how the modern world was made, and how global processes continue to shape the places, communities and societies around us.
Through videos, readings, digital resources and source-based activities, students will examine history beyond national borders. Rather than focusing only on individual countries or isolated events, the course explores how local places and global developments are deeply intertwined.
Students are encouraged to ask how their own surroundings have been shaped by wider historical processes, and how seemingly local histories are often part of much larger global stories.
From Local Places to Global Connections
The course introduces students to key concepts and approaches in global history, with a focus on connections, exchanges and inequalities across time and space.
Students will explore how networks, empires, trade, migration and the movement of ideas have shaped societies across continents. They will also learn how to trace the “biography” of objects and ideas, following how they move, change meaning and connect different parts of the world.
In the final part of the course, students are invited to reflect on their own personal background and experiences in relation to global and historical contexts.
How it works
The course is organised into three modules:
- Concepts and approaches in global history
- Networks, exchange, empires and the “biography” of objects and ideas
- Linking personal background and experience to global and historical contexts
The course content is organised through asynchronous video lectures, readings, reflection exercises, quizzes and links to additional sources. This makes it possible for students to follow the course alongside their regular studies and progress at their own pace.
The estimated workload is 50–60 hours, including readings, activities and the final assignment.
The final assessment consists of an individual take-home essay of 1,500 words, assessed on a pass/fail basis.
- Apply through the EDUC Course Catalogue: Introduction to Global History
- Application deadline: 11 September 2026
Think critically, explore the past from new angles, and gain a better understanding of today’s interconnected world.
